The inception of Emperors Cut was born from a shared passion for the age-old traditions of cigar-making, combined with a desire to innovate within this revered craft. Our founders brought together diverse backgrounds and a common vision to create a cigar brand that transcends the ordinary—where each cigar is a celebration of sophistication and a nod to the connoisseurs of the finer things in life.
Emperors Cut is distinguished by its meticulous process of selection, aging, and rolling. We source our tobacco from the world's finest plantations, each leaf handpicked to ensure it meets our exacting standards. Our master blenders, experts with decades of experience, meticulously craft each blend to achieve complex flavor profiles that delight both newcomers and seasoned aficionados.
For us, quality is the cornerstone of our brand. Every cigar that bears the Emperor's Cut name has been subjected to stringent testing and quality control to ensure it embodies the pinnacle of excellence. From the cultivation of our tobacco to the final product in the hands of our customers, every step is executed with the highest level of care and precision.
Looking forward, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of the cigar industry by blending tradition with innovation. Our aim is to continue refining our products and expanding our reach while maintaining the integrity and quality our customers have come to expect. Emperors Cut is poised to remain at the forefront of the luxury cigar market, delivering an unmatched smoking experience.
The founder of the parent group, Emperors Group LLC, Streat brought together several of his friends to breathe life into Emperors Cut Cigars. The Chesapeake, Virginia native leverages his 30+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Executive Leadership, Management, Finance and Entrepreneurship to deliver profitability and growth for Emperors Cut Cigars. His hobbies include hunting, skeet shooting and cycling. Darnell volunteers every Friday at a Houston area pantry sorting and delivering food to those in need. He holds a BS from Norfolk State University, and an MBA from Hampton University; and served proudly in the United States Air Force.
Holland a.k.a. “Pop” hails from Chesapeake, Virginia and leverages his immense skills in logistics and business to manage domestic logistics for E.C. Maurice has been a serious aficionado for over 25 years. He is an active member of the Prince Hall Masons, loves clothes and accessories. He and his son share a passion for North Carolina Tarheel Basketball. Holland has an MBA from Troy University, and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
“Red” is all charm and substance. Darryl uses his Business Development and Sales experience at Fortune 500 companies to deliver both account and revenue growth for Emperors Cut Cigars. Redmon is also a native of the “757.” “Red” and Maurice (Holland) are lifelong friends having grown up in the same Deep Creek neighborhood in Chesapeake. The avid motorcyclist lives in South Florida, loves to cook and grill, and is an rabid Las Vegas Raiders Fan. However, he loves nothing more than doting on his beautiful granddaughter and grandson.
A dynamic networker and connector, Temi is adept at generating Brand awareness, and business development for the company. The former volleyball player and graduate of Tuskegee University has deep roots in cigars growing up on a tobacco farm in Panama where she has fond memories of her grandfather and uncles smoking their own hand rolled cigars. Temi is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
The quiet “Genius” of Emperors Cut Cigars. Brevity is an understatement when it comes to Howard. Robert holds a M.D. from the University of Virginia, practiced medicine for a while but realized he wanted to be a lawyer. He received his J.D. from the University Notre Dame School of Law. Robert provides counsel on a myriad of legal and regulatory issues around tobacco industry related matters for Emperors Cut Cigars. He supports also our business growth in the Baltimore, DMV, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, Virginia. Robert lives in the Washington DC area and has a passion for cigars and fine spirits.
Smooth as silk with a heart of gold, Hurt supports Emperors Cut Cigars in vital areas of the supply chain and logistics. An expert in Global Logistics, Greg ensures seamless delivery of Emperors Cut Cigars from the country of production to our distribution center in the United States. A Detroit, Michigan native, “GH” takes great pride in the titles of Husband and Father, and is active in his church serving on the Deacon Board. Hurt served proudly in the United States Marine Corps.
A detail guy who swears he is not OCD, Willis manages the day-to-day operations for Emperors Cut Cigars. He leads the EC Partnership in Product Development and go to market strategy. Greg spearheads Communications and Marketing for the company, and develops account and revenue growth strategies for the company. The Norfolk, Virginia native is a proud graduate of Norfolk State University and obtained his MBA from Texas Southern University. He loves to workout, saltwater fish and listen to music. Willis is a certified basketball official with the Georgia High School Association.