“For a Honduran puro, this is going to produce some amazing flavors. This is the type of cigar where even if one does not like Honduran tobacco, I would encourage that person to still try.”

#11 – EIROA by CLE Cigars

Coming in at #11 on the 2013 Cigar of the Year countdown is the EIROA by CLE Cigars.  This was a new line launched by Christian Eiroa’s  CLE Cigar brand under the Fabricas Unidas umbrella.  It is being positioned as a premium line by the company and is the first cigar to carry the Eiroa family name.

The EIROA gives CLE Cigars a slot on the countdown for the second year in a row. This marks the first Honduran puro to be named to the 2013 Cigar of the Year countdown, and the fourth puro overall.  It also becomes the first Honduran wrapper to make this year’s countdown.

This EIROA delivers notes of natural tobacco sweetness, cream, and spice.  The natural tobacco sweetness has a nice intangible quality that I could not put my finger on.  The spice had some nice multidimensional qualities consisting of a combination of pepper and baker’s spice.  The spice also played a key role on the retro-hale.  The flavors were robust and full-bodied.  There is enough strength to qualify this as a medium to full strength cigar.

Click here for our assessment of the EIROA by CLE Cigars

Blend Profile

Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran

Vitolas Available

Prensado: 4 x 48
Robusto: 5 x 50
Toro: 6 x 54
660: 6 x 60

Recommended Vitola: Robusto
Score: 94 (8/12/13)
Assessment Rating: 4.0 Box Worthy

For more information on our vision and criteria for the 2013 Cigar of the Year countdown, see our December 2013 Editor’s Corner.