I recently smoked the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro, a deliciously interesting cigar. I have provided my full review below. This content uses referral links.
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A recent shipment from Cigar of the Month included the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro. This was a deliciously interesting cigar that I absolutely loved.
Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro
A Nicaraguan cigar with a Brazilian Laranja wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan long-fillers, this was a delicious cigar worthy of the accolades it has received.
Cigar of the Month recommends pairing it with an India Pale Ale. As is my usual habit when tasting cigars, however, I enjoyed mine with a good cup of coffee. This cigar was too mild for this combination, however, as the coffee suppressed some of the subtly in the flavor. A pale ale would probably have been the right choice.
In my grading system and review below, I have adopted the Cigar Journal: For the Discerning Aficionado method. It provides an excellent system for keeping track of my favorite smokes, and I recommend it to any cigar smoker.
Time of the Smoke
This was a surprisingly long smoke. It took me about two hours to work through this stick.
Look of the Label
As the picture indicates, the label was beautiful. It was a little too bright and loud for my taste, but it nonetheless matched the characteristics of the cigar well.
3/3 points
Espinosa Laranja Reserva’s Condition
The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro had some wrinkling over most of the body, with some minor damage to the wrapper. It was also a bit asymmetrical.
5/7 points
Feel of the Cigar
This cigar felt right over most of its body, but it was a bit inconsistent, suggesting some minor imperfections in the roll.
2/3 points
Aroma of the Wrapper
The pre-lit cigar smelled of earth and coffee with some hints of sweet cream.
3/3 points
The Cut
The cut did not go well. The cigar frayed, and the wrapper unwrapped a bit. I had to lick it down and make sure to rotate it in my mouth during the smoke to keep it together.
0/1 point
Lighting the Espinosa Laranja Reserva
The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro was a bit stubborn, but it eventually lit up fine.
1/1 point
The Draw
The draw started off great, but it eventually became too tight for my liking. It wasn’t un-smokable by any stretch, but it caused some difficulty nonetheless.
4/5 points
Retrohale
On the retrohale, the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro had notes of pepper, cinnamon, and citrus. It was very nice all around.
9/9 points
Espinosa Laranja Reserva’s Flavor
On the cold draw, I picked up earth. After the light, the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro had notes of earth, coffee, cream, and citrus. The citrus flavor, in particular, made this a uniquely delicious cigar.
While I don’t generally care for these types of bright flavorings, this one was nice nonetheless.
18/21 points
Aroma of the Smoke
After the initial light, the cigar’s smoke smelled of earth. It was smooth and subtle, but it also wasn’t all that appetizing.
5/7 points
The Burn
The cigar maintained a good burn all the way through. It was consistent, and, despite the slow burn rate, I was never concerned that it would go out.
2/2 points
The Ash
The ash was fine. It was nothing impressive, but it also didn’t cause any trouble.
1/1 point
Effect of the Smoke
I know that this is a bit of an odd category to consider. As the author of The Cigar Journal: For the Discerning Aficionado notes, however, if the best-tasting cigar in the world makes you sick, it’s not a great cigar for you.
This area is, therefore, very personal. Some low-quality cigars will make most people sick. Still, when you’re talking about premium cigars, different people will react differently to different cigars.
The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro left me feeling relaxed and mellow, precisely what I want.
30/30 points
Espinosa Laranja Reserva’s Tobacco
The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro showed itself to be well-made here. No flakes of tobacco found their way into my mouth at any point during the smoke.
7/7 points
Espinosa Laranja Reserva Final Grade
Overall, this was a great cigar. It had a uniquely delicious taste, unlike anything I had previously experienced. At $8.70 per stick, it’s a bit too pricy to be a regular smoke, but I would nonetheless like to try it again.
Final Grade: 91 / A-
Cigar of the Month Club
As always, I recommend Monthly Clubs’ Cigar of the Month Club. I’ve been a member for years, and I love it. If you join, you’ll get five premium cigars delivered right to your door every month for just $32.95, including shipping.
(There’s also a slightly more expensive Rare Cigar Club available, for those who are interested.)
The opportunity to try a variety of high-quality cigars and to learn more about cigars in general through the accompanying tasting notes has been an invaluable experience for me. I have enjoyed being a member, and I recommend giving it a try.
If you’re interested and would like to use my referral link, I would appreciate it. Just click here. If you do, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
If you’d prefer not to use my link, however, I still recommend the Club. Just go to Monthly Clubs’ Cigar of the Month website to explore Monthly Clubs’ offerings.
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