There is only one cigar under the Emilio umbrella that, until this review, I had to try.  The Bodega brand is a pretty small label under Gary's distribution...only two cigars in their catalog so far.  On the menu for today is the Digestivo.  Made to smoke after dinner with a brandy or cognac, this cigar is said to be very sweet.  I am intrigued.  Here goes....

Construction: A hefty leathery Mexican San Andres wrapper covers this chunky cigar.  The seams are nice and the veins are very well managed.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Some leather and cocoa notes appear once the cellophane is gone.  I picked up some very sweet raisin and cocoa from the foot as well.

Light and Burn: The Digestivo burns perfectly from beginning to end.  No issues at all - solid performer.

Tasting: The Digestivo starts off very mild.  Floral notes and a very sugary sweetness make up the core.  I was actually shocked at how mild it was to be honest.  I was thinking it would be more of a powerhouse.  After a big dinner, I usually smoke something powerful and rich.  This would certainly go well with a good brandy or cognac.  Some mild cocoa and coffee bean notes also creep up - again being mild it doesn't hit hard at all.

And then we have the middle third.  Strength increases dramatically as do the flavors.  Bread, cinnamon, nuts, and toast wrap around that sweet core.  It's a delicious cigar.

The final third drops back down to something more mild-medium.  The flavors continue from the middle third and added notes of caramel, chocolate, and a hint of vanilla also creep into the mix.

Value: At around $10 a pop, the Digestive is a tad pricier than I would have thought.  Still, it is not an outrageous price for something that is so easy to smoke.

Final Thoughts: The big question here is would I reach for this cigar again?  Probably.  It's actually a tad too sweet for my palate, I think.  I can, however, see these handed out at a dinner party and everyone enjoying them. They are a very easy cigar to smoke and since the flavors are so light, it would be agreeable to even a novice smoker as well as old salts.  Recommended.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Proprietary something
Filler: Nicaraguan Japala and Esteli

Strength: Mild-Medium

Size: 5 x 54

Love the red tree logo.

A very nifty design on the band.