REVIEW: Pre-release 601 La Bomba

Last Saturday I received a gift in the mail from Eddie Ortega (Co-owner of 601 cigars) for participating in 601's latest promo. I don't know much about these cigars and, from doing some Google searching, it doesn't seem that there is a whole lot of information public yet. What I do know about this pre-release was taken from a post on the BOTL cigar message board and one email exchange I had with Eddie.

BOTL POST
"Just got the the samplers of the new 601 La Bomba. Will start shipping them to all who participated in the promo at the end of this week, hope you enjoy full bodied smokes,,,,this is a Bomb. Smoke after a good dinner...:-))

3 sizes will be available:

La Bomba – 5-1/2 x 46
La Bomba – 6 x 50
La Bomba – 5 x 52"

EMAIL exchange

"The only thing I can tell you, is that it’s very full body and has lots of flavor and that its made in Esteli, Nicaragua.  All else, We plan to keep under wraps"

So that's that. I don't know what factory these are being made in nor what the blend is made up of.  This is going to be fun...on to the review!

Specifics
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: ?
Binder: ?
Filler: ?
Price: ?
Smoking Location: House of Cigar
Beverage: water

Pre-Light  

The first thing you will notice about the 601 La Bomba is the fuse-like pig tail that finishes the cap of the cigar. We've seen this done a few times recently and some will say it's a copy of this or that, but I, for one, am all for it. Call me crazy, but I like little additions like this to cigars now and again just for some added fun to the vitola. Does it really add anything? No, but I still enjoy seeing some creativity. The wrapper on the cigar was very dark and felt oily to the touch. Squeezing the cigar, I could tell it was evenly packed from head to foot. The pre-lit aroma was strong and smelled of leather and earthy grass. The pig-tailed cap clipped easily and the draw was very free with hardly any resistance. The cold draw flavors were a mixture of natural sweetness and vanilla. 

First Third

My 601 La Bomba only took a short time toasting to really get going and when it did, it bellowed huge clouds of smoke. The first few draws on the cigar tasted very strongly of white pepper -- it was actually a little harsh on the finish. I was a little worried about what this could turn out to be, so I let my cigar sit in an ashtray for a few minutes to give it some time to settle. This was a good idea because the draws following that rest period tasted much better. The flavor I picked up then was primarily leather, mixed with some earthy notes, just like the pre-lit aroma. The draw was great and the construction of the cigar was high quality. The body was in the medium to lower full at this point.

Second Third 

The second third of my 601 la Bomba smoked nicely along. The flavors stayed consistent to the first third with the leathery, earthy tastes both on the front, and on the finish. The amount of smoke this cigar was putting off was very impressive. Right about the half way point of the stick, the body kicked in to full gear. This cigar went from the medium/full range right into head spinning power. I grabbed myself a sugary drink to try to balance out some of the strength.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third of my 601 La Bomba had a slight change in the flavor profile. Just like from the start of the cigar, the major flavor player was leather, but on the finish I started to taste just a hint of black pepper mixing in. It was a nice way to end the cigar because it brought, although slight, a little change to the experience. The body still was rocking in the upper full range all the way to the nub.

My final thoughts on the pre-release sample of the 601 La Bomba? In my opinion, this is a fairly simple cigar and pretty straight-forward from start to finish. With that said, I did enjoy the consistent leather flavor and top-notch construction, which made the stick effortless to smoke. Look for these, you FULL FULL body guys, because I think you will really enjoy the power that it brings to the table.

Would I buy it again? I will buy a few more when they are officially released and sit on them. I am curious to see if, with some age, the flavor profile will mature and become a little more complex.

Would I buy a box? If these are priced similar to other 601 lines I think I would pass on a box, and go with a 601 blue because it fits my taste a little better.

Dan

REVIEW: 601 MACHO Edicion Limitada

The cigar up for review tonight was generously sent to me by fellow BOTL Steve Valle (@SteveVlilo on twitter) of smokingstogie.com fame. If you don't know about SmokingStogie.com or haven't visited in awhile, I suggest you head over there and check it out right after you read this review. Brooks and Steve have one of the best (and in my opinion THE best) cigar review sites on the web. Keep up the good work, guys.

There isn't much info to be had around the web on this specific cigar, so I emailed Eddie Ortega (@eddieor on twitter), co-owner of EO Cigars (the makers of 601), for some details.

The Limited Edition 601 “Macho,” was just a short and very limited release produced

to accompany a book signing by Roberto Martin Perez.  Mr. Perez was a long time political prisoner in Cuba before finally being released and seeking asylum in the US.

We wanted to commemorate the occasion by making something really special for him, he loves the 601.

We only made 364 boxes and were only available at Sabor Havana Cigars in Miami, don't even know if they have any left.

The cigar was made at Pepin's factory.  Is really a great cigar.

-regards

 Eddie

Thanks for responding to my email Eddie and thanks for the info. The cigar looked great so I was stoked to light it up.


(Editor's Note: I had some problems with our camera for this review, so I only have a final third photo.)

