Cigar Info
At the beginning of 2022, Espinosa Premium Cigars announced a collaboration with restaurateur, Emmy Award-winning TV host and cigar smoker, Guy Fieri. The result is Knuckle Sandwich, a new line in two different blends, one with a Habano wrapper and one with a dark Sumatra Maduro wrapper. Erik Espinosa, Hector Alfonso Sr., and Guy Fieri worked on the blend for over 18 months before announcing it. Both blends are regular production. Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Maduro Toro H is the focus of today’s review.
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.
Both blends are available in the same vitolas, but at slightly different prices. The Corona Gorda R measures 5⅝ x 46 and sells for $11.50 (Habano) and $11.95 (Maduro). Robusto J measures 5 x 52 and sells for $12.50 (Habano) and $12.95 (Maduro). And Toro H measures 6 x 54 and sells for – $13.50 (Habano) $13.95 (Maduro). All are packaged in boxes of 20. All Knuckle Sandwich cigars are rolled at the San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: San Lotano AJ Fernandez
Blender: Erik Espinosa, Hector Alfonso Sr., & Guy Fieri
Number of reviewers: 4 – Alan (Eulogy) Chad M. (Chad Tchad) Sean F. (fullermaine) James H. (Keikan Jim)
Price: $13.95
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: February 2022
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
Initial Impressions – Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Maduro Toro H
Appearance: 95
“This cigar has a beautiful box press with a nice chocolate colored wrapper.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
Aroma: 94
“I am getting a deep cedar smell with light sweet molasses note.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
First Third
Flavor: 96
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“It started out a little mild but has quickly picked up in intensity. There is a good amount of red pepper on the finish with baking spice, leather, chocolate, stone fruit, and rich tobacco. The draw is very good but the smoke is a little thin.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“The first third kicks off with the chocolate notes from the cold draw continue in this portion of the cigar.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
Second Third
Flavor: 97
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The cigar has cooled down and more the flavors have developed. The flavor has transformed into a more spicy Mexican hot chocolate with a spicy cinnamon adobo spice flavor to that Mexican hot chocolate flavor. Retrohale has strong chipotle pepper flavor.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“Getting into the second third, There is a flavor switch to black pepper with dark fruit and a hot peppery retro. This is turning into a little powerhouse. The finish is still very long with a slight mineral aftertaste. It s not bad or off-putting though. The oily wrapper continues to burn nearly razor-sharp and the draw is damn near perfect.” –James H. (Keikan Jim)
Final Third
Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“The flavor and strength have picked up a tick at the end. I still find the same flavors since the beginning but they have an added richness to them. The leather, baking spice, red pepper, and rich tobacco are still major players but fuller now.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“The subtle oak notes give way to nice light black pepper notes to round out this cigar.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
Overall Impressions – Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Maduro Toro H
Draw: 98
“The draw has been nearly perfect from the first cut till the end.” –James H. (Keikan Jim)
Burn: 93
“Slightly wavy at the beginning but it leveled out pretty quickly and was perfect till the end. Nothing bad to say about it.” –Alan (Eulogy)
Construction: 98
“Beautifully rolled soft box press with no soft spots and great burn pretty much say it all.” –James H. (Keikan Jim)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 97
“I feel like this would be a very versatile cigar. I could see myself enjoying this in the morning with coffee or bourbon at night and it hits a very sweet spot with its strength. The smoke is creamy and the draw is perfect. Certainly worth picking up a few of these and I know that I will be.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“I would say the cigar started off a little worry that it was not going to work, but then the cigar cool down, and rich spicy Mexican hot chocolate adobo chipotle spice came it and saved this smoking experience.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“A perfect cigar! This beautiful box-pressed cigar with a chocolate wrapper makes this a cigar worth enjoying. Notes of chocolate, oak, and black pepper make me want another one. A cigar you’d want for your humidor. Pick up a few or a box, and let the pleasure begin.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
“From the dry draw until the last puff, this was a very enjoyable cigar. The flavors shifted nicely during the smoking experience with the only downside being a somewhat, at times, mineral flavor that lingered a little too long on the finish. I would definitely buy more of these!” –James H. (Keikan Jim)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 66
| Reviewer | Appear. | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall Experience |
| Alan | 95 | 95 | 93 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 90 | 97 | 95 |
| Chad M. | 90 | 88 | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 85 | 88 | 88 |
| Sean F. | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| James H. | 95 | 93 | 95 | 95 | 90 | 97 | 97 | 95 | 95 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.