Espinosa 601 Maduro Cigar Review – Forever Classic

The Espinosa 601 line of cigars is as old as the company itself and has quite the storied history over time. Originally produced by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa, with the master craft of Don Pepin Garcia , the 601 line of cigars was the first box press produced by Pepin. Later as the Espinosa/Ortega team parted ways, in 2010,  Rocky Patel acquired 50% of the 601 brand and started to sell  and distribute it. Speeding the film up,  Erik eventually took production back and moved it to AJ Fernandez in 2016. Regardless of where they were produced the 601 Maduro has received rave reviews year after year.

Maybe I am  late to the party,  but today I would  like to offer a review of the Espinosa 601 Maduro that is now produced in conjunction with AJ Fernandez.

The Espinosa 601 Maduro Cigar

As we begin to break down the Espinosa 601 Maduro, let’s start with the all Nicaraguan blend:

• Wrapper – Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
• Binder – Nicaraguan
• Filler – Nicaraguan

The cigar is, as always, offered in 5 vitolas:

• Prominente (Gordo) (5.5 x 56) MSRP $8.95
• Robusto (5.2 x 52) MSRP $8.00
• Toro (6.2 x 54) MSRP $8.95
• Torpedo (6.1 x 52) MSRP $8.95
• Short Churchill (6 x 48) MSRP $8.95

The  Espinosa 601 Maduro comes packaged in 20-count boxes.

For this review, I sampled the Espinosa 601 Maduro which I recieved as part of the 2017 La Zona Palooza event.

Pre-Light Examination

The Espinosa 601 Maduro is a well constructed box pressed cigar with a dark chocolate-brown toothy Broadleaf wrapper. It has thick double cap to give you plenty of room to cut it. The seams are tight and the cigar is solid in the hand with limited veins.

If you have been following the evolution of this cigar you know that the band has evolved over the years. The latest version uses a bright gold, blue, and white motif that makes this cigar pop on the humidor shelf. The number 601 is centered in a blue oval with the words “Reserva Limitada” and “Maduro” printed below.

If the band and wrapper does not already have your attention, then run it along your nose and smell the aromatic notes of pepper, nut, and hay off the foot and cocoa and spice along the barrel.

This is a cigar that is just asking to be set on fire, but before we get to that, let’s slice the cap and see what the cold draw has to offer. The draw is mildly restricted and offers deep earthy notes.

Well, it is time to fire it up and go on another Espinosa journey.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Right off the flame, there is a mildly warming red pepper filling the palate
• Medium grey ash develops and rests on a straight and medium char line
• The smoke take no time to reach full volume
• Coffee enters as the pepper recedes
• A fresh baked bread aroma evolves
• Fruity jam enters coupled with mocha notes
• Well centered flat cone once the ash falls
• Mild citrus peel spikes as it moves into the second third
• Aroma shifts to more of a floral
• Smoke is very smooth at this point
• Toasted bread notes enter midway
• Citrus peel increases
• Final third brings notes of a muted white pepper
• Ash and burn were perfect
• Medium to full in strength
• Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes to the nub!

Overall, the Espinosa 601 Maduro was a great smoking experience from the pre-light aromas and tastes through the complex notes of the pristine burn down to the nub. I know I have smoked previous renditions of the 601 but it was before I started Stogie Press so I don;t have notes to  compare to. With a price dead smack in the consumers wheel house, this is a cigar you may want to add to your rotation.