Segovias de Estelí is a Nicaraguan cigar brand with roots in Antigua Estelí and the work of Art Garcia. Produced at Tabacalera Segovias de Estelí S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, the portfolio includes a number of blends designed around Nicaraguan tobacco and distinctive wrapper selections.
For today’s review, I turn my attention to the Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robusto, a 5 1/2 × 52 offering that is dressed in an Ecuadorian H-2000 Oscuro Sun Grown wrapper. Beneath that wrapper is a double binder combination of Nicaraguan and Mexican tobacco surrounding Nicaraguan filler.
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian H-2000 Oscuro Sun Grown
- Binder: Nicaragua and Mexico
- Filler: Nicaragua
The cigar cigar come packaged in 21-count boxes and carry an MSRP of $12.00/cigar.
For this review I sampled 5 of the Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robustos
Pre-Light Examination
The Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robusto is draped with a toothy medium-brown/dark-tan wrapper displaying a light oiling across the surface. The cigar was firm to the touch from head to foot with no noticeable soft spots and was finished with a well-applied double cap.
The Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robusto comes dressed in an attractive three-band presentation. The primary band uses an ornate, old-world design dominated by cream, gold and burgundy accents. Across the upper arch are the words “EL DIAMANTE DE LAS SEGOVIAS,” with a blue diamond positioned beneath. The flowing Segovias de Estelí script sits prominently across the center over an illustrated Nicaraguan landscape. Elaborate gold scrollwork frames the artwork, while “NICARAGUA” appears on the right side. A ribbon incorporating Nicaraguan and American colors and imagery finishes the lower portion of the design.
Directly beneath the primary band is a simpler cream-colored secondary band bordered in gold and decorated with ornate gold flourishes and dark blue accents. “SEGOVIAS OSCURO” is prominently printed across its center, clearly identifying the blend. Finishing the presentation is a blue satin footer band.
There was not much aroma to speak of along the barrel, but the foot offered a subtle and pleasant floral fruit note.
I sliced the cap straight and gave it a few cold-draw puffs. The draw offered a nice restriction, while the palate picked up a touch of natural tobacco sweetness accompanied by dry fruit.
With the pre-light examination complete, it was time to fire this one up and see where the journey would take me.
The Smoking Journey
First Third
I lit the Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robusto with my dual-flame torch. The introduction was a bit mottled in flavor, starting with a sharp, bitter citrus rind note as the cigar seemed to be searching for its footing. A flaky white ash began forming above a thin, wavy char line while earthy aromas wafted off the foot. The draw was fairly smooth and delivered a decent volume of smoke.
After about a half-inch of burn, the profile began to settle and the flavors became easier to define. A distinct sour cherry note was the first to grab my attention, soon wrapped in a layer of bitter dark chocolate. The combination of the tart fruit and darker chocolate provided an interesting contrast.
The retrohale offered a sharp spice note, while a slightly medicinal edge began weaving through the profile. It was an unusual sensation that added another dimension to the sour cherry and dark chocolate combination. As the first third came to a close, a mild nut essence emerged, helping soften some of those sharper characteristics and rounding out the early profile.
Second Third
Although the ash remained flaky in appearance, it held surprisingly tight before finally dropping in the second third and revealing a fairly centered burn cone. A touch of cream entered the profile, working alongside the ever-present sour cherry. At this point, it was becoming clear that the sour cherry was going to be one of the defining notes of this cigar.
Near the midway point, peppery spice joined the mix, adding contrast to the cream and fruit. The cigar was also noticeably mouthwatering, keeping the palate stimulated between draws. Meanwhile, the retrohale began to smooth out compared with the sharper sensation experienced earlier, developing more of an earthy character. The profile had certainly settled considerably from its somewhat muddled introduction.
Final Third
Moving toward and into the final third, bitter notes began to increase and remained part of the profile through the finish. The earlier sour cherry and cream had helped balance the darker characteristics through the heart of the cigar, but as the burn progressed toward the nub, the profile increasingly favored the bitter side.
The Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robusto finished at medium strength, bringing the journey to an end after 1 hour and 30 minutes of smoking time.
Final Analysis
The Segovias de Estelí Oscuro Robusto was an interesting cigar that needed a little time to find its footing. The opening was somewhat mottled, with bitter citrus rind and a medicinal edge contributing to a sharper start. Once the cigar settled down, however, the combination of sour cherry and bitter dark chocolate gave the blend a distinctive personality.
For me, the sour cherry was the standout note. It persisted through much of the experience and, when joined by cream, nut and peppery spice, created the most enjoyable portion of the journey. I also appreciated how the retrohale transitioned from sharp spice early on to a smoother earthy character later in the smoke.
Construction was generally good. The ash was flaky in appearance but held surprisingly well, and when it finally dropped, it revealed a fairly centered burn cone. The cigar also maintained a smooth draw and decent smoke production.
The final third didn’t quite maintain the balance of the middle portion, as bitterness increasingly took control of the profile. That, along with the somewhat unsettled opening, held the cigar back from reaching the next level.
