Introduced this year, Don Emmanuel Cigars is the brain child of Don Emmanuel and his Master Blender Eladio Diaz who boasts over 60 years of experience in the tobacco industry, dedicating 40 of those
years to Davidoff until 2021.
The company Website notes:
With two decades of experience in the world of cigars, Don Emmanuel’s journey evolved from being an enthusiast to a renowned Master Cigar Sommelier, earning the highest global score by the IACS. Recognized as one of the leading experts globally, he imparts his knowledge through courses and master classes worldwide. His expertise stems from extensive study and visits to factories and plantations, where he engaged with industry giants. His ultimate goal was to establish his own cigar brand—a dream that, after years of persistence and resilience, has finally become a reality.
The Don Emmanuel ANUNNAKI is expressed in 3 different vitolas. The Ki and Anu come packaged in 10-count boxes and the Corona Fina comes in a 5-count tin:
- Ki (5 x 50) Robusto – MSRP $14.99/cigar
- Anu (6 x 52) Toro – MSRP $15.99/cigar
- Corona Fina (4 x 38) – MSRP $34.99/5-count tin
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Dominican Republic
- Binder – Mexican
- Filler – Dominican Republic
Don Emmanuel cigars are handcrafted at Tabacalera Díaz Cabrera factory in the Dominican Republic. The cigars made in collaboration with master blender Eladio Díaz.
For this review I sampled two of the Don Emmanuel ANUNNAKI ANU Toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Anu is the personification of the force and fertility of nature, associated with bountiful harvests and the vitality of the earth. Regarded as the father of gods and men, he symbolizes the deep connection between humanity and the earth.
Pre-Light Examination
The Don Emmanuel ANUNNAKI ANU is draped in a reddish brown slightly rugged looking wrapper. There are some noticeable veins and few bumps along the barrel. The wrapper does exhibit a decent oily sheen. The cigar has a firm bunching and roll. A decent cap completes the construction.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band is black, gold, and white and displays the company’s logo boldly in the center. The Secondary band is placed just below the primary and declares this as the ANUNNAKI
Running the cigar along the nose, I detected a faint spice note along the barrel while the foot offered earthy barnyard notes.
I sliced the cap straight cross the shoulder of the cigar and give it some cold draws that I found to be a tilt to the open side while offering notes of nut, peppery spice and a hint of cocoa.
Using my single flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the the first puffs of natural tobacco sweetness and a rich pepper notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- The journey starts with notes of natural sweetness and rich pepper
- Cedar notes add to the early profile
- A grey ash forms on top of a thick well behaved burn line
- Cream notes join the mix
- Full volume of smoke on each puff
- The ash fell in a good chunk, revealing a well formed burn cone
- Fruit notes and aromas entice the palate moving into the second third
- There is just a hint of spice added in the background now
- A sprinkle of cocoa powder keeps things interesting
- Deep in the second third the profile gets a tad bitter with sour fruit notes
- An off burn develops in final third requiring a touch up
- Woody notes take it to through the final
- Medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 Minutes
Final Analysis
The Don Emmanuel ANUNNAKI ANU offered a steady medium-bodied performance with solid construction and a consistent draw producing ample smoke. The early harmony of pepper, sweetness, and cedar set a refined tone, while cream and cocoa provided a nice bridge into the middle third.
While the second half introduced a slight bitterness and sour fruit tang, the cigar remained engaging thanks to its textural smoke and evolving profile. Burn performance was mostly clean and steady, aside from an off burn and minor touch-up in the final third.
From a technical standpoint, this blend shows good craftsmanship and combustion control, with a flavor progression that’s deliberate and layered. The balance of sweet, peppery, and woody notes makes it an enjoyable choice for those who appreciate a nuanced, medium-strength smoke with both structure and approachability.
Point Deductions: (-1) Bitter/sour deep in second third; (-1) Off Burn in Final; (-1) Touchup required
