Did anyone check to see if any of these spy balloons are carrying stogies? If so, I hope the next one gets shot down over my house. Here to help you cope in these strangest of times: a trio of new cigars from brand names and boutiques alike.
Not to mention…March is just around the corner. And for many of us, it’s already light sweater weather and mild enough to smoke outside when the sun is shining. What better way to enjoy it than with something new?
I’m reviewing three fresh sticks including the latest blend from Romeo, a fourth addition to Espinosa’s popular Las 6 Provincias series, and an ultra-rare boutique-lover’s dream recipe from HVC Cigars. Let’s get started!
What new cigars have you been enjoying? Let us know in the comments below!
Wrapper: Nicaragua Jalapa High Priming
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Emblazoned with an evil eye to represent the feeling on the secondary band, Romeo y Julieta Envy was crafted to give the emotion of longing a flavor. What that means? Maybe it’s like how those Sweethearts candies gave a flavor to love when we were in grade school. I won’t waste your time trying to figure it out, but I will tell you that Envy is pretty damned delicious. Additionally, with its wrapper aged longer than most of Romeo’s leaves, the blend evokes a mixture of sugar and spice from a full-bodied recipe crafted by Plasencia. Immerse yourself with notes of coffee, cashews, earth, and pepper. Just don’t blame me if my review’s got you green with Envy.
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
The fourth entry of Espinosa Cigars’ heralded Las 6 Provincias line has arrived and is already stunning our taste buds. The blend is called Las 6 Provincias CMW, the airport code of Ignacio Agramonte International in the province of Camagüey. Expect a chorus of red pepper, earth, cinnamon, and warm spices like a chimney from every puff, along with incredible box art to please your eyes courtesy of Cuban artist, Edin Gutierrez. Additionally, each cigar is hand crafted at AJ Fernandez’ San Lotano factor in Nicaragua. Smoke this, and you’re sure to get a head start on spring.
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Ecuador Habano
Filler: Dominican Criollo 98 & Nicaragua Medio Tempo
If it’s still cold where you’re living, nuke a cup of hot cocoa and light up La Rosa 520 Rare of Rare. The cigar is the first that HVC founder, Reinier Lorenzo, had produced in the United States. Namely, at the prolific El Titan de Bronze factory in Little Havana, Miami. ‘Rare of Rare’ comes from the Medio Tiempo tobacco in the cigar’s core—a highly flavorful priming of tobacco that only sprouts on 10% of plants. Drench your palate in an exquisitely sweet smoking experience underscored with a layer of natural tobacco flavors, vanilla, and peppery dark chocolate. Only 500 boxes were made and they’re flying off the shelves. Your call, but it’s not a cigar I think you’ll want to miss.
Features Editor, Jared Gulick, is a Certified Tobacconist, nerd of all things science, musician and serial abuser of the Oxford comma. He made his way to the Famous Smoke Shop retail store in 2018 and joined the Advisors when it was discovered that he could locate the shift key. Prior to his work in the cigar industry, he was a recording studio engineer, songwriter, and a journalism major at Northampton Community College.
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