JC Newman

June 02, 2013

Espinosa Maduro Robusto (5 x 52)








Video review HERE.



On the heels of his success with the Espinosa Habano, Eric Espinosa introduced the maduro version on April 9th, 2013. This cigar is cloaked in a dark Mexican maduro wrapper. The exact binder and filler are unknown but I believe they are both Nicaraguan.

The Espinosa Maduro is made in Espinosa's La Zona Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and will come in 4 different vitolas:
 
Robusto box pressed 5 x 52 (being reviewed today)
Belicoso box pressed 5 1/2 x 52
Corona Gorda box pressed 5 5/8 x 46
Toro box pressed 6 x 52

All four sizes will come in boxes of 20. The Espinosa Maduro is set to be released at the end of April, 2013.


The cigar is well made and extremely dark. It is finished with a triple cap...




and has a nice density. The cigar feels heavy in the hand.




After cutting the cap the test draw was firm. The initial flavors were dark chocolate with some sweetness, earth, cocoa, and pepper at about a 6 rating.





About 1 inch in the flavors are about the same as the beginning. There is some sweet cedar, cocoa, dark chocolate, and earth notes. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is one of a lightly sweet cream with a touch of lingering pepper. The ash is almost white and it's tight.






About 1 1/2 inches in the cocoa and cedar notes are a little sweeter and showing hints of richness. Everything else is about the same. The cigar is burning evenly. The cigar is still medium bodied.






At this point, about midway through the cigar, I was at one hour. This is a slow burning cigar so you get your money's worth. The flavors are about the same and the hints of richness continue. It's not quite there yet but I'm hopeful!






About 1/2 inch further the cocoa notes  have finally achieved some significant richness. The cedar gives the cigar some sweetness and the dark chocolate occupies the base. The pepper has intensified to a 7 and the finish is more of a toasted cream.







As the cigar wound down the cocoa notes achieving richness in the previous segment really made the cigar very nice. The cedar notes and dark chocolate was a great addition. This cigar lasted 1 hour 35 minutes. It remained medium bodied. I could see this cigar going well with coffee or a sweet bourbon. The only negative was the draw in the early stages was firm but it loosened up around the midpoint. All in all this was a very good cigar.

Score: 91

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