Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Warzone Rabito. This is a cigar blend previously assessed back in May 2021 in the Box Pressed Short Churchill size.

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Colombian, Nicaraguan Havano
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Zona S.A.
Rabito: 6 x 46

Warzone is a limited production brand that is a collaboration between Espinosa Cigars and General Cigar Company. It’s a brand that is produced out of Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, but it’s one that is sold by General Cigar. The name Warzone was inspired by the Ten Years War – a war fought in Cuba between Cuba and Spain as a part of Cuba’s overall fight for independence from Spain. In 2022, the Warzone Rabito was released. The Rabito is a signature size from Espinosa Cigars. It is a 6 x 46 vitola with a pigtail affixed to the cap. According to both General and Espinosa Cigars, this is the final release that is planned in the Warzone series.

The blend is highlighted by the use of Cameroon wrapper, a wrapper typically not seen on an Espinosa blend. Espinosa’s Hector Alfonso was able to tap into resources and leverage the Cameroon wrapper for this blend. In addition to the Cameroon wrapper, Warzone features a Honduran binder over a blend of Colombian and Nicaraguan fillers. The use of Cameroon, Colombian, and Honduran tobacco is somewhat “out of the box” in terms of the recipe for many releases Espinosa Cigars has been involved with. The cigar was blended at La Zona. Distribution for Warzone is handled by General Cigar Company.

The Warzone Rabito kicked off with notes of cedar, damp wood, coffee bean, natural tobacco, white pepper, and fruit. Early on the natural tobacco and fruit moved into the primary notes. The cedar, wood, pepper, and coffee bean notes settled into the background. The second third saw the fruit notes diminish and the coffee bean and wood notes increase. By the last third, the wood took over as the primary note. There were still notes of fruit, pepper cedar, and natural tobacco in the background. This is the way the Warzone Toro came to a close. The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

The flavors of the Warzone Rabito started out medium-bodied before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This was countered by medium strength. When it came to the burn, the Warzone Rabito required frequent touch-ups to maintain a straight burn line and straight burn path. The draw had a touch of resistance which was ideal.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

There is a little sadness on my part hearing this most likely will be the last Warzone release. This has been a good project for General Cigar and Espinosa.

ThenWarzone Rabito delivers a solid smoking experience. In terms of where the releases of the Warzone rank, I still would give the nod to the Box Pressed Short Churchill. I found the Rabito had a little more to offer in terms of body, but the Short Churchill gets a slight edge over smoothness. Still, there is enough going on with the Rabito where this is a cigar I would recommend to any cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I would buy and smoke again. With this being limited, I’d recommend getting one sooner than later.

Summary

Key Flavors: Coffee Bean, Natural Tobacco, Damp Wood, Fruit, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good