Stogie Reviews: EO 601 Serie “Green†La Fuerza
4 Dec 2007
“Professional smokers only. Smoke while sitting down.†That’s the somewhat laughable caution adorning Rocky Patel’s Edge line. But after recently smoking about five EO 601 Serie “Green†cigars, I can’t help but think how these Nicaraguan puros are infinitely more deserving of the warning.
Introduced at this year’s RTDA trade show, the Green Label is the youngest, strongest brother in the 601 family. The series – which also includes the habano maduro Blue, Ecuador Connecticut Black, and habano natural Red – is made exclusively for United Tobacco by stogie legend Don “Pepin†Garcia.
The company is headed by Erik Espinoza and Eddie Ortega (thus the “EO†brand name). Keepers of the Flame was nice enough to point out in April that the line name signifies “the date that Eddie and Erik first went to visit Pepin’s factory in Nicaragua.â€
Handmade in EstelÃ, the La Fuerza (loosely translated as “the forceâ€) is five and ½ inches with a ring gauge of 54. This is one fantastic-looking stick. The habano oscuro wrapper is dark and oily with few large veins. For some reason I find the highly detailed green and gold band to be mesmerizing.
A heavy black pepper spice dominates the outset of this smoke with accompanying notes of coffee and roasted nuts – very full and balanced on the palate. That strong flavor settles down after an inch or so into tastes reminiscent of leather, clove, and cocoa bean.
Down the stretch the taste turns slightly bitter. Surprisingly, though, the cigar does not fall into the trap that befalls so many full-bodied sticks by becoming harsh or overpowering at the nub.
The physical properties are exactly what you’d expect from a Pepin-blended stogie: outstanding. The burn is good, the ash holds firm, and the draw is smooth and clear.
When it’s all said and done, this is one of the most full-bodied smokes I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy. For about $7 you get 80 minutes of hearty, complex flavors that pair well with anything from black coffee to dark rum.
Not an everyday smoke, but clearly a real treat for special occasions, the EO 601 Serie “Green†La Fuerza is worthy of four and ½ out of five stogies.
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photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
You are right on the money with this review. Great taste but this is a real Nicaraguan Skull Crusher. All I could do for an hour after smoking this cigar was stare blankly at the wall….
Nice review! I couldn't agree more. I have sampled the Tronco (robusto) and the Trabuco (toro grande) and they are nothing short of spectacular. The Trabuco was about 110 minutes and required prone position for a while after. Smokers of full-bodied cigars take heed. Your humi should not be without some of these!
I'm burning my way through a box of these at the moment. Flavor wise I think they are the fullest but I think on strength (Nicotine) the Blue is a tad stronger. Either way both leave me light headed. I really can't tell you which 601 I like best all 4 of them are fantastic cigars. Even the Connecticut wrapped Black Label is a full bodied smoke.
How would you compare this one versus the green?
I meant versus the Red, lol.