Cigar Reviews
Nestor Miranda – Special Selection Exclusivo Regional
A few weeks back, Tony received a few samples of the soon-to-be released Nestor Miranda Special Selection Exlusivo Regional ( I think they should add more words to the name) from Barry Stein (@MCCBarry on Twitter) of Miami Cigar and Company. As soon I heard it was dressed in a Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper, I was willing to fight Tony for the cigars. But, once again, Tony being the nice guy he passed them off to me to review. So I shall let Tony live to fight another day.
As is common with regional releases and other limited releases, there is not much information available online about this cigar. Browsing the web, I came across a news article at halfwheel.com that has this to say of the SS Exclusivo Regional:
In what may become a series of releases, Barry Stein of Miami Cigar & Co. tweeted a picture of the Nestor Miranda Exclusivo Regional Robusto Extra. The 5 1/2 x 54 box-pressed cigar will be limited to 500 boxes of 10 and sold only in the midwest. It will feature a Mexican San Andrés wrapper as opposed to the Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro, Rosado and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers that are on the regular production versions of the Special Selection.
In addition, there is also a 6 x 60 size, which will retail for $9.00 per cigar and will ship to the region alongside the Robusto Extra next week.
While the Casas Fumando crew has not reviewed the regular production Special Selection, we have reviewed several other Nestor Miranda lines. You can find the reviews below:
- Nestor Miranda – Art Deco
- Nestor Miranda – Casa Miranda Chapter One
- Nestor Miranda – Casa Miranda Chapter Two
- Nestor Miranda – Collection 1989
The Facts
Samples Provided by Miami Cigar & Company
Vitola: Robusto Extra – Box Pressed
Size: 5 ½ by 54
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: 1 Hour
Pre-light
Pulling the Special Selection Exclusivo Regional out of the cellophane, I am greeted with a familiar syrupy sweetness that I find on most San Andres Maduro wrapped cigars. On top of the syrupy sweetness, I am getting barnyard and faint honey. The Maduro wrapper is consistent in its milk chocolate color. The San Andres leaf has an extremely fine tooth, several larger bumps, and is veiny
The foot looks and feels under filled but the rest of the cigar is evenly packed with a slight flex when squeezed. The filler tobaccos on the foot shows off sweet cedar, rich earth, and more barnyard. The cap has been applied neatly. Upon cutting the cap, I am presented with a draw that is on the loose side. A spice tingle can be felt on my lips and I am picking up on notes of clove, cinnamon, cocoa, and cedar.
First Third
The Nestor Miranda Special Selection Exclusivo Regional is showcasing common flavors I associate with San Andres Maduro cigars. Cocoa, a syrupy sweetness, earth, and musty wood are all in the mix. However, what differentiates this stick from other cigars that utilize the San Andres Maduro is the balance in the flavors. The retrohale is rich with notes of cedar and black pepper. There is very little spice in my mouth and I do not feel any kind of spice in the retrohale, which is surprising. The draw is loose making it hard to pull as much smoke as I would prefer. The lopsided burn is forming a layered white ash.The flavors and strength are medium.
Middle Third
Burning down into the second third, the pepper and spice have picked up a notch, and the pepper is very noticeable as I retrohale the smoke. The core flavors that I noted in the first third have been consistent thus far. A touch-up was required as I transitioned into the second third, but I have not encountered any additional burn issues. I am glad to report that the draw, while still free, is no longer loose and the smoke production has increased. The white ash has become flaky since the touch-up but still holding past an inch.
Final Third
While the second third did show much evolution in the flavors, the final third has brought forth a citrus tanginess, oak, and some toasted notes. As I remove the primary band, I find a small crack in the wrapper. At this point, it is not having any kind of impact on the experience. The burn line is the best it has been. The flavors are high medium and the strength remains right at medium. To the very end, the smoke has remained enjoyable.
Wrap-Up
The Nestor Miranda SS Exclusivo Regional is a solid smoke that delivers traditional San Andres Maduro flavors with an added element of balance but not a lot of variations. I believe the loose draw caused the burn issue in the first third and the flavors to be toned down. The other sample I smoked had a great draw and the flavors were closer to full throughout the cigar. I would say the cigar is medium in strength and full in flavor. This will be a difficult cigar to find as it is a regional release and limited to 500 boxes. But if you reside in the mid-West or know of a retailer who will be carrying the Special Selection Exclusivo Regional that can ship, I recommend that you grab them as soon as they hit the shelf. They won’t be around for long.
*The SS Exclusivo Regional cigar smoked for review smoked considerably faster than the other sample I smoked. This may have been from the loose filler tobacco. The other sample smoked for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
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