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The 601 Serie is handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua by Pepin Garcia for United Tobacco (Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega). The green banded 601 is an exquisite blend of aged Nicaraguan tobaccos topped with a dark and oily Habano Oscuro wrapper. If you like full bodied - full flavored cigars, then this one is for you.
Pre-Smoke
This is a great looking cigar, dark, oily and slightly bumpy. Dark chocolate scents exude from the wrapper, hinting at the flavors within. Construction is firm and excellent and the draw is perfect.
The samples we tried sported the new 2010 band, but that is the only thing that has changed. The blend is still being produced by Don Pepin Garcia.
Burn
The 601 lit easily after toasting and the burn line was even and tight. A gray, salt and pepper ash was produced along with a pleasant sweet aromatic smoke.
The Flavor
Initially, a heavy peppery spice dominated the palate, along with notes of chocolate, coffee and hazelnuts. The combination was well balanced, but very full on the palate.
As the cigar burned on, the 601 increased in complexity, bringing forth leather, spice and earth notes. This made for an incredibly entertaining smoke, as all of the flavors were distinctively detectable. Along with all of that flavor came a smooth silkiness and a balance that is atypical of a strong cigar.
Towards the end, the flavors remained strong and clear, the ash held firm, and the draw stayed even. There was never any harshness, and the smoke was easily passed through the sinus without burning.
Those that stay away from strong cigars are missing a real winner with this one. A complex, full flavored, smooth, and tasty cigar awaits those who try the 601 Oscuro. The heartiness of this cigar pairs well with just about any libation.
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Chocolate Collections
