It’s incredible what can happen when three people with the same drive, passion and ideas and what they can create when they come together. Rob “The Don”, Kyle “Abraham” and Chris “The Corojo Cowboy” met at church and enjoyed cigars together. Thus, Ezra Zion Cigars was created.
I reached out to Kyle to learn the origin of the companies name. To say it was moving would be a complete understatement….
Kyle and his wife, Tanya, were expecting a baby boy about the time the trio was starting the company. Kyle and Tanya had chosen the name “Ezra” for their soon to be newborn. Sadly, Kyle and Tonya never got to meet Ezra.
Tragically, the name “Zion” comes from a similar story. Chris as his wife were also expecting, her name was Coco Zion Kelly. Coco was born premature and God called her home as well.
Smoking cigars is an enjoyment and more often, used for celebration world wide. And what do you do when a friend has a new child? Light up a great cigar. So every time you smoke an Ezra Zion cigar, you celebrating with friends the life of two wonderful children.
So, Ezra and Coco, I dedicate this wonderful experience to you and your families.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: Arganosa / Casa Fernandez
WRAPPER: Mexican San Andres Maduro
BINDER(S): #1: Cuban Seed Nicaraguan / #2: Cuban Seed Nicaraguan
FILLER: 1999 Cuban Seed Nicaraguan Viso, Ligero
VITOLA: Gran Robusto
SIZE: 50 x 5.25
PRICE: $11.50
APPEARANCE / CONSTRUCTION:
The Ezra Zion – Eminence is graced with a dark chocolate colored San Andres wrapper that is ran with small veins from head to foot and presenting a great volume of toothiness all around. In great fashion, the Eminence is graced with a triple cap head and in simplicity, a standatd foot. The body is completely seamless, so much so, it is nearly impossible to find the edge of the wrapper.
The body is extremely dense, well balanced and quite weighty in the hand. The crew at Ezra Zion has some smooth and seriously awesome bands. The Eminence has one band in standard position that is black with silver accents and the company logo. The foot is graced with a second band that is also black and reads in large silver print, “Eminence”. Below “Eminence” is “Tercera Edicion” which translates to “Third Edition”.
PRE-LIGHT:
The body has mostly a tobacco aroma with a creamy touch. The foot smells of a dark chocolate and tobacco. Cold draw on the Eminence is near flawless and has great constriction. A creamy chocolate and tobacco are left on the palate from the cold draw.
FIRST THIRD:
As the Ezra Zion – Eminence is sparked up I am instantly intrigued. The first few puffs have a dry pepper with a chocolate finish on the back of the palate. Most notably is how wonderful the draw is. A bad draw can really ruin a wonderful cigar and the Eminence used for this review were both too notch.
Smoke production is not extremely heavy but still dense and milky white. The burn began a bit rough on our second Eminence but after a quick touch by a soft flame, the Ezra Zion was quite sharp. The has tight and looks as if it could go the distance. As the first third burned on, chocolate, cream and a flavorful tobacco all play nicely on the palate.
SECOND THIRD:
The retrohale on both sticks was absolutely insane, confusing and intriguing all in one as it seemed smooth, sweet with a sharp spicy finish. Flavor profile of the second third becomes quite rich and bold with chocolate, cream and tobacco with a hint of white pepper.
The smoke production is not quite as abundant as the previous third but still quite as dense. Draw is unchanged and near perfect. The burn has been razor sharp in the entire second third.
THIRD THIRD:
Profile has taken a slight then and the pepper is evolving. Still more of a white pepper, but the Eminence releases flashes of black pepper as well. Along side the pepper, tobacco, a dry dark chocolate and small hints of cream time to time. Surprisingly, the Ezra Zion – Eminence is still quite sweet at times.
Briefly in this final third the pepper really takes over the palate and all sweetness fades. An array of pepper and hearty tobacco seemed to be the way the Eminence would finish. As I began to get into the final stages the profile takes a huge twist and the chocolate and creamy sweetness come back with a vegance.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The Ezra Zion – Eminence is truly different. Most cigars seem to either transition from light to full, full to light, sweet to spice or spice to sweet. The Eminence didn’t really seem to do any of these. The strength was consistently medium plus. What was truly different was the transition of the profile. What began as an undertone became the more prominent note and what was the most prominent became the undertone (until the finish) with the second third being a perfect balance of all given notes.
The Ezra Zion – Eminence is well constructed, burns VERY slow, quite consistent and yet ever changing. The shelf appeal is also eye catching overall, the Eminence is a well presented cigar.
Our overall suggestion? Find a box, celebrate something or nothing and be apart of the family.
You can learn more about Ezra Zion Cigars, the Eminence and other blends by visiting their website. And be sure to follow them on twitter and instagram at: @ezrazioncigars.
**all cigars for this review were provided by Ezra Zion Cigars.
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