Espinosa Murcielago Robusto BP 7/4/20

 

Appearance

A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins and a matte finish. The seams are tightly wrapped except for the cap which is loose in a few areas. There is a very light oil sheen hidden by the matte finish.

The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, cocoa powder, cedar and spice on the wrapper.

Earth, cocoa powder, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, black licorice, cocoa, mild spice on lips and tongue.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, cocoa powder and a mild to medium spice. The draw is a bit snug, cheeks are feeling it right away. The spice is developing into a thick black pepper, hopefully it doesn’t overpower the profile. The cocoa powder has become more like dark chocolate notes. The ash is light gray and stacked. There is a bit of crushed red pepper mixing in with the black pepper spice and that’s a good thing. The burn is spot on at just over an inch into the cigar. Smoke production is at the high range. The draw has opened up nicely. The burn has become a bit erratic. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find a small tunnel on the faster burning side. The black pepper spice has tapered back a bit, balancing well with the other flavors in the profile. A half inch after implementing simple physics the burn has fully self corrected. Strength is at med/full. Flavors are very rich. The finish is long with notes of earth, chocolate, cedar and a crushed red pepper/black pepper spice combo.

Final/3rd

Going into the final/3rd the CRP tapers back a bit while the black pepper spice increases a bit. By the midway point the black pepper spice has taken over as the dominant flavor in the profile and continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Espinosa Murcielago Robusto BP provides an enjoyable smoking experience up to the middle of the final/3rd when the heavy black pepper spice hijacked the profile. A well balanced and flavorful profile(until the midpoint of the final/3rd) with a good draw after it opened up and a spot on burn except for the 1/2” of erratic burn in the 2nd/3rd. Overall though a cigar that u should give a go, especially if you like heavy black pepper spice.

I still prefer the original blend.