Emilio Cigars

Emilio was born behind a counter. Gary Griffith ran the Delaware Cigars shops when he launched his brand in 2010. Moving from retailer to brand owner is a common path in the United States, and this atlas holds several — Kristoff is another.

He never had a factory, and he changed workshops often. AF1 and then AF2 carry their maker's name inside their own: A.J. Fernández. Grimalkin, in 2011, was a Nicaraguan puro rolled at My Father — grimalkin is an old English word for a grey she-cat. The name and the label drew enough criticism that the house withdrew them in 2012 and renamed the blend Mousa, in a series called La Musa.

Grimalkin has since returned, under Scott Zucca, who now owns the brand: it is made at Fábrica Oveja Negra, Black Label Trading Co.'s workshop in Estelí.

Three factories, three families, one name on the band. A.J. Fernández, My Father and Black Label Trading each have their entry in this atlas — which is the clearest way to show what a brand without a factory actually is.

Range Depth

• AF1 and AF2

  Wrapper A.J. Fernández blends · Strength Medium-Full

  The first two lines, out in 2011. The maker's initials are in the cigar's own name: few brands name their roller that openly.

  Robusto · Toro · Torpedo

• Grimalkin

  Wrapper Oveja Negra blend · Strength Medium-Full

  A 2011 Nicaraguan puro, first rolled at My Father, withdrawn in 2012 under the name Mousa, then brought back — and made since at Fábrica Oveja Negra.

  Robusto · Toro

• La Musa

  Wrapper Nicaraguan blend · Strength Medium

  The series where the Grimalkin blend was placed under the name Mousa, after the 2012 withdrawal.

  Robusto · Toro