PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

28 PCA The Magazine | SHOW 2021 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG The Blend Espinosa Laranja Reserva Robusto Extra, 5 ½ x 54 Country of Manufacture: Nicaragua Wrapper: Brazilian Laranja Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua MSRP: $11 per single Smoke time: 1 hour, 15 minute Espinosa cigars have always been a reflection of their eponymous creator, Erik Espinosa Sr. The 601 line runs the gamut from smooth to bold; 601 La Bomba is powerful and explosive; Murcielago is dark and mysterious; and the Habano is a perfectly balanced blend of sweet and spicy. And then there’s the Laranja Reserva. It’s somewhat of a square peg in a round hole. Where does a cigar, with a Nicaraguan blend but a heretofore unheard of wrapper leaf from Brazil, fit in to the portfolio? The Laranja (Portuguese for orange) was born of Espinosa’s love of the color orange. His desire to adorn a cigar with a band of that shade came to life when he was introduced to the orange-hued Brazilian wrapper leaf. The challenge then was to pair that unique cover leaf with compatible filler tobacco. We’ll skip ahead and end the suspense by stating that the result has been masterfully achieved. But the cigar remains something of an anomaly within the framework of what is an unabashedly strength-forward, classically Nicaraguan stable of blends. Let’s start with the obvious: The cigars are beautiful! The clearly orange cast of the wrapper leaf forms a perfect background for the crisp, clean and highly readable cigar band. It features an eye-popping embossed gold-foil border, a bright white background, filled in with a vivid tangerine color. The crested coat of arms is surrounded by filigreed designs encasing the names La Zona and Espinosa. The finishing touch is a perfectly matched orange ribbon at the foot. It’s a very untraditional treatment of a classic look. The cigars themselves continue that familiar yet decidedly different direction implied by the artwork. Visually, the cigars are impressive, with a subdued sheen on a smooth but somewhat toothy wrapper, with noticeable veins but near-invisible seams. Construction is likewise impeccable, with a firm but not unyielding feel. The wrapper leaf gives off a sweet and pungent aroma, with the foot adding a damper, earthier scent. Now on to the taste. A ¼-inch punch cut opens up a free flow of air, with just the right amount of resistance. The cold draw serves up a flavorful dose of English Breakfast tea. Surprisingly, there is no apparent spice, a usually reliable trademark of Nicaraguan blends. Upon lighting, however, the tea is joined by subtle graham cracker sweetness, as well as a bit of white pepper on the tongue. The pepper spice is more prominent on the retrohale. So far, so good. The Laranja Robusto Extra smokes well, building a solid gray ash above a mildly wavy burn line, which is razor sharp. The draw continues to produce more than ample amounts of smoke. At this point, not quite 2 inches in, the lower half of the cigar is becoming somewhat soft. It’s not enough to make the cigar smoke hot, although it may be hastening the burn time, but it’s surprising, as the upper half is admirably firm. That said, there’s no adverse effect on the quality of the flavor, which is picking up in sweetness. It’s interesting to point out that I feel I’m detecting a citrus flavor in the mix, but I wonder if I’m not influenced by the suggestion of the theme of orange so prevalent in the presentation. Still, I’d have to say it’s there, along with the pepper, which continues to tickle the nasal passages. As the sweetness ebbs and flows I once again feel I’m being influenced by the visually pleasing orange and white cigar band, calling to mind the taste of a favorite childhood frozen treat: the Creamsicle. If you never experienced the joy of an ice cream truck cruising the neighborhood, you may have missed out on one of the all-time great deserts. The Creamsicle is a vanilla ice cream pop covered in sweet frozen orange juice. It may sound a bit odd, and let’s face it, what kid didn’t go for the perennial favorite Drumstick? But there’s just something decadently delicious about creamy vanilla and OJ, and, doggon it, that’s what I’m getting, to a more or less subtler degree, from this luscious Laranja! Twenty minutes into the smoke the sweetness becomes more assertive, taking on a gritty, sugary marzipan- like quality as the spiciness begins to recede, and a bread-like flavor emerges. There is also a light hint of semisweet baker’s chocolate. Quite a potpourri of flavors! It’s well balanced, and the cigar is performing beautifully, burning more evenly now, and with a great output of smoke. With a bit of a nudge from T H E R E V I E W E CIGAR REVIEW BY LARRY WAGNER