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. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today, we look at the Espinosa Crema Box Pressed Toro. This is a cigar blend previously assessed back in October 2016 with the Toro Grande size.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Zona SA
Box Pressed Toro: 6 x 52

Late in 2021, Espinosa Cigars released an extension to its Espinosa Crema line in the form of the box-pressed Toro. The Espinosa Crema is a line that was introduced back in 2016. Prior to 2016, many of Espinosa Cigar’s lines have focused on bolder offerings in the medium, medium plus, or full range. The Espinosa Crema is a milder offering. It is a cigar meant to offer what La Zona Factory Operations Manager Hector Alfonso has termed a “gateway cigar” – namely, a cigar that could appeal to newer cigar enthusiasts.

The Espinosa Crema Box Pressed Toro was selected as the 2022 Cigar of the Year on El Oso Fumar by Prime Time Special Edition host Bear Duplisea.

The blend of the Espinosa Crema is highlighted by an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. The remainder of the blend consists of all Nicaraguan tobaccos. This wasn’t the first premium Connecticut Shade offering by Espinosa, but it was the first one to have the Espinosa name on it (some other Connecticut offerings were 601 Black, 601 White, and the La Zona Connecticut. Prior to the release of the Box Pressed Toro, all of the previous offerings under Espinosa Crema were parejo offerings.

The Espinosa Crema Box Pressed Toro opened up with notes of citrus, cream, wood, bread, and white pepper. Early on the citrus, cream, and wood moved into the forefront. The citrus delivered a good amount of sweetness during the early phases. The citrus sweetness diminished into the background leaving the wood and cream as the primary notes. On the retro-hale, an extra layer of white and black pepper was delivered. During the early part of the second third, the citrus made a brief comeback to the forefront before returning to the background. By the midway point, the cream notes dissipated. The final third saw the wood notes remain a primary note, but there was a pepper increase which made it the most prominent of the background notes.

In terms of strength, the Espinosa Box Pressed Toro started out in the mild to medium range before progressing to medium in the second half. The flavors delivered were medium-bodied throughout the smoking experience. While the body also increased in intensity, it still remained in the medium range. The burn of the Espinosa Crema Box-Pressed Toro required a minimal amount of touch-ups. The draw was slightly open. Normally I prefer a slight amount of resistance. In the end, this still was a low-maintenance cigar to derive flavor from.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

The Espinosa Crema delivered a solid smoking experience. While this isn’t going to deliver a radically different smoking experience for a Connecticut Shade cigar, it showcased some very good flavors. It fills the gap of a gateway cigar, yet the retro-hale and the final third of the cigar is going to deliver the “bite” that many Espinosa Cigars are known for. My personal preference is still for the Toro Grande, but the Box Pressed Toro is certainly one I would buy and smoke again. It’s also a cigar I could recommend to any cigar enthusiast.

Summary

Key Flavors: Wood, Cream, Citrus, Bread, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good