PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG SHOW 2021 | PCA The Magazine 29 T H E B L E N D me, a solid 1 1/2-inch ash thuds into the ashtray. The foot is now somewhat jagged, with filler jutting out, but already a new, finely textured ash is building up. At around the halfway mark, the strength is beginning to creep up on me. I’m feeling a little heady. The former sweetness has been replaced with a nutty, cedar wood quality, underscored by the baker’s chocolate. Entering the last third, as the burn line is approaching the cigar band, it occasions my first technical criticism of the cigar: the band is difficult to separate and remove, tearing as I attempt to open it at the overlap. I opt to slide it off over the lit end, knocking the ash off a bit prematurely. This activity resulted in a slight tear of the wrapper leaf, which lifted but never affected the performance of the cigar. Happily, the burn line is now perfectly straight. At just over an hour, a leather-like quality enters the mix. The sweetness persists, as does the pepper spice, and my impression is that, unlike most cigars, this last third is the best part of the cigar. It’s smooth and rich, burning evenly, and is now at its most flavorful, with plenty of sweet spice, along with that noticeable citrus underneath. In addition, the construction is so good that it’s a pleasure just smoking the cigar and marveling at how perfectly intact the head of the cigar remains. It has never once gotten hot, even with less than an inch left. At just around an hour and fifteen minutes I get the last wisp of smoke, and the Laranja Robusto Extra comes to a dignified end. It was a top-notch cigar from beginning to end. I’d have to say that Erik Espinosa was justified indulging his passion for an orange-themed cigar. You could say orange is the new wrap! Special thanks to Espinosa Super Sales Rep Tim Wong for facilitating the Erik Espinosa interview and arranging for the samples. Laranja Reserva Escuro Toro 6 x 52 he breakout debut of the Laranja Reserva in 2014 was the forerunner of the 2019 rollout for the Laranja Escuro. While retaining the all-Nicaraguan filler and binder, the Laranja wrapper is swapped out for a Brazil Mata Fina, keeping the Brazil theme going while venturing into uncharted territory. If the Laranja Reserva is a joyride on an ice cream truck, the Escuro is like getting hit by a freight train! While the former is no lightweight, the nearly black, box-pressed Escuro is a full-tilt powerhouse, announcing its presence with a blast of pepper, followed up by a jolt of good-old Lady Nicotine. This is not to say the cigar lacks flavor, or even balance for that matter. There is a roasted, toasted, charred wood with aniseed taste, accompanied by a hint of sweet licorice. And the flavor profile evolves, developing a mineral quality that morphs into a taste of mint. Throughout, the black pepper remains, tingling the nasal passages and the upper palate with sneeze-inducing spiciness. It’s like having a mojito with a jalapeño chaser! I was surprised to read online assessments of medium to medium-plus, regarding the strength. Not all that strong, you say? Maybe I’ve been at this too long, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that an Escuro should be smoked while listening to Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, or maybe Jimi Hendrix. Here it should be noted that the Escuro, in fact both samples smoked for this review, performed like a champ. Burn was spot- on, draw exceptional, with a ton of smoke and a clean, although wavy burn line. The dominant flavors were mint, rye or anise seed, and a delicately licorice-like sweetness. The strong pepper spice decided to back off in the final third of the cigar. The mint transitioned back into a flinty, mineral quality. At about the one hour and fifteen minute mark the Escuro Toro gave up the ghost. By then the flavors had flattened-out, although the burn qualities remained excellent: firm feel, even burn, with no softening or heat ever affecting the smoke. Although I’m a fan of full-bodied cigars I’d have to say the more balanced, medium strength Laranja Reserva was more to my liking. Admittedly, I’m a bigger fan of a habano than a maduro wrapper, which probably explains the outcome. You could say the Escuro is the swaggering little brother to the more mature older sibling. In the end, I guess I’d rather dance with Sophia Loren than wrestle with Hulk Hogan. T