Quick Smoke: Emilio AF1 Toro

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

If there ever was a dark, menacing-looking cigar, the AF1 from Gary Griffith’s Emilio Cigars is it. This line is made by—and named for—cigar maker A.J. Fernandez. It is produced in Estelí of Nicaraguan tobaccos wrapped in a jet-black San Andreas maduro wrapper. The result is a full-bodied, spicy smoke with notes of raisin, espresso, caramel, and cream. The Toro (6 x 50) sells for around $7 to $8, and I think that’s a fair price for the balance and complexity you get from this slow-burning cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys