Espinosa Warzone Short Churchill

📌 Brand: Espinosa
📌 Line: Warzone
📌 Size: Short Churchill (6 1/2" × 48 - Grand Corona)
📌 Weight: 15.8 g
📌 Age: 6 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Dark Earth – Heavy, slightly gritty base

• Black Pepper – Sharp and forward

• Bitter Cocoa – Thin and inconsistent

• Charred Wood – Intensifies after corrections

First Impressions

The cigar has a rugged, slightly toothy Cameroon wrapper with decent presentation, though firmness varies along the body. Pre-light aroma suggests earth, cocoa, and spice. Cold draw feels acceptable but not particularly expressive.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Opens earthy with noticeable pepper. Burn begins uneven and requires an early touch-up.

• Second Third – Combustion problems escalate. Multiple relights and corrections are needed as the burn line drifts and threatens to canoe. Flavors flatten and become dry.

• Final Third – Continued burn instability introduces char and bitterness. Despite effort, the cigar never stabilizes.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Amaro Montenegro
  Herbal sweetness and citrus peel help cleanse the palate and soften bitterness between relights.

• Tea – Himalayan Silver Tips White Tea
  Light, delicate, and low in tannin — chosen to reset the palate after harsh, overheated draws.

Music Pairing

“La Camisa Negra” – Juanes
Energetic groove to keep the mood alive despite constant corrections.

Final Thoughts

Espinosa Warzone Short Churchill delivers bold earth and spice, but persistent burn issues, relights, and touch-ups derail the experience. What could have been a solid medium-full smoke becomes an exercise in maintenance.

Final Score: 4/10
Why not a 10?
Severe and continuous burn instability requiring multiple relights and touch-ups, leading to harshness and loss of balance.

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