Don Emmanuel is a newly established cigar company whose namesake has two decades of experience in the world of cigars and he is a Master Cigar Sommelier. He teamed up with Eladio Diaz, one of my favorite blenders, to create the Don Emmanuel Anunnaki. This blend uses Dominican fillers, a Mexican binder, and a Dominican wrapper. I originally purchased a 5-pack from Small Batch Cigar when I first heard about it (I’ll buy pretty much anything that Eladio Diaz does these days), but their marketing agency sent me review samples a few weeks later, so I’ve had a chance to try the Robusto and Corona Fina vitolas as well as the Toro (called “Anu” and measuring 6” x 52 ring gauge) I’m reviewing today.
I’m not sure what the banding has to do with the brand. The profile of a king (or other royalty) doesn’t look much like the picture of Don Emmanuel on the company’s website. It’s more “Caesar-esque” than anything, in my opinion. The wrapper was a medium brown color with a very smooth touch and an aroma that mixed bread with hay and cedar. The foot smelled more of hay and earth than anything else. Once clipped I got a good prelight draw with sweet and spicy notes coming through.
After lighting the Don Emmanuel Anunnaki, I got a strong wood note along with a slightly sweet breadiness, baking spice, and earth. The retrohale had a sharp, short burst of red pepper spice, while the finish had lingering notes of black pepper. As I continued smoking, there were faint fruit notes and an increase in pepper spice. I found the body to be in the medium-to-full range and remember the first time I smoked one of these and it just about kicked my butt. This is a very flavorful and complex cigar that works well for a debut from the Don Emmanuel Cigar Company. I look forward to seeing what they may do in the future.
