Cigar Review: Guayacan Sabor de Estelí Habano Robusto

It’s easy to root for a guy like Noel Rojas. Three years ago, when he moved to Nicaragua from Miami, he made cigars out of his house—with the garage serving as tobacco storage, the dining room reserved for sorting, and a bedroom repurposed as an aging room.

Today, Rojas’ company, called Guayacan, is part of the House of Emilio, which also includes 1502, Bodega, Epicurean, Ezra Zion, and Nomad Cigar Co. His core line is simply called Guayacan, which sports an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. He also makes a Mexican San Andrés-wrapped Guayacan Maduro—as well as a few cigars for other brands—out of his newly constructed Tabacalera Aromas de Jalapa factory in Estelí.

Last summer Rojas added Sabor de Estelí to the Guayacan portfolo. Spanish for “flavor of Estelí,” the line comes in two variations: an oval-shaped Habano and a box-pressed Maduro. Each, as you would expect, features Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, with the former wrapped in Ecuadorian Habano and the latter in a Mexican San Andrés leaf.

Sabor de Estelí Habano is offered in four sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Gordo (6 x 60), and Corona (6.5 x 42). The Robusto retails for about $8 and has a highly textured wrapper with plenty of tooth and moderate oils. The feel is a little spongy and the cold draw is smooth. Pre-light, the foot exhibits rich notes of dark chocolate, mole sauce, and damp earth. I find the highly traditional, colorful band to be attractive and a nice complement to the dark wrapper.

From the outset, the Robusto produces a spicy, dense flavor with notes ranging from cayenne, black pepper, and cedar, all balanced by some sweetness and a bready component that reminds me of flour tortilla. The texture is leathery, and the finish is a heavy dose of dark roasted coffee bean. At times, I also pick up cream, peanut, and cocoa. I’d classify the body as medium to medium-full.

The samples I smoked for this review, provided to me free of charge by Emilio Cigars, burned beautifully. I ran into no problems with the burn line, draw, smoke production, or ash.

Over time, I hypothesize the Sabor de Estelí Habano Robusto might mellow out. Personally, though, I love the spice-forward flavor this cigar brings to the table now, and I’m not sure I’d want to sacrifice any of that kick. Teeming with taste and abundant in complexity, the Robusto leaves me wanting more by the time I reach the nub—and that’s one of the better compliments I can pay a cigar. I will be buying more for my own personal enjoyment, and I award this excellent smoke four and a half stogies out of five.

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–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys