Caravan Fair Warning by Espinosa BP Rabito – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

In 2019, at Espinosa Cigar’s La Zona Palooza festival, they announced an exclusive cigar for Caravan Cigar Company located in Bath, Pennsylvania. That cigar was called Fair Warning by Espinosa and it is a barber pole that used a Candela wrapper and a Brazilian oscuro. That original version came in one size, a 5 x 52 robusto. In 2022 the companies released a new size in the blend, which is the focus of today’s review, a 6 x 50 box pressed toro, or Rabito. Caravan Cigar Company has been an Espinosa Lounge since it opened in 2017.

Both wrappers in the blend have been previously used on other Espinosa cigars. The blend uses candela and Brazilian oscuro wrappers, with Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It is of course rolled at La Zona S.A. in Estelí Nicaragua.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Brazilian Oscuro/Candella
Binder: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli/Condega)
Factory: La Zona
Blender: Héctor Alfonso
Number of reviewers: 5 – Jai P. (Jai) Angel M. (Angel) Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard) Chris M. (Chris) Randy B. (randobush)
Price: $11.00
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: April 2022
Contributed by: Caravan Cigar Company

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“A nice looking soft box pressed barber pole with a short pigtail” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Aroma: 89

“Fresh mowed grass, barnyard, leather, and earth are easily detected with a quick sniff of the foot.” –Randy B. (randobush)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Mild mocha, mild hay/grass, grahm, and nuts” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

“In the first third there’s a tiny bit of pepper spice on the lips. The flavor starting off is sweet tobacco and leather with some hints of cedar. The smoke in the first third is mildly creaming and cool, so far this cigar is starting off very well and it is very enjoyable. Towards the end of the first third all the flavors remain fairly consistent with the addition of plum coming in towards the end. At the end of the first third the burn starts to go sideways Requiring a small touchup. ” –Angel M. (Angel)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The sweetness of the candela wrapper seems to be a nice counterbalance to the pepperiness heading into the second third. Baking spice picks up a tik as the flavors mesh together a bit more harmoniously than they did in the first third. Cedar is still there. Finish is medium, making it to the next draw, but dissipating enough to make you want more, quickly. There’s a dryness caused by the cedar and slight paper now. Had to do a quick touch up to straighten out a small wonky burn issue.
No big deal.” –Randy B. (randobush)

“Creamy earth, cedar and the pepper mix seem to be the key components. The caramel is off and on, and fairly light when it does hit. Grass shifts to a natural tobacco.” –Chris M. (Chris)

Final Third

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

“Going into the final third no major transitions and I can sense the mild black pepper, leather and sweet tobacco remain and continue to dominate through the cigar the cedar and plum have diminished and although the cedar is slightly represented, I can’t pick up on the plumb any longer. The smoke has heated up a little bit more as expected but still very pleasant. There is a mild harshness kicking in but nothing that distracts from the rest of the flavors. I also noticed a mild nicotine buzz kicking in during the final third but nothing unbearable or unpleasant. ” –Angel M. (Angel)

“Final third drops most of the pepper and what’s left is a creamy, nougat, baking spice, and a soft hint of smoked paprika, with a baby hint of cinnamon. Pretty good. Dry cedar in the final draws.” –Randy B. (randobush)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 89

“Perfect amount of resistance, and great smoke output.” –Randy B. (randobush)

Burn: 86

“The burn is good, required one touchup at the end of the first third. The ash held on initially until about halfway through the second third falling off in one big chunk. If not for the single touch up I would have rated as very good.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Construction: 92

“Great looking cigar” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

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

“Despite the flaws in construction the initial grassy flavor got me excited about this cigar. When the red pepper kicked in it overpowered the sweetness and was eventually earth and red pepper, which made for a boring smoke. Towards the end, hints of lemon and grass were sprinkled in revitalizing lost interest. ” –Jai P. (Jai)

“This was an eye-catching cigar, the barber pole consisting of the medium brown and Candela color was pleasant to the eye. The mildly creamy smoke with cool consistency and sweet flavors which remained through the first third and about halfway through the second third were very pleasant and mild to medium. Finishing up the second third and into the final third although the sweetest remained and was definitely present the mild black pepper and leather dominated the cigar. It should be noted, although the flavors did change in proportion, they remained greatly consistent making for an overall enjoyable smoke. I enjoyed the cigar very much and would definitely recommend it to friends and family, I think this cigar would pair well with sweeter type drinks maybe a Moscato type wine or a malty Belgian type ale. ” –Angel M. (Angel)

“Great flavors and strength, just a tighter draw and burn issues” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

“I found this to be a pretty pleasant smoke. I really wish that it kept up with the opening experience instead of becoming more simple. That being said, it didn’t simplify into an unpleasant experience. Flavors still worked for me, and I wouldn’t have a problem setting fire to another one in the future.” –Chris M. (Chris)

“I liked this cigar. The first third seemed like a war between the flavors, all fighting for dominance, but clashing in a noisy flavor battle. This all came together in the second third, as the flavors transitioned to coexist more harmoniously. By the final third, the flavors were singing together for a nice finish. Ash dropped in 2” chunks. I believe the brown wrapper to be Habano while the candela wrapper completed the beautiful barberpole.” –Randy B. (randobush)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 62

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Fair Warning by Espinosa BP Rabito – Blind Cigar Review