United Tobacco/EO Brands have released a lot of cigars. The brand owned by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa is most famous for its 601 and Murcielago lines, but has produced quite a few interesting cigars since 2006. While the Series X might be the most infamous of releases, there have actually been some smaller releases that are just a bit less known.

One of those quieter releases is the EO Brands 929.

Espinosa and Ortega realized that for true mild cigar smokers, there was nothing in the EO portfolio for them to smoke. The feedback from these cigar smokers was that the now discontinued 601 Black was just too much. As such, around 2008, EO Brands began working on a milder cigar. That cigar would become the EO Brands 929 which was introduced shortly thereafter in a single Robusto size. Espinosa says that they looked to try to find the mildest Nicaraguan (filler) tobacco they could buy.

As Ortega explains:

We’ve always had a problem while doing events with customers who prefer milder smokes. All the brands we currently manufacture are pretty full bodied, the 601 Black was probably the mildest of all, but not really mild – medium to full is more accurate.

929 just didn’t work good for us. We are currently tasting blends for a milder smoke, we’re just too picky.

Oddly, the 929 has no meaning or backstory behind it. Ortega said on Twitter:

We just like to keep names simple and anglos can pronounce (it)…

During 2010, the EO Brands 929 was discontinued. Eddie believes ultimately around 3,000 cigars were given out at events as part of promotions.

Cigar Reviewed: EO Brands 929

EO Brands 929 Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Nicaragua Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.

My Father Cigars S.A. Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)

Ecuador (Connecticut) Binder: Nicaragua

Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua

Nicaragua Length: 5 Inches

5 Inches Ring Gauge: 50

50 Vitola: Robusto

Robusto MSRP: n/a

n/a Release Date: 2009

2009 Number of Cigars Released: 3,000 Total Cigars

3,000 Total Cigars Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 1

It’s a Connecticut. The wrapper of the 929 is clean with good seams and a great triple cap. This is the sweeter version of the Connecticut wrapper when it comes to aroma with a peculiar sweet flavor that reminds me a bit of bubblegum and a barnyard flavor. It also reminds me a lot of a cigar I smoked last year, unfortunately, even after running through a few hundred review notes, I still can’t think of the cigar. The foot isn’t much different, but I will say that in the year plus this spent in the cellophane, the cigar is rather strong aroma-wise. The cold draw is a touch tight with some great coffee notes, aged tobacco and a touch of pepper with a lot of the wrapper’s sweetness coming through.

The first third of the EO Brands 929 starts with a ton of smoke featuring roasted nuts, creaminess, hints of cedar and the other flavors that make up classic Connecticut. I’d say it’s more medium plus in flavor, although in most other aspects, this is obviously light. The remainder of the first third is much of the same. Up front, classic Connecticut flavors with an underlying sweetness, bits of nuts, creaminess and some cedar. The finish sees a bit of cocoa and harsh pepper on the back of the throat. Once again, medium-full in flavor, tons of smoke, relatively mild in body and a non-existent strength.

In a bit of change as the pepper and harshness sort of separate into the second third. There is really not much else flavor-wise changing, although the cigar is actually pretty full-flavored. While the flavors are easy to pick up and pretty clean, about twenty-five minutes in and I’m already bored out of mind. A few touch-ups here and there, but the ash of the My Father-made cigar is burning pretty well after a great start.

By the final third, I sort of knew where the EO 929 was going to be. No change flavor-wise until the final inch when the robusto begins to get mushy. Oddly, the body picks up a bit, but definitively not enough to even reconsider where this cigar stands.

Final Third

The bands look like the red Romeo y Julieta bands. They look a bit more like the non-Cuban 1875 bands than the Cuban version. This is the second non-Romeo y Julieta that might require a double take, the other is the Curivari Selección Privada.

Oddly, the cigar seemed to put off tons of smoke no matter the puff rate. A few times I picked it up to around 45 seconds a puff and there were a few draws where I went a few minutes between drawing. Each time, there was a cloud of rather aromatic smoke.

Strength was there, just enough to not quantify it as zero.

The cigar that Ortega mentions in the above quote that they were working on, presumably the 601 White.

If you were trying to stump people during guess the factory, this would be a winner.

Final smoking time was one hour and four minutes.