Emilio AF2

This week's review is one I hadn't heard much about until Gary Griffith (owner of the brand and a few shops in Deleware) contacted me about reviewing his products. I am reviewing the AF2, which is blended by A.J Fernandez. This cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper (I would have never thought this was an Oscuro by looking at it...) and a filler composed of Pennsylvania Ligero and Nicaraguan tobacco. I am going with the toro size, which measures in at 6x50. 

The Emilio AF2 has a veiny flat brown shade wrapper with a gritty feel to it. There are also quite a few spots on the wrapper, my guess is water spots. It seems to be well rolled without any soft spots. The prelight draw shows a good draw with flavors of aged tobacco, cedar and some light sweetness. Once lit the AF2 starts out with some cedar and a cross between black and cayenne pepper spice on my lips and tongue. The texture of the wrapper is really interesting against my fingertips, it almost feels like a fine sandpaper. Half an inch in and the pepper has backed off and the cedar has become the dominant flavor. There is a light earthy flavor and some molasses sweetness in here as well. The peppery spice up front has transformed into an almost exotic spice flavor, more of a cinnamon spice. The ash fell at just over the one inch mark and the burn has been even so far. One thing I am finding kind of odd is how the smoke seems to be on the dry side, yet is making me salivate at the same time. There is a flavor component here that I have been trying to figure out and then it dawned on me that it is slightly salty. Now that I have idenfied that characteristic it seems to be really up front. So far this is a solid medium bodied cigar. 

Entering into the final third of the AF2 the saltyness has backed off and the flavor profile has become nutty. This has moved into the medium/full bodied category at this point. If I didn't already know what the wrapper on this was I would have guessed Cameroon by the look and flavor of it. An earthyness has taken over now which I am guessing is from the Pennsylvanian Ligero. One thing I will say about this cigar is that the flavors definitely change as you smoke it. 

The Emilio AF2 was an interesting cigar. There were times when I wasn't really loving the flavor profile but then 5 minutes later I would get a flavor I really enjoyed. At around $7 a piece these are worth trying because I could see some people really liking the complex and unique flavor these deliver. It wasn't a favorite for me but I was glad for the opportunity to try one as I have enjoyed a lot of the cigars that AJ Fernandez has put out.