Originally published at Tiki Bar Online
Robusto, 5” x 5 ring gauge / $8.80, Silo Cigars
I had written that the Heisenberg was my favorite thing from Quesada about 2 days before first tried the Selección España. The review was written and scheduled to be posted in another 4 or 5 days, but I knew that “favorite thing” remark was likely to be short-lived after my first sampling of this blend. But maybe not…I loved the España when I smoked it at Silo and was bringing home an extra stick for review, but maybe I wouldn’t feel quite as good about it the second time around. Well…that’s what we’re here to find out! This is what the SAG Imports (distributors for Quesada and Casa Magna, among others, in the U.S.) had to say about this blend:
The Spanish Market has always been dominated by Cuban cigars, but lately high unemployment and the high cost of Cuban cigars has driven the Spanish to search out alternatives.
To address this new demand, The Quesada family brought Spanish Tobacconists to the Dominican Republic to work a cigar exclusively for Spain, and after a week of blending the Quesada Espana was born.
Available for Spain in three popular Spanish sizes, the Quesada Espana possesses a distinctive taste, yet is reminiscent of the Cuban cigars the Spanish are familiar with.
This cigar features Connecticut Broadleaf, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, a Dominican binder, and an Ecuadorian Arapiraca wrapper…interesting…that’s the first time I’ve heard of Arapiraca being grown in Ecuador; it is normally associated with Brazil.
I will say straight-up that this is an attractive band. The understated use of colors (just a black background with 2 colors of metallic ink and a little foil and emboss) and classy design work great. If asked to guess the wrapper (I’ve played that game before and I did pretty well) I would have guessed Ecuadorian Habano. I would have been half right and I would not have been fully convinced on the Habano part simply because it just doesn’t quite look it. On the other hand, I can’t remember seeing an Arapiraca leaf this light in color; probably because most of those leaves used for wrappers undergo the longer fermenting process to make them Maduro. This had a color slightly lighter and slightly less reddish than cinnamon sticks you’ll find at your local grocery. The feel was oily and it did not look like the wrapper leaf itself had large veins, but the leaves under it might have because it was fairly lumpy. It smelled of cedar and hay with a nice underlying sweetness. The foot had a more astringent woody aroma with some earth in there as well. I got an excellent draw when the cap was sliced off; the cold flavor was of wood, earth and molasses.
After lighting the Selección España had a strong cedar flavor on the tongue, with notes of earth, pepper spice, and hay as well. The retrohale was very nutty and more than a little spicy. Overall, the initial moments of this cigar were medium-to-full in body and very, very flavorful. The rest of the first third had a wonderful mix of cedar and pepper spice, along with a muted sweetness.
I was very impressed with construction so far. I burned more than an inch before tapping off the ash the first time and needed no touching up during that time. The burn line got wonky once, but it fixed itself before I felt a need to. The draw was excellent as well. The flavor was mostly the same as the first third, but…brighter, if that makes sense. It seemed like the flavors were cutting through better. In short, the Selección España was getting better as it went.
The going got no worse in the final third. I found the cedar flavor continuing to increase along with the red pepper on the palate. All in all, I found the Selección España to be a very, very good cigar. Perfect? Not quite, but they make a smaller vitola…a Corona, I believe…I’m very curious as to what it tastes like. The Robusto, though, was thoroughly enjoyable and worth the price of purchase. The body was medium-to-full the entire way and the nicotine strength was moderate. So, is it my favorite product from Quesada? I’d have to give an unqualified “Yes” as an answer…now to find the Corona.
Body: 8/10
Strength: 5/10
Complexity: 7/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
