The Laranja Azulejo line was introduced at last year’s PCA tradeshow and is now the third blend under the Laranja banner from Espinosa Cigars. It consists of four sizes, and each size is sold in 20-ct boxes. The cigars are made at A.J. Fernandez San Lotano Factory in Nicaragua.
Azulejo is the Portuguese term for blue-colored tiles, and the same color blue highlights the band.
The wrapper is of an oily Maduro color with a decent amount of tooth on closer inspection. The cigar is slightly box-pressed, and the construction is good. But, even for a box-pressed cigar, it seems underfilled, and the loose draw underlines this suspicion.
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Size: 46 x 152 mm (6″)
- Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
- Binder: Brazilian Arapiraca
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Price: $11 | € –
Laranja Azulejo Corona Gorda: the scents in the cold draw are faint, and only some light spice notes can be made out. Once lit, cocoa, leather, and spices open the smoke.
The cocoa has vanished further into the first third, and an earthy aroma joins the leather and spice, mainly black pepper. There is a herbal note present in the background, together with a hint of bitterness. Strength is medium (3/5).
A roasted hazelnut note starts coming through in the second third, and the herbal note picks up in intensity. Leather, earth, and black pepper remain the primary flavors. Strength has jumped up to a medium-full (4/5).
The flavors pick up in intensity even more in the last third, with the black pepper becoming spicy and the prominent flavor. Herbs, hazelnut, and earth follow right behind the spicy black pepper. Strength increases further and becomes full (5/5).
Overall, the Laranja Azulejo Corona Gorda is a full-bodied and full-flavored smoke. The profile is interesting but tends to be slightly unbalanced towards the spiciness, especially in the last third. Despite the gaps in the filler, the cigar burned down evenly without any issues.