The Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo is a new line that was introduced at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. The Nestor Miranda Collection is named for Miami Cigar and Company President Nestor Miranda. Back in 2014, Miami Cigar and Company celebrated its 25th anniversary. As a part of the occasion, the company decided to revamp most of its Nestor Miranda offerings. As a result, the old Nestor Miranda Special Selection line was been rebranded as the Nestor Miranda Collection. The series was originally launched with three blends: Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut, Nestor Miranda Collection Habano, and the Nestor Miranda Collection Maduro. The addition of the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo marks the first all-new blend in the line since the 2014 relaunch. Recently I’ve had an opportunity to smoke the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo. Overall I found this to be an excellent addition into the series.

When the Nestor Miranda brands was revamped, Miami Cigar and Company made the decision to retire the Nestor Miranda Special Selection Rosado and Oscuro blends. The Nestor Miranda Special Selection Connecticut blend was kept the same and rebranded as the Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut. At the same time the Nestor Miranda Collection Habano, and Maduro blends were added. According to Miami Cigar and Company, the one blend that was missing was a Corojo wrapper one – a wrapper that happens to be Nestor Miranda’s personal favorite. As a result, the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo was developed

Without further ado, let’s break down the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto and see what this cigar brings to the able.

Blend Profile

Like the other offerings in the Nestor Miranda brand, the Nestor Miranda Collection is made by the Garcia family at the My Father Cigars factory. The Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo is an all Nicaraguan puro, the first puro in the Nestor Miranda Collection.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars SA)

For completeness, we list the other blends in the Nestor Miranda Collection:

Nestor Miranda Collection – Connecticut

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican, Honduran
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars SA)

Nestor Miranda Collection – Habano

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Brazilian
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars SA)

Nestor Miranda Collection – Maduro

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Peruvian, Nicaraguan, Dominican
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars SA)

Vitolas Available

The Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo is available in four sizes. Each of the four sizes is available in 20 count boxes.

Corona: 6 x 46
Robusto: 4 1/2 x 50
Toro: 5 1/2 x 54
Gordo: 6 x 60

The sizes are consistent across the four blends of the Nestor Miranda Collection with the exception of the limited edition Danno – which is not available in the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo offering.

Appearance

The Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper of the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto has a dark wood color to it. Upon closer examination, some darker marbling can be seen on the wrapper. Depending on how the light shines on it, the wrapper’s color might give off a slight rosado tint. The wrapper also has a coating of oil on it. This is a wrapper that had thin visible veins and some thin visible wrapper seams – resulting in a relatively smooth surface on the wrapper.

The band of the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo uses a consistent design as the other three blends, but with a different color scheme. The band is primarily black with yellow and chrome colored trim. The Nestor Miranda Colleciton logo consists of an interlocking N and M that also contributes to the shape of the wrapper. Below the logo is the text “NESTOR MIRANDA” in chrome font.  Below that text is the text “COLLECTION” in a smaller chrome font.  To the left of the logo is the text “NESTOR MIRANDA COLLECTION” in landscape mode which each word on a separate line surrounded by a yellow pinstripe. To the right of the logo is the text “MADURO” in chrome font on the yellow background. – also in landscape mode. To the far right siting on the back of the band is a smaller chrome-colored interlocking N and M Nestor Miranda Collection logo.

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

As I typically do, I placed a straight cut in the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto to remove the cap. Once the cap was clipped, I moved on to the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of cocoa, dusty earth, natural tobacco, and floral notes. Overall I considered the pre-light draw of this cigar to be excellent. At this point I was ready to light up the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto and see what the smoking experience would have in store.

Flavor Profile

The Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto started out with an assortment of flavors including cocoa, natural tobacco, white pepper, fruit, and a slight floral note. The natural tobacco and cocoa notes became primary early on with the other flavors receding into the background. Meanwhile the retro-hale delivered a mix of assorted spices.

Throughout the first third of the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto, the cocoa and natural tobacco notes alternated as to which one had the edge. Toward the later part of the first third, the fruit notes transitioned to more of a citrus note. As for the floral and white pepper notes, they had nearly dissipated.

During the second third, the natural tobacco notes remained in the forefront. Some earth notes were now also present with the cocoa. Meanwhile the citrus notes remained in the background. As for the floral notes, they were replaced by a cedar note. The white pepper notes also resurrected and could be detected on the tongue.

Just past the midway point of the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto, the cedar and pepper notes began to increase and toward the end of the second third, they joined the natural tobacco notes in the forefront. The cocoa and earth notes were now in the distant background.

The last third saw the cedar and pepper spices take control. The natural tobacco was now the secondary note. Except for a touch of citrus, most of the other notes were out of the equation. This is the way the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

The burn of the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto performed quite well. It maintained a relatively straight burn path and burn line. This cigar needed a few touch-ups along the way, but nothing above the normal amount. The resulting ash was light gray in color. For the most part, the ash came off the cigar in clean chunk with only some occasional minor flaking. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal.

The draw to the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto had a slight amount of resistance – which is something I like. I felt this led to an ideal draw from start to finish.

Strength and Body

The Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Robusto started out as a medium strength, medium-bodied cigar. Both attributes increased in intensity along the way. The strength gradually increased and by the second half, it had progressed to medium to full territory. Meanwhile the body, increased a little more rapidly as it moved to medium to full by the second third where it would remain for the duration of the cigar experience.

In terms of strength versus body, the body had a slight edge throughout the smoking experience.

Final Thoughts

As a whole I have enjoyed what Miami Cigar and Company has done with the Nestor Miranda line. Of the previous three blends released, I had given an edge to the Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut. Now I would have to say, the Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo now provides another great option for me. This is a cigar that had some very nice flavors. There was a nice amount of flavor transitions that kept me quite interested in this cigar from start to finish. Overall it’s a cigar I’d recommend to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast, but it’s a nice cigar for a novice to smoke something closer to medium to full. As for myself, this is a cigar I’d smoke again – and it’s worthy of a box split.

Summary

Key Flavors: Cocoa, Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Citrus, White Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity:  Medium to High
Strength: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Body: Medium (1st Third), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Finish: Excellent

Rating

Assessment: 3.5-Box Split
Score: 90

References

News: Nestor Miranda Collection Corojo Heads for General Release
Price: $7.50
Source: Gifted
Stogie Geeks Podcast: n/a
Stogie Feed: n/a
Brand Reference: Nestor Miranda

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted.