Wrapper: Brazilian Laranja
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5.625 x 46 “Corona Gorda”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $9.90 MSRP (I paid $5.20 on Cbid)

Today we take a look at the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda.

BACKGROUND:
Produced at the La Zona Cigar Factory in Nicaragua.
It made its debut at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show. Yeah, I know. I’m late.
The wrapper comes from the Recôncavo region of Brazil located in the Bahia State. Laranja is Portuguese for “orange” Why orange? Because the wrapper has an orange hue.
It is a regular production cigar.
Come in boxes of 20.

DESCRIPTION:
The cigar band is gold with heavy accents of orange. The footer is an orange ribbon. Both bring out the orange hue of the wrapper.
The wrapper is a slightly oily, slightly toothy, and medium brown in color. This is a very rustic looking stick with sloppy seams, loads of veins, and sloppy triple caps.

SIZES AND PRICING:
Corona Gorda: 5.625 x 46 $9.90 MSRP
Robusto Extra: 5.5 x 54 $10.50 MSRP
Toro: 6 x 52 $10.90 MSRP

AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
The shaft provides aromas of orange citrus, floral notes, earthiness, spice, cocoa, and coffee.
The clipped cap and foot provide aromas of strong orange juice, coffee, cocoa, spice, cinnamon, almonds, dried fruit, and cedar.
The cold draw presents flavors of: Cinnamon, strong spiciness, malt (TBD), chocolate, coffee, creamy, orange sauce, earthy tobacco.

FIRST THIRD:
We start off great with the cable TV radio cranked up playing Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way.”
The draw is better than perfect.

The flavors; Massive amounts of red pepper, chocolate, orange citrus, (I get frozen Orange Chicken from Trader Joe’s and tastes very similar), cedar, cedar, loads of black licorice, nuts, floral notes, and earthy tobacco.
Whew! Now that’s how you start a cigar. Kudos Erik!

Strength is medium/full.
The char line is spot on.

The chocolate is extremely creamy like a thick, thick milk shake. With a jalapeno on top.
The stick is soft in places; especially the bottom half. Nicht gut.
But I’m digging the trifecta: Spice, Chocolate, and Orange Sauce.
There is a freshly mowed grass element in the background. And a bucket full of sweetness.

The cable TV radio is a letdown this morning. Sometimes the playlist is killer and other times…well…it sucks.

Back in the day, I saw Led Zeppelin play 5-6 times when they hit L.A. And this was the all original group. Bonham was alive. I took my new girlfriend who had never been to a concert to see them. We had shit seats at the L.A. Forum about halfway back in the nose bleed section.

As they usually did, they started off with “Rock n Roll.” Bonham’s drum kit was clear. They put a light show inside his kick and toms. The arena went black and Bonham would start the show with a light show that made you see God. My girlfriend leaped up like a rocket screaming and stood the whole show. Which back then was a good 2-1/2 hours. I had the same feeling as when you see your little one eat an ice cream cone for the first time. I got off on seeing her so exhilarated.

Back to the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda.
I cannot believe how wonderful this blend tastes. It has a couple months of humi time. I won a 5 pack on Cbid for less than $25. Quite the savings. Actually, I had never heard of them. Either that or I couldn’t remember because I’m demented. LOL.

The blend is so rich that it is like the most decadent rich French dessert.
The orange flavor is incredible. With all the exciting flavors, it moves into first place. Even in front of the boat load of red pepper. The creamy chocolate right behind.

Lawdy, lawdy Mama. This cigar blend has gone past the sweet spot after the first minute and is now a major flavor bomb. Really.

I have one left. None tasted like this because they were usually in the after dinner smokes and not the first one of the day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every cigar would taste like your first?

SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time is 20 minutes.
I will tell you right now that the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gordas are box worthy.

This is why I love Corona Gordas. The intensity of flavors. No other size can replicate it.
I am definitely going to try and score a box when I get my social security next month. Behind Charlotte’s back of course.
Oh lord…Elton John. Oh lord. Drek.

Here they are: Orange sauce, red pepper, rich milk chocolate, coffee, Malt (Brown Malt, Chocolate Malt, Chocolate Rye Malt, Coffee Malt, Flaked Rye Malt, and Smoked Malt) [See Malt Chart].
That’s the most diverse combo yet.

I can’t think of another Espinosa blend I like this much.
Strength is medium/full.
Toffee, black walnuts, and marshmallow enter for the first time.

HALFWAY POINT:
Smoke time is 45 minutes.
Killer blend of the highest order and Huzzah! A regular production cigar! Everyone sells it.
The char line has just a touch of wonkiness but no touch ups required.
Great way to start my day.

The damn cigar band has too much overlap and I have to cut it free. But no nicks in the wrapper. Whew.

Instead of different transitions, the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda has different levels of complexity. Same goes for the balance and long finish.
Strength hits full body. NICOTINE! Drat.
My vision goes blurry.

Now I’m thinking that the previous 3 cigars just weren’t ready to smoke yet. There is no way I couldn’t have tasted this flavor bomb.
I’m late to the party in reviewing it but better late than never.

Every sip of water creates a flavor explosion. Now if someone could figure out how to transfer the intensity of a Corona Gorda to a much bigger cigar…well…they will have proven unknown quadratic theorems.
I’ve got the biggest smile on my puss.

The orange sauce and the red pepper are perfect companions. The chocolate makes it an orange truffle.
The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda is a freak of nature. No cigar should taste this good for $5.00. I know the retail is $10.00. I can’t think of a single $10 stick that is this good.

LAST THIRD:
Smoke time is an hour.
Fruit enters for the first time..if you don’t count the orange flavor.
I taste lots of summer fruit like nectarine, plum and peach. With a touch of strawberry. All in the background.

I’m amazed that there have been no lulls in the flavor profile. It’s pedal to the metal the whole time.
I don’t need to finish the last 1-1/2” to rate it. 94. It’s that good!

I rate it high due to the unique qualities, the complexity, big flavors from the get go, the balance, and the delicious lip smacking finish.

I saw The Doors in concert a couple of times. Both times at the L.A. Forum in Inglewood.
Once, they had Jerry Lee Lewis open. What a catastrophe. This was the period of Peace, Love, and Understanding. No one wanted to see Lewis.
To make things worse, Lewis had entered his Country phase. Big band and everyone wore the identical three piece business suits.
He played for 45 minutes. And every time he started a new song, the crowed heaved a heavy sigh.
When he announced his last song, the crowd applauded like crazy. He misunderstood.
“You want more?”
25,000 people, in unison, yelled “NO!!!”
Lewis was taken aback. He told us all to go to hell and stomped off the stage to thunderous applause.

Back to the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda.
I’m sad now. The end is near.
“This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end.”
That worked nicely.

Right to the end, there is no letup of big flavors.
I’m going to eat something as soon as I finish the review to get rid of the nicotine spins.
Full body to the end.
Great cigar.
I highly recommend it.

PRICE POINT:
$10.00? I don’t know. Not when Cbid has them for $5.00. Right at this moment, they have a single 5 pack going for $31 and two days to go. Drat. Fingers crossed that when I’m ready to buy, a box is available. CI is almost completely backordered. Prices are a little lower than MSRP…but not like Cbid. The box price is $7.90 per stick. Not bad.
I think I’d pay as much as $7.00.

SUMMATION:
What a cigar experience. I don’t recommend this for newbies due to the strength and nicotine. But the experienced palate will love it.
I think this is Espinosa’s finest blend to date.
Erik has 11 blends under his belt. As much as I like the 601 blends, the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda is his best.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar review, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, erik espinosa, Espinosa Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda Cigar Review