Espinosa 601 Steel Girder

📌 Brand: Espinosa
📌 Line: 601 Steel
📌 Size: Girder (6" × 52 Toro)
📌 Weight: 15.1 g
📌 Age: 6 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Black Pepper – Aggressive and sharp

• Charred Wood – Smoky, dry backbone

• Earth – Heavy but lacking finesse

• Bitter Cocoa – Harsh edge without sweetness

First Impressions

The 601 Steel Girder has a dark, firm wrapper with a rugged look. Pre-light aromas are earthy and peppery. Cold draw shows strong spice, setting the stage for intensity.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Black pepper dominates immediately, with charred wood underneath. Strength is evident but balance is missing.

• Second Third – Earth and bitter cocoa appear, though harshness continues. Pepper remains aggressive on the retrohale.

• Final Third – Spice and charred flavors intensify. The cigar feels strong but one-dimensional and unrefined.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, its caramel and vanilla sweetness help tame the cigar’s harsh edge.

• Tea – Pu-erh Tea, earthy and smooth, softening the rough profile.

Music Pairing

“Breaking the Law” – Judas Priest,

straightforward intensity with little subtlety.

Final Thoughts

The Espinosa 601 Steel Girder delivers raw strength with pepper and charred flavors but lacks refinement. While bold, it comes across harsh and unbalanced, more force than finesse.

Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Harshness and lack of balance overshadowed depth, keeping it from being more than a blunt powerhouse.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.