In my day job, I work a lot with statistics. Over the past year, Gary Griffith from Emilio Cigars has brought six independent boutique cigar brands into his distribution network (in addition to his own lines). If my calculations are correct, and assuming the expansion continues at an exponential rate, by 2016 EVERY cigar brand will be distributed by Emilio.
Bad math jokes aside, Ezra Zion Cigar Company is one of the latest additions to the Emilio distribution empire. The first two releases from Ezra Zion are the Inception and the Reagan (first in their Honor Series). Brian Hewitt mentioned the Inception in his latest Week in Smoke, and today I’ll be covering the Reagan.
Stepping back for a second, let’s just take a look at the name: Ezra Zion Reagan. It’s enough to turn the stomach of anyone in the Occupy Movement. Fortunately, that’s not me, and I was eager to try a Nicaraguan puro named in honor of our 40th president.
Ezra Zion Reagan by the numbers:
Size: 6.75×54
Vitola: President
Wrapper: Nicaraguan (“2006 Cuban Seed Sun Grown Habano”)
Binder: Nicaraguan (“2006 Cuban Seed”)
Filler: Nicaraguan (“2007 Cuban Seed Seco, Viso, and Ligero”)
Strength: Medium
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
No. smoked for review: 90 minutes
Duration: 2 hours
Source: review samples
MSRP: $12.50
Website: http://www.ezrazion.com/
Twitter: @EzraZionCigars
Facebook: Ezra Zion Cigar Company
With a name like Reagan, this cigar has some big shoes to fill. How did it fare? Watch the video to find out…
(Video length: 10:26)
Soundtrack: “Longing for Freedom” by phasenwandler ft. Snowflake
http://ccmixter.org/files/phasenwandler/35389
is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
All in all, the Reagan was a very solid cigar and a great introduction for me to Ezra Zion‘s initial offerings. It definitely got off to a fantastic start, as the first third to half was an absolute flavor bomb. Lots of deliciously dark Nicaraguan flavors, and some unique notes tucked in there for good measure. The second half was also good, but left me wishing I had smoked the first halves of two Reagan cigars rather than a single full one. As I mentioned in the video, I’d be very interested in trying this in a shorter size. According to the Ezra Zion website, the Reagan is also available in a 52×6 box-pressed vitola called the “40th,” which sounds like it might be more up my alley. But at the end of the day, I liked it, and I think it’s definitely worth checking out, even if it is a tad pricey.
Ah yes, the Reagan. I hear you can get these in Tehran but they must be purchased through Israel, and any change is sent to Honduras and Nicaragua. Each box comes lined with the Boland Amendment and an astrology chart.
I’d rather not put a Reagan in my mouth. Think I’ll wait for them to release an Olie North size!
Great review….but $12.50….not an easy way to enter the biz….is it?
I don’t doubt it’s good, but I can’t see the sense in having your first cigar release be so expensive! Put out a good $7-8 cigar first, then people might risk the $12.50 to try the next line. Maybe I’m just a cheapskate, lol, but there aren’t many cigars I pay $12.50 for!!