Specifics  
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Niaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: ??
Smoking Location: House of Cigar
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.unitedtobaccoinc.com/

Pre-Light

The 601 Macho had a medium brown, very natural-looking tobacco wrapper. The wrapper did have quite a lot of veins, but all were small enough that they posed no problem to the burn. Squeezing the stick, I could tell it was evenly packed and not too tightly bunched, as it had a nice subtle give to it. The unlit aroma was surprising strong, smelling intensely of cedar with hints of black coffee. The cap clipped easily and the cold draw tasted very sweet. I would describe the flavor as raw/brown sugar.

First Third

My 601 Macho lit very easily with a soft flame lighter. Right off the first two puffs, the flavors were coming through strongly. I love when a cigar roars out of the gate and this stick was feeding that love. The initial flavors were of a lot of cedar on the front with a sweetened spice on the finish. The finish lingered awhile on my palate and seemed to get sweeter the longer I waited between draws. Speaking of the draw, it was perfect for my preference. Just enough resistance that you don't feel like you're sucking air and the smoke coated my taste buds slowly. About two inches into the stick, the flavors on the finish started to fade and the spice was replaced by just slight hints of coffee. The body was in the medium range and the burn was excellent. (Sorry I can't show you.)

Second Third

The second third of my 601 Macho had that previously-mentioned coffee flavor really pick up. Unlike the pre-lit aroma, where it was more of a black coffee note, this flavor was blending evenly with the sweetness on the finish to create a coffee with sugar taste. The cedar notes were still very strong on the front of each draw, but it was the finish that really had me smiling. The flavor sounds simple when I read my notes, but remembering the smoking experience, it was quite complex. Another nice change-up from the first third was that the texture of the smoke became very creamy. The first third was not dry or anything to be upset about, but the smoke in the second third was obviously much richer. The body was still a solid medium and the burn was great.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third was an absolutely pleasurable smoking experience. The coffee and sugar flavors that were only dominate on the finish until now, started to keep into the strong cedar notes on front of the profile to make a very interesting taste. I can't describe it exactly, but imagine making a pot of sweetened coffee over an open wood fire and maybe that smell is similar? I'm not sure if that's it, but what I'm sure of is that I liked it a lot. Towars the nub of the cigar, some of the spice I had picked up at the start came back into the mix, but it was not for long as I was almost near finger burning zone by then and had to put the stick down. The body was exactly the same for the entire smoke, in a nice relaxing medium range, and the construction was top notch and had zero problems. 

My final thoughts on the 601 MACHO Edicion Limitada? This cigar had amazing flavors that really kept my interest from start to finish. The further I burned into the stick, the creamier the smoke became and the more relaxing and enjoyable the experience got. I was bummed when this stick had to be put down because it is the only one I have and I'm not sure if I will be able to get more. I like a 601 cigar every now and then to mix up my rotation of everyday smokes. I have smoked all of the lines and I have to say that this stick is the best of them all. Figures it's the limited release from 601 that I like the best, but maybe if enough people try this cigar and speak out about it, we'll get a larger re-release.
 
Would I buy it again? There is not one bad thing I could say about this cigar, so given the chance I would absolutely buy more of these sticks. If I can't buy them, I will be looking to some more BOTL for trades.

Would I buy a box?  I'm not sure what the price was on these, but if the price was right, these are 100% box-worthy.

Dan

REVIEW: EO 601 Blue Box-Pressed Maduro

Tonight's cigar was given to me by Eddie Ortega (check his blog here), co-owner of EO cigars and one of the men behind this particular cigar. I had the privilege to meet him a few weeks back at a local cigar event (posted here). The 601 Blue is another Don Pepin-constructed cigar made in Esteli and, if it's like most other Pepin-made sticks, I'm sure the construction is fantastic. I've smoked a lot of the Murcielago cigar from EO, but haven't had many experiences with the 601 line. Tonight marked my first 601 Blue, so let's see how it went.

Specifics
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.2
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $7.25 (when bought in boxes of 20)
Smoking Location: My back deck
Beverage: water

Pre-Light

My 601 Blue cigar was an attractive cigar. The chocolaty brown wrapper was pretty consistent, aside from a few lighter spots close to the head and one prominent vein. The band that 601 uses on the stick really stands out with it's bright colors and and makes the cigar eye catching. Pinching the stick from head to foot, it had no soft spots and was tightly packed. The pre-lit aroma was sweet tobacco and almost barnyard-y, especially closer to the open foot. Once clipped, the pre-lit draw was free and tasted strongly like earthy, sweet tobacco.

First Third 

After an easy, even torching of the foot, the 601 Blue opened up with strong, thick, dense smoke. The draw was perfect and the burn excellent. The initial flavors were also very strong and tasted of roasted nuts, mixed with strong flavors of cocoa on the finish. Although the smoke was very thick and the flavors very strong, the cigar felt clean on my palate and never overwhelming. The ash was tight and held on for over an inch and a half. The body was medium to medium-full.

