Cigar Reveal #355

Espinosa
Habano

The Espinosa Habano is, in many ways, where the modern Espinosa story begins. Erik Espinosa had spent years in the cigar business, most notably as one half of EO Brands, before striking out on his own in 2012. That same year he opened La Zona, his factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, and the Habano became the first new blend to emerge from it. Espinosa had previously earned a reputation for making unapologetically strong cigars, but this one was deliberately pointed elsewhere. He chose a lower-priming Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, looking for something with the richness of Nicaraguan tobacco but considerably more restraint. It was a cigar meant to introduce not just a new brand, but Espinosa on his own terms.

Espinosa returned to the cigar in 2015, changing the packaging and making a slight adjustment to the blend. His explanation was simple: he wanted it "richer and smoother." The sizes were also narrowed down, with smaller ring gauges chosen in part to put more emphasis on the wrapper. That second version proved to have unusual staying power. The No. 4, a 5 1/2 x 50, received scores of 92 or 93 points each time Cigar Aficionado rated it from 2017 through 2019, eventually finishing No. 11 on the magazine's Top 25 Cigars of 2019. For a company that has since become known for everything from Laranja to Knuckle Sandwich, the Habano remains a useful place to start. It is the cigar Espinosa chose when his own name finally went on the band

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Espinosa Habano
Anatomy

  • Nicaragua

  • Nicaragua

  • Ecuadorian Habano

Espinosa Habano
Flavor Notes

First Third

Vanilla

Leather

Cedar

Vanilla

Leather

Cedar

Second Third

Baking Spice

Cherry

Citrus

Baking Spice

Cherry

Citrus

Final Third

Earth

Brown Sugar

Mixed Nuts

Earth

Brown Sugar

Mixed Nuts

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Reviews + Notes

Cigar Aficionado

(2019 Top 25 Cigar of the Year)

Ever since the Espinosa Habano line was repackaged and slightly reblended in 2015, the No. 4 size has scored at least 92 points every time it’s been rated. This year was no exception. Slightly longer than a robusto, but a little shorter than a typical toro, the No. 4 is made at La Zona in Nicaragua, along with the rest of the line.

It’s the namesake cigar of brand owner Erik Espinosa and owes its complex flavor profile to the blend of hearty Nicaraguan tobacco and a lush Ecuador Habano wrapper, which isn’t too dark nor too light, but the perfect reddish shade of colorado. The smoke is driven by a persistent leathery core framed by a procession of vanilla, baking spices and brown sugar.

Rating: 93 points

Cigar Coop

Overall, I found the flavors to be enjoyable on the Espinosa Habano.  There is a nice amount of flavor nuances with this smoke.  This is an excellent product that was put out by Erik Espinosa.   Being this is the first new blend to come out of his La Zona factory, I would say the future looks very bright and exciting for Espinosa.  This blend might be one of those “hidden gems” in your retailer humidor.  This is a good cigar for a novice cigar enthusiast looking to graduate to something medium in strength – and something on the medium plus to full side in terms of flavor.  Experienced cigar enthusiasts will appreciate the flavor nuances of this smoke.  As for myself, this is one I would definitely smoke again.

Score: 91 points

Cigar Dojo

The Espinosa Habano is great from start to finish and you will be left with the feeling that you just strolled through your grandma’s spice cabinet as the subtle spices linger for hours on your taste buds.