Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Cigar Info

Estelí Lot 8613 marks the 5th full-production cigar for Nomad. It is a follow-up to 2013’s Esteli Lot 1386. The blend is different, but the spirit of the cigar and the smoking experience closely follow that of the 1386. The blend details are not greatly detailed, but according to Fred Rewey, the cigars blender, if you enjoyed the Esteli Lot 1386, then you will probably enjoy the Esteli Lot 8613. The Esteli Lot 8613 is available in the following sizes: Robusto (5×50) Coronita (5.5×46) Toro (6×50) Grand Toro (6×58) Churchill (7×48) All in boxes of 21 and all sizes MSRP under $9.00

This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.

Vital Stats:

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: Tabacalera Fernandez
Blender: Fred Rewey
Number of reviewers: 5—–Steve (ThaGreatWazoo) Jiunn (jliu) Ron (shuckins) Dave (mdwest) Robert (NavyPiper)
Price: $8.75
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: April 2015
Contributed by: House of Emilio

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 89

“Natural tan brown color with a velvety and oily feel. Cigar is fairly well packed with no major soft spots. Two main major veins running through the extent of the cigar. Head is finished off with a well adhered double cap.” –Jiunn (jliu)

Aroma: 90

“The pre-light aroma is filled with baking spices and hay. Very nice.” –Dave (mdwest)

First Third

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The cigar starts off with a very mild cream flavor on the opening draw. The retrohale is reminiscent of a high end cigar. Very nice, smooth finish that has a hint of hay and chocolate milk. Throughout the first third, the burn is very nice and the flavor profile is delicious with a nice smooth cocoa taste and aroma. Very enjoyable at this point.” –Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

“The first few puffs provide a pretty harsh edge, but that quickly fades and by the time I’m about an inch into the cigar it smooths out nicely. Lots of nuts and cedar notes in the flavor profile.” –Dave (mdwest)

Second Third

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Second third gives similar flavors as the first third. Still getting sweet cream (but this time around, it is semi-sweet and less heavy), black pepper, bread/yeast, hint of flowers and a toasted cooking spice that I still can’t put my finger on. In addition to this mix enters coffee and milk. Strength and body still at a medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)

“In the second third, things kicked up a notch when the wood flavor morphed into a strong wood smoke which was really good, going with the other flavors.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

Final Third

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Last third stays true to the core flavors with some amendments. Still getting semi-sweet cream, black pepper, bread/yeast, coffee, milk and still that darn toasted cooking spice that I can’t put my finger on. The hint of flowers as well as coffee and milk has left. Strength and body continues to be a medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)

“Finishes much like it started, with cedar ,peppery nutmeg and a musty earthy tasting tobacco that reminds me of peat moss for some reason. There was a healthy kick from the pepper at the very end, but not to distract from everything else going on.” –Ron (shuckins)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 91

“The draw was very nice. The softness of the cigar probably lead to more smoke and an easier draw, but no issues here at all.” –Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

Burn: 93

“Burn was good throughout the smoke. Not razor sharp, but nice and straight.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

Construction: 91

“A medium firm feel to the cigar, with a near seamless cap, that smoked like a winner.” –Ron (shuckins)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 88

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro

“As a whole, this cigar was a very pleasant wine and crackers smoke. The initial cocoa and finish of the leather notes was very enjoyable. Most things about this cigar had high end status about them. The flavor profile was quite enjoyable and the light and go and no worry was excellent. Great job to the cigar company that put this out. Grab some if you can because you will enjoy.” –Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

“Overall, I enjoyed this cigar. The various amendments within each third kept the smoking experience engaging and interesting. I do wish the body of the cigar was a notch higher (as I do with most non-Cuban cigars). I would smoke this again but wouldn’t waste my time hunting these down.” –Jiunn (jliu)

“A pretty good smoking cigar overall. It just lacked the wow factor that I look for in a cigar to add to my rotation.” –Ron (shuckins)

“A nice profile, and well built. Not too complex, but enjoyable nonetheless. I would gladly smoke again.” –Dave (mdwest)

“I’d have to say the final third was my favorite. The increase in the spice and wood smoke which gave a nice burn in the sinuses was good. There was nothing that really grabbed my attention as a stogie, but was a good smoke, one for daily smoking when I wouldn’t worry about having to put it out half way through.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 88

 

Reviewer
Appearance
Aroma
1/3
2/3
3/3
Draw
Burn
Constr.
Overall
Steve ThaGreatWazoo) 90 92 92 97 95 95 97 90 95
Jiunn jliu) 90 88 90 92 90 88 95 90 90
Ron shuckins) 90 90 88 88 88 95 95 95 88
Dave mdwest) 85 88 88 88 88 92 90 92 88
Robert NavyPiper) 88 90 88 88 88 85 88 85 88

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Nomad | Esteli Lot 8613 Toro
Appearance
89
Aroma
90
First Third
88
Second Third
89
Final Third
88
Draw
91
Burn
93
Construction
91
Overall Experience
88
89
Total Score - Good