To start off with, I received the Quesada Selección España as part of the package at this years Cigars and Cars event sponsored by Corona Cigars in Orlando. Having rested for a few months I decided to carry it up to frigid Dearborn, Michigan and enjoy it in my favorite lounge up there Don Yeyo Cigars. I really dislike the cold weather but work is work and you have to go where the money is, so Dearborn it was – 11 degrees and a sprinkle of snow but the Quesada will make it worthwhile. Of course I purchased a few other cigars while there to bring home to the warm state of Florida I think that is a fair exchange.
The Quesada Selección España is a beautiful looking cigar with its satiny medium brown Arapirca wrapper leaf encasing Dominican & Nicaraguan tobaccos. There are two bands on this cigar; the primary is classic Quesada and the secondary band just under the primary identifies it as the Selección España.
The Corona Cigars site notes:
Originally available only in Spain, it drew such a strong demand for it’s U.S. release that the order requests being placed to Quesada headquarters were just too much to refuse.
The pre-light aroma on this delectable cigar very enticing with notes of coffee and spice. Slicing the cap the cold draw is very tight and I did not get much flavor on the draw except for a slight bit of fruit sweetness from the wrapper.
Once fired up it took some time to deliver but once going your are met with delicious coffee and tangy fruit notes. The ash is tight and solid with a light grey to white hue to it.
The draw eventually opens up delivering decent amounts of smoke and there is a wonderful floral aroma coming off the foot.
The pre-light spice enters after an inch of very smooth delicious smoke. I really like how this settled in as the spice tones down and
the coffee and fruit takes center stage.
The ash is holding tight as a dry cocoa powder enters the mix at the start of second third. The ash finally fell around the half way point – not bad. The aroma is solid floral showing no signs of shifting.
A hint of nut enters after secondary band and a touch of leather builds on the palate. The spice reemerges on the nose opening up the nasals for the final dose of creamy coffee with a hint of citrus perhaps lemon peal.
Overall the Quesada Selección España had a medium strength to it with flavors that stayed fairly consistent that delighted the palate. Don’t be turned off by the tight early draw as it opens up well and delivered a medium body of smoke.
I would pair this with a rich cup of joe or possibly a Malbec wine.