Espinosa Cigars – Laranja Reserva DeSocio

Earlier this year, Alliance Cigar, a wholesale distributor, added a sixth cigar to their DeSocio series, the Laranja Reserva DeSocio by Espinosa Cigars. The Laranja joins the Aging Room Quattro, Flor De Las Antillas by My Father Cigars, Alec Bradley Prensado, Alec Bradley Tempus, and Oliva Serie V Melanio.

Produced in Esteli, Nicaragua at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory, the Laranja Reserva DeSocio features the same blend as the rest of the Laranja cigars with it Brazilian wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. But the 5 5/8 by 54 Perfecto can only be purchased through Alliance Cigar.

Tony reviewed the Laranja Reserva back in 2014 and provided some additional details on the wrapper leaf:

the Laranja Reserve carries a Brazilian wrapper from the Recôncavo region in the state of Bahia which is known for it’s orange hue. Erik Espinosa wanted to do something different this year as he started to experiment with different tobaccos he was drawn to this orange Brazilian wrapper.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Espinosa Cigars
Price: $1050
Vitola: Perfecto
Size: 5 5/8 by 54
Wrapper: Brazilian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

Pre-light

The Laranja Reserva’s Brazilian wrapper is gorgeous with all of it character – fine tooth, crazy amount of bumps, and visible veins. The color is a dark tan with a touch of orange. The Laranja Reserva DeSocio wrapper shows off some chocolate notes and a natural tobacco sweetness with an underlying pungency.

The small nipple foot makes it difficult to pick up anything new. Maybe a faint earth and some woodsy notes. The cigar comes to a close with a tapered head that ends in an impressive point. The draw is firm. Hopefully, once the cigar burns down it will open up and the problem will be resolved. The flavors are very light and almost airy with mild rich cedar and potpourri spices. A medium spice heat can be felt on the lips.

First Third

The Laranja Reserva DeSocio’s draw remains firm once lit and the flavors come across light on the palate. Progressively, the cigar begins to open up with  a leather, citrus, woodsy notes, and a natural tobacco sweetness that is rounding out the profile. After a few minutes, it is a completely different cigar. The draw is perfect and a copious amount of smoke is produced with each draw. The pepper comes across on the finish with a medium spice heat in the mouth.

Middle Third

Pulling into the second third, the Laranja Reserva DeSocio continues with a similar profile as earlier that is centered around the leather and citrus. The pepper has stepped up in the retro-hale causing my nose to tickle and a yeast flavor has joined in. The texture of the smoke is thick in the mouth with full flavors and medium/full strength.

Final Third

Both earth and sweetness gain ground as I work my way into the final third of the cigar, with the flavors even more noticeable on the finish of the smoke. For the first time, the burn is a bit out of whack, but no touch-up will be necessary as only a few minutes remain in the cigar. 

Wrap-up

I will just get to it. The Laranja Reserva DeSocio blew me away and I now understand why the Laranja Reserva secured the #2 spot on Tony’s top 10 list in 2014. Leather and citrus are not flavors I often find in cigars and the Laranja Reserva DeSocio delivered those flavors in remarkable fashion. This may be my favorite Espinosa Cigar and, quite possibly, the best cigar I have reviewed here at Casas Fumando in 2016!