Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan (Jalapa, Esteli)
Size: 5.5 x 42 “Corona”
Body: Medium
Price: $10.00

Today, dear readers, we take a look at the Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero.

Something must have gone wrong during the printing of the cigar band as the name: “Cayuquero” is totally unintelligible. It is just a sliver blotch. I can make out the letter “C” and that’s it.

The Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero comes in four sizes: 5.5 x 42, 5 x 50, 6 x 50 Toro, 6 x 50 Torpedo. And the prices range $10-$12 per stick.

The idea behind the Draig line is to create a limited run each year but using a different blend and a different factory. The Draig K (2012) was the first of the line. Its wrapper was a Colombian Maduro. The Draig Cayuquero is second in line. (2013). And the wrapper is a Brazilian Arapiraca.

The wrapper is the color of sand in Huntington Beach, Ca. It is a beautiful cigar. The wrapper is nearly a barber pole as the color changes as it wraps around the binder. The construction is a bit on the sloppy side with very visible seams, large protruding veins, but a perfectly applied triple cap. As I said earlier, the cigar band is a disaster. I bought two of these for review and both have the same malady. The wrapper is not so much oily as it is toothy.

And yes, my lovely babies, I’ve had this cigar a bit over a month.

I clip the cap and find aromas of sweetness, cocoa, spice, lavender, earthiness, wood, and leather.
Time to light up.

The first puffs are Coo Coo for Cocoa Puffs. Lots of chocolate and spice. And puppy dog tails.
It is very woody and earthy. Very nice.

The spice is ha-cha-cha red pepper bordering on habanero. My eyes water, my schnoz burns, and I am having flashbacks from the 1960’s. Didn’t you just hate it when people, not high on acid, would fuck with you while you were frying? I always got even when their dose kicked in. I was the type of acid experimenter that said, “That’s all you got? Bring it on!” While some of the people around me boasted they had taken it many times only to find out then, and there, that they were lying and wanted to hang on to their wooby’s and binkies. I use to love watching posters on the wall melt.

Wow. The Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero takes a drastic right turn and explodes like the 4th of July on me. Only ½” burned, and the bloody cigar becomes a monster!

It reminds me very much of the Jamais Vu by Ezra Zion I reviewed yesterday. It has that rich, complex earthiness full of toast and nuts. Creaminess elbows its way through. The chocolate and cream taste like a hot fudge sundae.

I discover hidden treasure with exotic herbal notes. Not quite curry, but definitely coriander and the slightest hint of cumin.

Yeah, $10 is way too much for one cigar. I don’t like cigars that cost me what a lid of weed cost back in 1967.
But this is the absolute perfect size for getting as much of the blender’s intent as possible. I think it is the appropriate wrapper vs. tobacco ratio. Smashing!

The flavors keep getting wilder and crazier. I cannot believe that only ¾” burned is bringing out such splendiferous amounts of pleasure. It’s like going to bed with two Playboy Bunnies. You don’t know where to look first or do what to whom? So you lay back and let it slide down your body like a snake charmer is controlling the whole experience.

“Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
It’s getting hard to be someone but it all works out
It doesn’t matter much to me.”

“Yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog’s eye
Crabalocker fishwife pornographic priestess.
“Goo goo goo joob goo goo goo goo joob”
“Jooba jooba
Jooba jooba
Jooba jooba”

There. That explains perfectly my experience with the Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero.

The stick is solidly packed and a slow smoker. I’ve invested nearly 15 minutes and only burned 1”. Only $1.81 per inch. Sold!

The draw is perfect and shoveling smoke snow cones like an out of control Slurpee machine.

This is a brilliant blend. Kudos to House of Emilio.

Here are the flavors (this will be tough): Creaminess, hot fudge, coffee, red pepper, toast, nuts, earthiness, wood, exotic herbal notes, floral notes, and leather.

This is a most spectacular blend.

The price point. Uhh..I don’t know. $10 is my cut off point. No real explanation but I don’t like spending double digits on a cigar. It’s just that in some cases, your back is up against the wall when it comes to boutique limited edition runs.

So, yes, it is worth $10. But for one main reason: Duration of smoke time. If this was a fast burner, I would give it a thumbs down. But it ain’t a fast burner. It is taking its time and I get to savor every last bit in the pan.

