It’s not unusual for a cigar line to have been inspired by a specific image, story or lifestyle. There are brands paying homage to historical figures, memorable locations and revered traditions. But seldom does one encounter a brand celebrating the interconnectedness of the universe, a lofty goal which apparently has been met with great aplomb by recently minted brand owner Don Emmanuel.
His journey through the world of cigar culture is rooted in his family’s history, as he explains: “I come from a family with a long tradition in tobacco in Brazil. My grandmother worked her entire life at Suerdieck, a well known Brazilian cigar manufacturer, and my mother’s family is from the region that is the terroir for the Brazilian dark tobacco Mata Fina. I always heard stories about cigars at my home. It’s in my roots and in my blood.”
Still, it was not until 2004, at 22 years of age, that Don Emmanuel smoked his first cigar. He would frequent the local cigar store, taking extensive notes from the owner to absorb as much information as he could. His early forays into the cigar business were as a content creator and subsequently as an educator, teaching tasting and pairing master classes. This work was conducted in Brazil, Europe and the Middle East, allowing him to familiarize himself with these diverse markets. Don Emmanuel also has served as a consultant to new cigar lounges and brands, and continues to do so.
The leap from learning and instructing about pairings to the ambition to become a brand creator was propelled by his decision to enroll in the Cigar Sommelier course, with its extensive training, but not only in cigar pairings. As Don Emmanuel attests, “The course includes visits to factories and plantations, as well as encounters with prominent figures in the cigar world…it’s a title that also opens your mind to keep learning every day. That’s its greatest legacy.”
This intensive training was conducted by IACS, the International Cigar Sommelier Association, under the guidance of Master of Wine and Master Cigar Sommelier Yamir Pellegrino, a founder and president of IACS, and one of the world’s foremost experts in this field. Don Emmanuel achieved the distinction of earning the world’s highest score in the Master Sommelier course.
He completed his Cigar Sommelier certification in 2018, and was certified a Master Sommelier in 2020.
The comprehensive knowledge attained from his studies, paired with his co-ownership and management of Chateau Lounge, a premium cigar and spirits lounge in São Paulo, Brazil, paved the way for Don Emmanuel’s entry into the cigar manufacturing industry. Initially a consultant to Chateau Lounge in 2022, he became a partner with lounge owner Olivier Weber in 2023. That same year, Weber became a partner in Don Emmanuel Cigars.
When Don Emmanuel began to consider creating his own cigars, his desire to acquire knowledge from the highest sources led him to visit all of the top factories in Brazil, as well as such iconic manufacturers as E.P. Carrillo, Davidoff, Chateau de La Fuente, La Flor Dominicana, La Galera, and Tabacalera de Garcia, among others. Once he decided to launch his own brand, he knew precisely who he wanted to create his cigars. As he recalls, “I had always been a big admirer of Eladio Díaz’s cigars, and by extension of Davidoff. When I decided to move forward with the brand, I chose Eladio without a second thought because he shares the same level of passion for tobacco that I have.” For the unacquainted, Eladio Díaz was the Master Blender for Davidoff for 40 years before he left to start his own manufacturing concern, which produces his eponymous Eladio Díaz brand, and others.
Don Emmanuel’s initial offering, and his company’s flagship line, Anunnaki, is rooted in ancient Sumerian cosmology, taking its name from the culture’s deities. As told by Don Emmanuel: “In homage to these ancient inhabitants, the Don Emmanuel will launch its first line, drawing inspiration from the creators of humanity in Sumerian mythology.” The number seven is significant in religion, numerology and metaphysics, and is honored in this brand by incorporating seven distinct tobaccos, creating, according to their website, a robust blend with notes of “aged cedar, cacao, espresso, earth, leather and gentle spice, with subtle molasses or raisiny sweetness.” Anunnaki was introduced in 2025. The line comprises three vitolas:
- Ki: 5 x 50 Robusto
- Anu: 6 x 52 Toro
- Corona Fina: 4 x 38 Petite Corona
For 2026 Don Emmanuel and Master Blender Eladio Díaz collaborated to create a special limited edition, Sun & Moon, described on the website as “A unique dual smoking experience through two distinct blends in one premium box.” This special release’s ethos is further elaborated by Don Emmanuel’s business partner Olivier Weber, who says, “The number seven is directly connected to the energies of the universe that we so deeply value and honor in our relationship with nature, and with the world of cigars. The number seven is recognized as a key number across many cultures. It’s a number that appears repeatedly in the way the universe organizes itself, a number of harmony and spiritual connectedness.”
As Sun & Moon is a series of 777 boxes, a number regarded as a “portal” number, with each box containing seven Sun and seven Moon cigars. “We symbolically reinforce the idea of a portal and of connection to the energies of the universe,” says Weber.
For more information, visit donemmanuelcigars.com.
– Article by Larry Wagner. Photography courtesy of Don Emmanuel Cigars.
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 3, 2026. To receive a copy of this magazine, you must be a current PCA member. Join or renew today.
