I have enjoyed every single cigar from Emilio Cigars, that I have tried thus far.  Each one not only excels at being a great cigar but each one is unique and fills in a spot in what is shaping up to be an amazing catalog.  Over the past few months, I have really learned to enjoy Sumatra wrappers.  I know a few guys that wrinkle their noses at that but Sumatra is a nice mild leaf that can be paired with a plethora of binders and fillers to achieve all sorts of flavor profiles.  My current favorite cigar on Earth is the Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 Sumatra.  So, seeing the Serie H Sumatra in the stash of samples from Nate at Emilio Cigars, I started salivating.  The specs on this cigar are very unique as well.  Made by Nestor Plasencia, this baby sports a Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and....are you ready for this?  A Connecticut binder!  Needless to say, I was dying to light this thing up.  So without further bluster, how was it? Let's see....

Construction: Smooth chocolate colored wrapper with very few veins coats this beauty.  It's an extremely well made cigar.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cellophane, I picked up sweet tobacco, a slight spice, and some woody notes.  Cutting was a snap and the draw was perfect.

Light and Burn: She lit right up with two matches and the burn stayed almost perfectly even from start to finish.

Tasting: The Serie H really is a lot more complex than I was anticipating.  Starting off, I got a nice floral woodiness with a slightly sweet flavor.  The first third showed flavors of cedar, citrus, and a bit of black pepper.  The second third added to the existing flavors, cinnamon and black coffee.  The final third added even more by way of leather and a nice creamy sweetness.  Overall a great smoke.

Value: At around $7 or $8 a stick, the Serie H is easily a cheaper alternative to the Montecristo White.

Final Thoughts: I really loved this cigar.  It's highly aromatic smoke, terrific flavor profile, and easy-to-live-with price point make it a winner for me.  While not as potent or complex as my previously mentioned favorite Sumatra-wrapped Tatuaje, it does hold it's own against that juggernaut and comes in as the second best cigar with a Sumatra wrapper that I have ever had....and I can give no higher praise than that.  I can see myself smoking this cigar daily.  Well done yet again, Gary and Nate.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Honduran Connecticut
Filler: Costa Rican, Nicaraguan

Strength: Medium (Note: this is the mildest cigar Emlio offers in their lineup.  I found it to be right smack in the middle of medium bodied.  It never felt weak or flat to me and I like strong cigars, so yet another point in their favor)

Size: 6.5 x 50

The band is simple and elegant.

Sumatra has a tendency to look dry but this was a nicely oily looking sample.