Macanudo Emissary España uses a harmonious five-country blend highlighted by a Havana seed grown near the town of Riolobos, Spain. The region’s rocky soil and Mediterranean climate yield a rich tobacco that cannot be replicated. Grown near olive trees and pepper fields used for paprika, the tobacco is characterized by thick, oily leaves from the warm, dry summer days and mild nights. When combined with the rocky soil, the result is tobacco with intensity and complexity.
The Spanish Havana is paired with five tobaccos from four other countries (Nicaragua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and the US) that are aged between 5 and 10 years. The optimal aging mellows the tobaccos, bringing forward each tobacco’s intricacies. The resulting cigar yields a nuanced smoking experience that cannot be rivaled.
This is the info provided by Macanudo.com
There isn’t too much more to say as an introduction to this cigar so, lets get into the review.
OVERVIEW
VITOLA: Toro
SIZE: 6″ x 52
ORIGIN: Honduras
FACTORY: Honduras American Tabaco S.A.
WRAPPER: 5-Year Aged US Broadleaf Claro
BINDER: 6-Year Aged Nicaraguan Condega
FILLER: 5-Year Aged Dominican Piloto, Colombian, 6-Year Aged Nicaraguan ASP, 10-Year Aged Spain
STRENGTH: Medium
SOURCE:
Insert inside the box
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:
Studio/Lounge
WHEN:
July 20/ 1:30PM
DRINKS:
Bottled Water
WEATHER:
N/A
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:
4
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Regular Production
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE March 25, 2024
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 16
Production Totals: Unknown
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Toro (6″ x 52)
o Robusto (5″ x 52)
o Perfecto (6″ x 54)
o Churchill (7″ x 48)
BAND DESIGN
The first thought that comes to mind is that Macanudo is going all out with the royalty theme. The deep shade of blue perfectly compliments the glossy gold “M” logo with the crown. The embossed Macanudo on the top and bottom gold rings almost seem a bit much to me. I guess they are trying to really hammer home the idea of royalty. What I don’t understand is why the foot band is a lighter shade of blue and matte in finish. Guess that would be a question for another time.
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
This cigar has a toothy U.S. Broadleaf Claro wrapper leaf with some pronounced veins. The Emissary also has a rough feel to it as you run your fingers down the leaf. Otherwise it’s very stiff and no sponginess is detected; so, it would appear to be filled perfectly. It also seems to be a little misshaped and not completely straight, with a slight curve to the cigar. Upon inspection, the cigars from this box all have the same inconsistency in shape.
AROMA
I get the obvious tobacco sweetness with hints of leather and floral notes. The foot of the cigar has a cedar note.
COLD DRAW
On the cold draw I get notes of cedar and sweet spices. There is a hint of a black licorice note that lingers for a moment. Draw is easy and pleasant.
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Disposable Double Guillotine
Fire: Single Flame Torch
On the initial light I get notes of cream and chocolate with a baking spice that lingers on the palate. The retrohale has a pleasant blend of cedar and cream. The draw is easy and smooth with just the right amount of resistance that you would expect from a premium cigar.
SMOKE
There is an average amount of smoke put off from this cigar. Not enough to fill the room but, enough to let you know it is still lit when you put it down.
FIRST THIRD
Chocolate, Cream, Baking Spices
The Emissary starts off with notes of chocolate and cream with baking spices lingering on the palate. The retrohale brings in a cedar and almost leathery finish. There are some subtle hints of caramel and graham cracker in the background. Strength of this cigar starts out mild plus in my opinion. So far it is a good start flavor wise however, the burn is a little off. Even with rotating the cigar so as to make sure one side isn’t always the top, the burn line just will not stay even. The ash is nice and tight with minimal flakiness. There are hints of flavor transitions in the making toward the end of the first third of this cigar.
SECOND THIRD
>>Chocolate, Coffee, Caramel
The middle third begins with a note of medium roast coffee. Chocolate and cream are very much present still, with caramel coming into the mix. There is a slight nutty note developing in the background. Not quite sure which nut at the moment but, it is definitely present. Baking spices gives way to a peppery note that lingers on the palate. Almost like a cross between white pepper and black pepper. Perhaps that is due to the tobacco from Spain. Cedar is the main note on the retrohale now. Strength has built up to a solid medium and the off burn is starting to slowly correct itself. Cigar still has that solid firm feel and I point this out because, this is usually the point where a cigar that isn’t filled consistently will start to get mushy. Ash is solid still with minimal flakiness and finally let go a little over 2 inches in.
FINAL THIRD
>> Dark Roast Coffee, Spice, Almond
The developing coffee note that has been trying to break through has finally transitioned to a dark roast, almost espresso note. I now can say that the nutty note from the second third is officially almond and it is mixing with the graham cracker note just nicely. There is a slight chocolate note in the background however, it is becoming more subtle as the cigar progresses. Cream note has finally gave way to some of the heavier notes on the palate and the retrohale has a note of oak which replaced the cedar. Surprisingly the balanced spiciness that lingers on the palate is not overpowering the sweetness of the almond and graham cracker. Burn of the cigar is still off which is disappointing to me but, no touch up has been required. Ash is solid just like the rest of smoking experience and still holding on to the nub.
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
There were, obviously, quite a few transitions in flavor throughout the Emissary. Chocolate and cream moves to caramel, almonds and graham crackers. You have coffee transition as if you were roasting the beans along the way, with it starting as a medium roast and ending as an almost espresso note. Baking spices give way to a peppery note that lingers on the palate. Yet the balance between the sweet and the spicy was very pleasant. The retrohale starts with a sweet cedar and ends with an almost fresh split oak. I am guessing the 10-year aged tobacco from Spain is the contributing factor for the peppery notes. Even the strength goes from mild plus to medium, then to almost medium plus at the end.
BURN EXPERIENCE
The burn was off for the majority of the smoking experience; which, to me, is very disappointing. There was, however, no need to touch up the cigar at any point I will add. The ash was solid and only had minimal flakiness. The first and only drop of the ash happened roughly 2 inches into the cigar, and the rest of the ash held on to the very end. The Emissary had a solid feel all the way to the nub which is a testament to it being perfectly filled. The draw on the cigar was perfect for the duration which was about 2 hours.
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.60 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
6.90 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.50 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Flavor Transitions
- Solid Feel
- Burn was off
A CIGAR MADE FOR ROYALTY, LUXURY, OR JUST GOOD MARKETING?
Macanudo seems to be swinging for the fences here. With complexity and plenty of flavor transitions, this cigar gives off a luxurious appeal. However, the band and presentation seem to suggest royalty. I want to address the 300 pound gorilla in the corner…10 year aged tobacco from Spain. Honestly, most tobacco is done fermenting after 3 to 4 years. If that’s the case, why is 10 year old tobacco just laying around? How much of this tobacco is in the filler, considering that it is mixed with 5 other tobaccos from 4 other countries? Also, with the Emissary becoming a regular production cigar, there has to be a considerable amount of product. Perhaps these questions will never be answered…but, they need to asked. Even though this is obviously a premium cigar, I feel that it is just great marketing on Macanudo’s end.
The Emissary is a very good cigar, but it definitely has its flaws like all hand made products. No matter how you look at it, the Emissary could be more of a special occasion smoke. It could also be your everyday smoke, budget permitting, of course!!
I was very pleasantly surprised by this cigar. I’ll definitely look to smoke more. It’s been years since I would say that about a Macanudo, but they really put out a fine smoke with this one.
I agree 100%. Definitely was a great cigar flavor wise. Thanks for checking out the review and leaving a comment.