My Weekend Cigar Review: Rojas Breakfast Tacos Maduro
My Breakfast With Noel. . .
Noel Rojas, that is; a.k.a. “King of the small gauge cigars” and the man behind the very popular Street Tacos lineup. Inspired by culinary favorites sold by Mexican street vendors, Street Tacos Barbacoa debuted in 2021 followed by Carnitas in 2022. Those lines featured larger ring gauges. Feeling that the company was missing a good 30-minute short smoke, in 2023 Rojas debuted Breakfast Tacos, a 4½x46 Petit Salomon in three wrapper selections: Ecuador Connecticut, Mexican San Andrés Maduro, and Ecuador Sumatra. All the binder and filler tobaccos for Rojas Breakfast Tacos were grown and cured on Rojas’s Nicaraguan farms.
Additionally, Breakfast Tacos have a different blend than Street Tacos. Breakfast Tacos feature the same Street Tacos artwork, except the bands have a different color scheme and display the words “Breakfast Tacos.” Rojas Breakfast Tacos are presented in bundles of 30 cigars, which also makes the per-cigar price fairly reasonable.
Cigar Details:
Factory: Rojas Cigar Factory - Estelí, Nicaragua
Size: 4½x42
Body & Strength: Medium+
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Presented in bundles of 30
Rojas Breakfast Tacos Maduro Cigar Review
The Breakfast Tacos Petit Belicoso Maduro seemed a bit rustic in appearance but the rolling on both of my samples was textbook. The Mexican San Andrés wrapper had a shiny and dark, almost blackish color with a toothy feel. The cigar was well packed throughout, and I gave it a slightly angled cut. The draw was decent with a pre-light aroma flavor that reminded me of freshly sawed wood. The Perfecto tip lit easily and the draw opened up further, issuing a creamy start with a mostly earthy flavor. A medium body began developing as notes of campfire wood, an unidentified bread-like flavor, and a trickle of sweet tobacco appeared early on.
Farther along, at the widest section of the Salomon, the smoke was still creamy and even earthier. Flavors of wheat cereal, charred wood, and espresso ensued with a drop of sweet tobacco and light peppery finish. Retrohales were snappier with more of a black pepper vibe. At this point the cigar began to reveal a firm and mostly dark gray ash.
By midway, the cigar continued to smoke smooth and cool. Mostly earthy here, too. Hardly any sweetness survived, while notes of roasted nuts arrived in a pleasant contrast to the espresso.
Getting down to those last slender inches, the cigar remained cool and earthy with a medium-plus body. At that point, only fragments of wood, espresso, and nuts remained. With that and about an inch left, I let it go.
Was Rojas Breakfast Tacos Maduro Weekend Worthy?
Both of my Breakfast Taco Maduro samples were smooth, very creamy, and on the earthy side, but the first was a little sweeter overall. I thought this might have to do with where I cut the cigars’ caps. My first Figurado had a wider cut, while my second had a narrower cut. That said, I enjoyed both of these little Salomons so, go figure.
Although an earthy flavor profile dominated, the Breakfast Taco Maduro offered a welcome combo of flavors, even though most of the action took place in the first half. The cigar also fits that 30-minute smoke slot Noel wanted to fill, and I enjoyed it with my morning coffee.
Like I said about the Toscanello Hazelnut a few weeks ago, this perky little Salomon may not be your typical weekend cigar choice, but for that short smoke, coffee break, or between cigars window, I would definitely smoke it again.
Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience and your mileage may vary.