Can’t get rid of my head cold and sinusitis so I continue to show you some cigars I enjoyed and are still available for sale. In this case, the Espinsosa Wasabi is one of those reasonably priced excellent cigars. Reviews were mixed. I saw ratings from 85-93. Clearly, the palate continues to be a mysterious alien force. I thought this was a great knockaround cigar with a wallet friendly price point. One of my sponsors still carries it, Small Batch Cigar. But only in the Lancero and Corona sizes…which I’d like to try. The price is the same as it was in my October 2018 review. Less if you use my promo code.

Wrapper: Candela with Habano cap
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Size: 5.5 x 52 Robusto Extra Box Press
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $7.95

SMELL THE GLOVE:
We all know that candela wrapped blends usually taste the same. They are grassy, full of pepper, maybe some mint.
This baby smells of mild chocolate, fresh mown grass, black pepper, malt, cedar, sweetness, a nice touch of caramel, mint leaves, creaminess, fried plantains, and black licorice.
The cold draw presents flavors of grass, butter, cream, black pepper, cedar, vanilla, peanut shell, barnyard, hay, mint, and licorice.

FIRST THIRD:
There are a couple plugs in the top half so out comes the trusty PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool and all is right with the world.

Black pepper slams it home first. Grassiness abides. And chocolate, malt, plantains, cream, exotic spice, cedar, vanilla, licorice, and rye seeds.
The stick is packed to the gills and will be an all-day sucker.

There is a hint of complexity. Some transitions are thinking it over. And a nice finish of spiciness, creaminess, and licorice.
Just moments later, the cigar blend kicks in. Very spicy. Complexity makes its move. Transitions round the bases. The finish is long and chewy.

The chocolate and creaminess along with the grassiness and black pepper are dynamite. I’ve had my samples for a couple of months. I tried the first and second samples too soon. The third is the charm. A grown-up cigar for grown up palates.

The grassiness is not overwhelming or interfering with other flavors. Some reviewers really slammed this blend. I am trying to cram in as many sticks before the end of the year to provide me a bigger data base of cigars to rate for the end of the year top cigars. I don’t know if the Espinosa Wasabi has a chance but I’m digging the cigar at a very early stage of its demise.

The frothy creaminess is killer. I wasn’t expecting this. I also wasn’t expecting that my balls would hang around my ankles at this point in my life….just kidding; my knees.

I love the Nomad GB-19. My favorite candela blend. The Wasabi has some striking similarities like coffee, Jasmine green tea, citrus, and salted nuts.

One set of reviewers complained of its lack of complexity. Not so. There is a nice under current of balance, smoothness, and richness that fill out the complexity check list.

The strength ain’t your sister’s candela. This fucker is medium/full.

SECOND THIRD:

Progression is on point. The high level of spiciness has rescinded its arrest warrant and is moving towards behaving on its own recognizance.

I wish that Espinosa had made this a regular production cigar. I’d buy them. Very rare for a candela that appeals to me. Still, the word on the street must have been very negative for no other reason that only 500 boxes were released 9 months ago and can still be found for sale. I bet a lot of smokers stayed away only because they aren’t candela fans; regardless of some negative reviews swaying a lot of smokers away from a purchase.

I am getting curry spice. I love curry. My first real foray into the cuisine came when I lived in London in the mid 70’s. India, being a Commonwealth country of the British Empire, made England a big destination for these folks. Since English food was so bad back then, the only food we ate while touring England was either Indian or Chinese. Once we were on the Continent touring, we had a world of good food to partake of.

OK. Those reviewers that didn’t play nice with this blend are nuts. This is an excellent blend. I like everything about it. Beautifully building complexity. Very tasty transitions with a gorgeous finish that is lip smacking good. Aaron was right.

As the halfway point arrives, I’m having more fun that getting my feet massaged by wild ferrets.

Strength has mellowed out some. The nicotine disappeared. Never had that happen before. The balance is now more than impressive. A rich smoothness overtakes the experience, and it is all cherries and cream now.

At $8 for the Robusto, this is an excellent deal. Naturally, my timing is everything. Reviewing a cigar on its way out. Sonovabitch.

Surprisingly, the usual “green” quality is subdued. It doesn’t overwhelm the blend with what most smokers don’t like in candelas. It has that Nic filler element that gives the blend some real direction. The Nomad candela has an Ecuadorian binder. Hmmm…

Speaking of mustiness…ever have sex with your wife on Xmas day and your butt plug accidentally flies across the room striking your cat in the head knocking him out? And when he wakes up, and he is angry, you hand him a blunt and he taps his claws waiting for you to light it?
Me neither.

LAST THIRD:
Strength is an easily adaptable medium/full.

Spiciness returns causing me to triple sneeze til I blow ear wax against the window. My eyes are watering.
We are now inching towards full strength. I realize that the name of the cigar represents the flavor of horseradish. Yet, I don’t taste it. Plenty of black pepper to go around but nothing horseradishy.

I easily recommend scoring some, even a fiver, before they are gone forever. Let them rest. Don’t be impatient. Give the stick 3 months rest and you too will pish posh the reviewers who didn’t like this blend.

The black pepper actually begins to morph. I taste the Japanese horseradish now. No shit. It’s really strong making the black pepper insignificant. Nice surprise.
The Espinosa Wasabi has made it to my favorite candela blends.
You’ll dig it.

You can snag some from Small Batch Cigar. Use promo code ‘katman’ for 10% off.

RATING: 91

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: Espinosa Wasabi (2018) Redux | Cigar Reviews by the Katman