The second third begins. Time smoked? 30 minutes.

A new flavor arrives: orange and lemon citrus. With a sprig of mint. Nice.

The spiciness has dissipated quite a bit and moves to nearly the end of the flavor list.

I also get a crazy flavor element: Strawberry. I wasn’t sure at first because I could taste something berry-ish in the flavor profile but couldn’t put a finger on it. Now I can. It is subtle and very nuanced. You could almost miss it if not for sheer focus and determination.

A habit I picked up living in England; having toast and jam for an afternoon treat. And strawberry preserves is one of my favorites. No sugar of course. Just naturally forming fructose.

I love fawning over a cigar. Beats the shit out of tearing it apart. And the Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero is worthy of that kind of praise. A real delight to the palate and the other 42 senses. (Yes, I am more evolved than you…happened at my Bar Mitzvah.)

There are three other sizes but I wouldn’t dare to buy them as I’ve found the perfect one. I don’t believe in the notion that bigger is better. For the most part anyway.

Construction is flawless. Not a single touch up required. No wrapper issues. And the triple cap stands sentry over the Katman chomping drool.

I got a nice email from Kyle Hoover of Ezra Zion Cigars yesterday. I sent him my review of the Jamais Vu and he had some very nice, thoughtful comments. So naturally, I wrote back and begged like I do on my birthday for sex, to be on his reviewer’s list. Haven’t heard back. LOL.

I am at the halfway point. Time smoked? 45 minutes.

I really want more Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero. Lots and lots of them.

The flavor profile remains the same…while the lemon juice runs down my leg.

I am having dreams more and more often now of playing out. A new electric upright bass in my arms and playing the blues. Contemporary blues of course. Buddy Guy, SRV, Clapton, and others of that genre.

Snow is on the ground. Snowflakes are falling. It is dark and gloomy outside. But thanks to a dear reader, who I shall name Zelig; my new gift of a pro lighting setup allows me to take decent photos with no light. God bless you, Zelig.

Complexity has been with us from nearly the beginning of the cigar. The balance has gone from great to perfect. And it has the perfect long chewy finish.

It would have been so very nice if I had been born rich and good looking. But alas…

The Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero is a blender’s blend. Those who crank out mediocre cigar blends should be infinitely jealous of this cigar.

Nicotine comes home to roost.

The first half of the cigar was a medium+ strength. Now it is a strong medium/full body.
I think that last sentence was an oxymoron.

Here are the flavors one last time: Hot chocolate fudge, creaminess, café latte, citrus, fruit, toast, nuts, wood, leather, herbal notes, floral notes and spice.

The only thing missing is a liver and onions component. Growing up, that dish was one of our weekly rotation dinners. I hated it but found if you drowned the liver in ketchup, I could swallow. But I don’t swallow any longer. I have my pride.
But I do make a lovely pearl necklace.

The last third begins. It is all on cruise control.

It becomes obvious as I take this photo that the word: “Cayuquero” is only readable from a certain angle:

As the Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero is a relatively new cigar, I plan to place it in my “Katman’s Top 25 Cigars for 2013-2014.”

Today is Thanksgiving for the Katman family. It is just Charlotte and Katie and myself. We don’t have more family. And Katie has to work on Thursday. So everything is ready. Just a few things to cook or bake. And we shall partake of a feast we rarely get to enjoy any longer.

BTW-My daughter, Katie, is waiting to hear about the results of her admittance to the Milwaukee PD. She took the test for both Police Dispatcher and an officer of the law. She has wanted to become a cop since she was 11. Because of her EMT experience and being a woman, she has a certain leg up on the white males also trying to get in.

Our fingers are crossed.

Back to the Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero.
This is, without doubt, one of the finest blends I have ever smoked. The last third explodes with flavor and character. It is beyond my humble vocabulary.

The cigar finishes perfectly without a hint of harshness or heat. Final smoke time is 90 minutes.

If you can muster up the dough, I highly recommend you at least buy a couple from the Cigar Federation Store.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar review, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, Emilio Cigars Draig Cayuquero Cigar Review, house of emilio