"What started out as a promising but went south quickly. Relight after relight, touch up after touch caused for a near unsmokable experience. It is hard to judge a line of cigar by smoking one so I will revisit it another time to see if this was a one off experience or what this line will be." -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Espinosa Premium Cigars announces the Espinosa Sumatra, a distinct addition to their core lineup, crafted in Nicaragua's La Zona Factory. Available in three sizes, it offers a unique flavor profile, filling a gap in Espinosa's range.
Back in 2016, Julio and Justo Eiroa began growing crops of Sumatra tobacco, the same time they starting the same process with Cameroon. Now, the company is set to release a blend with their own Honduran-grown Sumatra wrapper. This new blend is said to have been influenced by the youngest generation of Eiroas with the fourth generation getting more involved and taking a more modern play on box design. This is the first Aladino cigar blend that does not have the Aladino image in the inside of the box.
"With a gambit of robust flavors that complimented one another exceptionally as well as a smoke that was creamy, smooth and mouthwatering, the first two thirds is certainly where this cigar shined! Even though the smoke remained incredibly smooth, the flavors flatlined entering the final third which made for a lackluster ending to an otherwise great cigar. Had the pleasant mix of flavors been consistent from start to finish my remarks would certainly have been a bit higher. I have a feeling that a loose roll is the most likely culprit for the sudden downturn as the temperature of the smoke quickly rose and the flavors almost immediately became acrid. I'd gladly give this smoke another shot as I'm sure the loose roll is just a fluke." -Noah S. (Noah)
"Of the non-figurado parejos, Coronas are arguably one of my favorite sizes that I tend to reach for and I was excited when I pulled this stick out of the humidor. I just love a cigar that showcases the wrapper and binder as opposed to the filler and this blend certainly works in this vitola. Not only were the flavors explosive from the very first puff to the very last but this smoke was incredibly smooth throughout. The flavors never really transitioned but rather matured and evolved all the while complimenting one another in perfect balance. Kudos to the blender for creating a delightful blend that I can not wait to smoke again!" -Noah S. (Noah)
"This was a very enjoyable cigar from start to finish. There was a decent amount of complexity. The transitions flowed seamlessly, and the flavors were solid. I don’t always go for oak (or any wood) heavy cigars, but the balancing flavors did their job well. This is one I could easily rotate in on occasion. You definitely need a good chunk of time to enjoy this one." -Chris M. (Chris)
"This was a very balanced smoke until the final third. It didn’t lose it completely, but the dark notes definitely took the spotlight in the end. I did enjoy the flavors throughout. Plenty of flavor shifts kept it interesting, which is good, because I got over an hour and a half out of a robusto. The smoke time alone is pretty impressive, and with the flavors, I feel quite satisfied. I would definitely smoke this again, probably even grab some for my stash. I have no idea what the price is, but unless it’s really steep, I’m inclined to say that you’ll be getting a lot of bang for your buck with this one." -Chris M. (Chris)
"With a smoking time south of an hour, this smoke was quite literally short and sweet making it a shoo-in for a lunch break or any other occasion where time is not a luxury. It is hard to say with absolute certainty whether or not the missing chunk of wrapper right at the foot was intentional or not. The fact that the wrapper was not torn and the uniformity of the transition where the wrapper begins leads me to believe that this feature had a purpose. Regardless, it showcased and highlighted in an intriguing way just how much the wrapper leaf contributes to a cigar's aroma, blend, and flavor profiles. Without it, the cigar would certainly not be the same. Aside from the obvious transition that took place once the burn line reached the leading edge of the wrapper, this smoke was dead consistent with regards to flavors. A smoke this short doesn't need a ton of transitions and with such enjoyable flavors, I couldn't be happier in their absence. Not only were the flavors right in line with my preferences, they were well balanced and the smoke was buttery smooth. A top-notch draw and trouble-free burn were the cherries on top of an incredible smoking experience that I can not wait to have again." -Noah S. (Noah)
"When it comes to short cigars, I really never expect there to be a ton of complexity, and this one is no different, but it definitely did not lack in flavor, with a constant barrage of cayenne and unsweetened cocoa. This really hit the spot as a post dinner cigar for me and would work well with a bit of time constraint necessary." -Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
"Hats off to the torcedor who expertly rolled such a beautiful cigar and hats off to the blender for the incredible balance of flavors that dazzled my palate. From the first puff to the last this smoke was nothing short of stellar! Spice bombs typically aren't my go to when I reach in the humidor but this one hit different as the abundance of spice was offset and balanced with just the right amount of sweet. The contrast of flavors was enjoyable and intriguing enough that I didn't miss the lack of significant transitions and it certainly did not detract from the overall smoking experience. I would love to try this cigar again and would love to pair it with pint of a bitey flavorful IPA or a nice spiced rum on the rocks." -Noah S. (Noah)