Don Emmanuel Annunaki Ki

Purchased: Box of 10 Ki (Robusto 5 X 50)
Store: The Burnt Leaf Lounge
Price: $108/box
Buy Again: Yes.
Box Worthy: Yes.
Experience Rating: 100

Since I went to Brazil early last year and bought several of these, I had been trying to find them in the US, but to no avail. I finally was able to connect with Don Emmanuel on LinkedIn and he directed me to the The Burnt Leaf Lounge in Sunrise, FL. Now I have a place to buy them from! As soon as I got the link, I got a box of the Ki (Robusto). And now that they’ve been stewing for a spell, I decided it was time to try one out.

But before I go on, as I’m smoking this, I’m in my happy place. This is a cigar for the afficionado; someone who can appreciate the sophistication and nuance of a fine cigar. It’s so good that I’m having a difficult time writing this. I just want to bask in the pleasure of smoking this incredible stick! But I do want to share what I’m smelling and tasting.

To be honest, those who predominantly smoke more heavy-body and bold cigars may dismiss this as too mild and not enough flavor. But they’d be missing the nuance as this cigar screams classic DR! It’s like smoking a Cuban cigar. Most are medium strength at best, but there are plenty of subtleties in the smoke. It simply requires a bit of mental adjustment.

Visually, this is a beautiful cigar. The wrapper is smooth with a few veins with tight, visible seams. It’s solid with just the right amount of give with no soft spots or inconsistencies. It’s clear that much care was taken for construction.

One thing that has always amazed me about this cigar is how its tobacco smells. While there’s the typical sour barnyard aroma, it’s accompanied by the scents of honeysuckle and fresh-cut grass. The honeysuckle is the exclamation point. It’s something I’ve never smelled in a cigar.

BTW, the draw is perfect. Just the right amount of resistance

At light-up, I was greeted by a blast of black coffee that quickly gave way to notes of cashews, cream, and a background sweetness. I was so used to the black pepper from all the Nicaraguans I smoke that the black coffee took me by complete surprise!

About a half inch into the smoke, flavors start stacking up on top of the original notes. Malt, coffee with cream, Hershey’s chocolate sauce, flower bouquet, toffee, toast. The finish is light, but long, with a velvety smooth mouthfeel. By the end of the first third, I taste vanilla, cream soda, roasted nuts, oak, and marzipan. I started swooning over the nicotine level, but after that initial hit, the nicotine calmed down and was light for the rest of the smoke.

By the second third, it’s game over. The cigar spent the first third establishing its palate of flavors. Then complexity kicks in and through the finish, it has been difficult to pin down the profile as the transitions accelerate. No puff is the same. I’ve had to stop writing several times just to ponder the experience. It’s incredible!

What does happen by the end of the second third is that the flavors intensify as the cigar has loaded up. But the transitions keep on coming! A light red pepper spice enters the fray on the finish. This is a great foil to the build up in intensity that could have taken a darker, brooding turn. Instead, that spice perks up the cigar. Nice!

As for the burn, it has been straight and even. I’m not normally one to let the ash build. But even light flicks wouldn’t dislodge the ash. It finally fell off on its own right below the main band. That’s a testament to the great construction. It’s clear an expert roller rolled this stick!

As for the flavor profile, it’s more of the same in the final third: More intense flavors and lots of transitions. Black Ethiopian coffee dominates the profile. That’s a new one for me. The sweetness has been replaced by a pleasing light cayenne spiciness, a signal to keep smoking slowly and take my time.

And speaking of slow, the burn has slowed WAY down in the final third. It’s as if the cigar is saying, “FYI, the smoke is pretty intense at this point. Take your time to enjoy each draw as you finish me.”

Premium cigars like this take you on a journey. As I smoke this down to the nub, I’m contemplating the wonderful experience I’ve just had with this smoke. It’s one of the most amazing cigars I’ve had in a long time.