Second Third

The second third of my 601 Blue was similar to the first third in smoke volume and strength, but a new flavor had emerged. I was still tasting the roasted nuts and the cocoa, but now I was also starting to get some coffee flavors added into the mix. One thing worth mentioning was a difference in the smoke: the texture now felt a little more creamy, where as in the first third, it was a little dry. Overall, this cigar became more complex and even more enjoyable. The burn was razor sharp and the ash was one of the strongest I've seen in awhile.

Final Third and Final Thoughts 

The final third of my 601 Blue threw me for a bit of a loop. The strength of the cigar picked up into the full range and the flavors completely switched up on me. All of the roasted nut/cocoa flavors had dissipated and I was now tasting lots of coffee and leather, which I didn't see coming. The smoke volume was still large and the burn was as perfect as you can get. The stick did get a little hot towards the end, but that could have been due to the wind picking up outside forcing the cigar to burn faster.

My final impression of the 601 Blue from EO Cigars? This is a great cigar. The flavors were strong and, although I preferred the first and second thirds over the final third, the little switch up at the end made this experience even more interesting. Enough good cannot be said about the construction of this stick. I never had to touch flame to this cigar after the initial lighting and only had to ash the stick twice before nubbing it. I would recommend this cigar to anyone who has time to sit back, relax, and really experience what a strong, flavorful smoke brings to the table.

Would I buy it again? I will most certainly buy this cigar again.

Would I buy a box? $150ish a box it is out of my budget, but I would gladly do a five pack or a split with another BOTL.

Dan

Event: EO Cigars

House of Cigars in Powell, Ohio, hosted an event on Friday sponsored by EO Cigars. I had a great time hanging out with friends (and my very cool, cigar-smoking wife...who added this in during editing) and meeting the co-owner of EO, Eddie Ortega. Eddie is a great guy and I had a blast chatting with him about cigars and the industry. He even mentioned putting a trip to Nicaragua together for some bloggers, which had me all ears. A big thanks goes out to House of Cigars for hosting this event and to Eddie for his time and the gifts. It was a really great event!

Review: Murcielago Belicoso

 

Happy Superbowl Sunday! For today's special day in American sports, I chose to smoke a cigar that I've been looking forward to since I got it in a trade back in early December. If you've been reading cigar blogs in the last few months, I'm sure you've come across countless glowing reviews of the Murcielago from EO/United Tobacco. Espinosa and Ortega are an extremely hot duo in the cigar world currently and have been scoring high with almost all traditional and non-traditional cigar media outlets. Time to fire up "the bat" for myself and see if I agree with the experts.

Specifics (taken from Stogie Review)

Vitola: Belicoso
Length: 5.5
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Mexican
MSRP: Approx. $9.61
Smoking Location: House of Cigar, Columbus, Ohio
Beverage: Pepsi

Pre-Light

 

The Murcielago was a beautiful cigar to look at. The maduro wrapper was a very dark color, has an oily glimmer and was as smooth as silk. The cigar was very well packed. I felt no soft spots, but it also had a nice give to it that I was sure would produce an excellent draw. There was very little aroma from the unlit cigar, but after I clipped the head, the cold draw had a nice cocoa flavor to it. Before I get into the smoking part of the review, I have to mention the very cool looking band. I'd be doing  this cigar an injustice if I didn't. The bright red color and black bat graphic is an awesome contrast to the dark wrapper. This is most certainly a band that would catch your eye if you saw someone smoking this stick in your local lounge.

First Third

 

Firing up this cigar was effortless. The burn was immediately perfect and produced tons of dense smoke. The initial flavors of my Murcielago were black pepper mixed with nutty and cocoa notes. The finish was very clean and left a nice spicy flavor in the back of my throat. The draw, as expected, was free and very enjoyable. Something to also note was the strength of the ash. I smoked this cigar for a good two inches before dropping the ash in the ashtray for fear of wearing it. Even then, it took a few good knocks for the ash to fall. I'd say the body of the first third was a solid medium.

Second Third

  

The second third of my Murcielago stayed very similar to the first third. The cigar had a nice black pepper spice that was balanced brilliantly with the cocoa and nuttiness. Some creamy notes did start to take shape toward the end of the second third and I hoped that they'd increase even more in the final third. The body of the cigar stayed medium and, again, the ash was very strong and tight.

Final Third and Final thoughts

The final third of my Murcielago was dominated by two flavors -- cream and chocolate. The spice and nutty flavors of the cigar dissipated and the rich cream and chocolate dominated my palette. This was actually a nice change up to the cigar and made what would have been an enjoyable (but somewhat simple) cigar just that much better. The body also picked up slightly and made for a very relaxing finish to this stick.

Smoking the Murcielago is an absolute treat. The construction is second to none and the flavors are bold and up front. I think a person new to cigar smoking would be able to pick out the differences. The change-up in the final third's flavors and body were unexpected. I'm thinking I may need to smoke more of these to get the whole experience.

Would I buy it again? The price tag is slightly steep, but I think it is justified. I will seek out a few more single sticks and consider a box split with another BOTL.

Would I buy a box? A full box is out of my budget at this time, but I'd recommend it if you can afford it.

Dan