Last year we reviewed a new cigar from CLE Cigars and Christian Eiroa known as the The First 20 years. It was a cigar that was blended by his father as celebration of Christian’s 20 years in the business. This year, Christian doubled down at the 2017 IPCPR and released a 2nd variety of The First 20 Years cigar. This new release uses a Honduran Corojo wrapper that has been aged 5 years giving it a Colorado shade.
The company describes this as a Honduran Puro and the blend is simply described as:
- Wrapper – Honduran Corojo
- Binder – Honduras
- Filler – Honduras
The First 20 Years Colorado is offered in 4 popular vitolas and come packaged in 20-count boxes.
- “646” Corona Extra (6 x 46) MSRP $12.36
- “550″ Robusto (5 x 50) MSRP $12.36
- “654″ Toro (6 x 54) MSRP $13.36
- “660” Gordo (6 x 60) MSRP $14.36
For this review I sampled the Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado Toro which I purchased at one of my local brick and mortars.
Pre-Light Examination
The First 20 Years Colorado from Christian Eiroa is a soft box press cigar with a milk chocolate-brown wrapper that has a slight red tinge to it. It is light on veins and feels solid in the hand. If you examine the foot of this cigar you will see some very dark leaf blended in – this should make for a fun smoking journey.
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
There is a primary band and a tissue paper footer sleeve that adorns the cigar. The primary band uses a gold, red, a nd black motif with the golden word “EIROA” proudly displayed on a red background and the words “Salud Amor” (Health Love) across the top and “Pesetas” (the Spanish Currency from 1869 to 2002). I guess you could say Christian is declaring Health, Love, Fortune to all. The bottom of the primary band declares his as the 20th Series. The footer sleeve on this version is smaller than the original The First 20 years, covering only a couple of inches of the cigar. Like the original it declares this as “The First 20 Years Series”
Running through the pre-light aroma exam, the barrel had an enticing spicy aroma and the foot exuded a delicious nutmeg.
I sliced the cap with my double blade cutter and gave it some cold puffs. The draw was slightly open and offered a savory spice on the palate. As I rolled it about and took some more cold puffs, an evolving black pepper note appeared.
Cigar Review Notes
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado
- Heavy shot of pepper to start
- Full smoke production if you can handle the pepper
- Pepper settles after a half-inch
- Hint of Chocolate hides in the background
- Light Grey ash develops resting on a thick char line
- Dry leather and Cinnamon spice enters
- Long beer nut flavor on the finish
- The smoke is getting creamy at this point
- The burn is not the most pristine but does not require a touch up
- Spice builds starting in the second third
- Earthy notes enter end of second third
- Ever present nut finish
- White Pepper enters near the nub
- Medium to Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Overall, the Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado was a tasty cigar that offered some palate pleasing flavors such as Nutmeg, Beer Nut Sweetness, and Chocolate. The burn was wavy through the journey but never required a touch up. This is a pricey cigar but is was good enough that I have bought a couple more.
Eiroa The First 20 Years Colorado