Espinosa Murcielago (2017, AJ Fernandez) - Cigar Review

It's easy to predict the third-time as being the charm whenst ya got AJ Fernandez involved. This is, to be clear, the third iteration of the Murcielago name. The line debuted in 2009 as part of the United Tobacco/EO Brands’ parcel in a portfolio under the ownership of Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega. Whenst the partnership dissolved, a college-try of a crack was taken at mimicking the blend for a 2015 release -- since the Garcia family, manufacturers of the original at their My Father factory -- retained the blend information. Now, this. According to Director of Operations for Espinosa Premium Cigars, one Hector Alfonso Sr., the success herein is within well-aged tobaccos. Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle dipped in buttermilk.

To be succinct in review, this is the Murcielago with the shiny, not anything reminiscent of Batman logo, silver/black band. (Its name means bat, by the by.) The name was also employed as a model of Lamborghini from 2001 to 2010. Also, some folks don't know exactly what's in the cigars they take credit in creating. But hey! Let's light this bad-boy up and get me some blog hits. 'Tis a cynical Monday morning 'round these parts to be sure.

NOTES:

Well-built and verily-so. Even draw, tight seams, no hard/soft spots, and the box-press holds perfectly. Combusts in a cruise-control manner on a slight curvature. Pacing is moderate and temperature of smoke is cool 'nuff all the way through. Voluminous smoky-smoke off each end both active and resting. Ash is a medium-to-dark grey marbled and somewhat aerated stack a' dimes.

• Black Pepper
• Chocolate (semi-sweet, fudge)
• Cayenne
• Baking Spices
• Cuban Coffee
• Molasses
• Leather (Boot)
• Grains
• Marshmallow (Toasted)
• Meat (Smoked)
• Sarsaparilla
• Manure
• Compost

Well-balanced 'nuff sans sour appearances. Full, rich, well-rounded notes. Heighty sans bite/bittering. Front-loaded piquantly with warmly sweet bracings. Salt and bitter notes play well. Savory all the live-long. Retro-hale is sharp and adds no complexities, so is deemed unnecessary but it doth trim the schnoz hairs well. Complexity all told is a bit lacking as the Bat flies straight from gate-to-wire. Finish is a lengthy extension of the primary draw.

All-told a muscular straight-forward thing that is ultimately perchance not pleasant per se, but verily satiating. A hearty entree that don't need an appetizer and leaves bupkis room for dessert. All-told, Part II, verily an AJF offering of the high upper-middling shelf.

WRAPPER: Mexican
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

STRENGTH: Full
FORMAT: Robusto Box-Press
ORIGIN: AJ Fernandez San Lotano factory, Nicaragua.

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59

Report a typo, win a No-prize.

"The Burrito Trap"