Aaron Loomis

 Seth Geise

Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia is a matte medium brown with a few lightly raised veins. The seams are smooth while the caps have some raised edges. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional design for the brand. The secondary band is black and silver along with the colors of the French flag and denotes Exclusivo Francia. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and barnyard funk. The foot brings musty cedar and light sweetness. The pre-light draw brings sweet and musty cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.
Seth: Finished with a lovely dark Natural wrapper, the VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia has this chocolate coloring to it. There are medium size veins present throughout, and the veins are lighter in coloring. Well-constructed and slightly firm in hand. The cigar has a nice little give when squeezed. Aromas of raisins, tobacco, hay and earth.

Team Cigar Review: VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with musty, lightly toasted cedar, dry earth and mild amounts of black pepper and floral notes. At a quarter inch in, a light chalkiness joins the profile. At a half inch in, the dry earth and black pepper are very subtle. The retrohale is toasted cedar, chalkiness and floral notes. At an inch and a half, the mustiness has become pretty light while the chalkiness is just behind the toasted cedar and floral note just behind the chalkiness. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.
Seth: The first third starts out by delivering a peppery spice profile that is paired with hay and grass notes. There are touches of earth present as well, and the cigar is medium in strength and body.

Team Cigar Review: VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the dry earth has picked back up to be even with the chalkiness. At a half inch in, the toasted cedar, chalkiness and dry earth are all even up front with the floral note in the background and no mustiness or black pepper remaining. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, chalkiness and dry earth. At an inch and a half in, the profile becomes a bit dry. The third wraps up with the mustiness returning to the toasted cedar and the dry earth and chalkiness remain even with it. There is still some floral notes in the background. The strength remained at slightly below medium.
Seth: The second third starts out by delivering noticeable coffee notes that are paired with leather, hay and grass. There are some herbal and pepper qualities, and like the first third, the cigar is medium in strength and body. Less pepper now overall.

Team Cigar Review: VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the toast level increases a bit. At a half inch in, the dry earth takes the lead in the profile. The retrohale has the musty toasted cedar up front with light dry earth behind. At an inch in, the floral note is gone. At an inch and a quarter, the chalkiness has departed. As the cigar wraps up, the profile is dry earth slightly ahead of the musty, toasted cedar. The strength bumped up to medium.
Seth: The final third is a continuation of the second third, and I am picking up coffee notes that are paired with leather, hay and grass. There are touches of earth and herbs as well, and like before, the cigar is medium in strength and body.

Team Cigar Review: VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia

Burn

Aaron: The burn was perfect through the first two thirds and then became a bit wavy in the final third. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.
Seth: The cigar burned very well throughout.

Team Cigar Review: VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia

Draw

Aaron: The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.
Seth: Lovely draw.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with musty, lightly toasted cedar, dry earth and mild amounts of black pepper and floral notes. Some chalkiness joined a bit later. The second third saw the profile become a bit dry while the black pepper dropped out. The final third saw the chalkiness and floral notes drop out. The VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia started well with a nice combination of flavors. It dropped to average in the second third as components began dropping out and maintained that level the rest of the way. Overall, the cigar was at the level that I’ve been experiencing for this brand for the International market. Not anything that is mind blowing, just a serviceable cigar. Not something I’d be in a hurry to revisit.
Seth: While an improvement over the Austrian release, the VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia is still lacking. What is funny about this, is that I typically find the VegaFina blends for Europe to be more complex and some of the best blends by Altadis. This does not smoke like those European VegaFinas. This is not a blend that has complex flavors, depth, transitioning, etc. This was one dimensional and lacking. There was a core profile, but it was not enough to carry the cigar. This is an opportunity for Altadis/VegaFina to create regional releases for Europe that are superior to Habanos, and they screwed it up.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$2.21

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$2.35

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia