601 La Bomba Warhead IX

Today we take a look at the 601 La Bomba Warhead IX from Espinosa Cigars. Over the past decade, the Warhead has been one of the most successful annual limited edition series in the industry. In fact, seven of the first eight installments have landed on a  Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. Warhead is an extension of the original 601 La Bomba line, but it replaces the Nicaraguan Habano wrapper with a Broadleaf wrapper. As the name Warhead suggests, this is intended to be a stronger and bolder cigar. Each installment of the Warhead has featured a different size with a tweaked blend adjusted to that size as well as a different set of artwork.

SPECIFICATIONS

Originally the Warhead was a Connecticut Broadleaf release, but starting with Warhead VI, the company changed the wrapper to a Nicaraguan Broadleaf wrapper. The remainder of the blend is 100% Nicaraguan tobacco. The Warhead IX is a 6 x 56 rounded figurado and is only the second rounded vitola in the series (the others have been box-pressed). Warhead IX comes in ten-count boxes. There was a total of 5,000 boxes produced. Production comes from the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: San Lotano
  • Warhead IX:  6 x 56 (rounded perfecto)

For historical purposes, here is a list of the Warhead releases:

PERFORMANCE

The Warhead IX opened up with notes of earth and mocha. The mocha note is something I categorize as a fusion of chocolate and coffee. There were also notes of red pepper and natural tobacco. The mocha notes moved into the forefront early on. The pepper, earth, and natural tobacco settled in the close background. In addition, there was an additional layer of red pepper on the retro-hale. By the second third, the mocha split into separate coffee and chocolate notes. The coffee notes remained in the background. The chocolate joined the pepper, earth, natural tobacco, and some newly emerged citrus notes. There was an increase in the pepper spice during the second third. By the final third, pepper spice joined the coffee notes in the forefront. Notes of coffee, citrus, earth, and natural tobacco rounded out the flavor profile.

The Warhead IX started out with medium to full-bodied flavors and medium to full strength. Both attributes quickly increased in intensity. By the 2/5 mark, the cigar was in full territory, and both attributes continued to increase in strength. The strength had an edge over the body. By the end of the second third, I was convinced this was one of the boldest Warheads in terms of strength. The burn did require multiple and frequent touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. The draw had a touch of resistance – which is something that I consider a positive.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Once again, the Warhead does not disappoint. With the Warhead IX, I commented that by the end of the second third, this was one of the boldest Warheads to date. At the same time, Warhead IX has no shortage of flavor. The bold coffee, chocolate, and pepper notes really play quite well together. This is not a cigar for everyone. I’d only recommend this to the experienced cigar enthusiast who wants a full-strength, full-bodied smoking experience. As for myself, this is a cigar I’d smoke again and buy multiples to keep in the humidor.

Summary

Key Flavors:  Mocha (Coffee, Chocolate), Red Pepper, Citrus, Earth, Natural Tobacco
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium to Full (1st 2/5), Full (Remainder)
Body: Medium to Full (1st 2/5), Full (Remainder)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Buy Multiples
Score: 90
Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence

REFERENCES

Previous Review: 601 La Bomba Warhead VIII by Espinosa Cigars
News: Espinosa Cigars Releases 601 La Bomba Warhead IX
Price: $13.00
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: 601

Note: Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments in a lightweight, shorter format. They will never replace 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 or a blend we are looking at in a different size.