Las 6 Provincias ZDT by Espinosa Cigars

Today, we review the Las 6 Provincias ZDT by Espinosa Cigars. It was at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show that Espinosa Cigars unveiled the ZDT. The ZDT is the fifth installment of its limited-edition Las 6 Provincias series. This annual limited edition series pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces,” – and it refers to the six provinces that existed before the takeover of Cuba by Fidel Castro. It is also Espinosa Cigars’ most premium limited edition series to date. The company has six planned Las 6 Provincias series releases, each with a unique blend, size, and associated artwork. The name ZDT stands for Zona de Tabaco, the name given to the Pinar del Rio province in the western part of Cuba.

To date, we have seen five installments of the limited edition Las 6 Provincias series:

2018: Las 6 Provincias LHB (La Habana)
2019: Las 6 Provincias MTZ (Matanzas)
2021: Las 6 Provincias LV (Las Villas)
2022: Las 6 Provincias CMW (Camagüey)
2023: Las 6 Provincias ZDT (Pinar del Rio/Zona de Tabaco)
2024: Las 6 Provincias ORT (Oriente)

The ORT release completes the six provinces, but Espinosa is considering other options to continue the series.

Without further ado, let’s turn our attention to the Las 6 Provinicias ZDT release and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Las 6 Provincias ZDT by Espinosa Cigars – Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

The ZDT is a Nicaraguan puro highlighted by a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper. The Corojo wrapper is appropriate because Corojo has long been associated with the Pinar del Rio region. This is the first major Espinosa release to use the Corojo wrapper. The cigar was produced at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua. Director of Operations Hector Alfonso spearheaded the blend.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: San Lotano

Vitolas Offered

The ZDT is offered in one size—a 6 1/2 x 48 box-pressed Short Churchill. The cigars are presented in 20-count jars. We will discuss more about the packaging in the BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES section.

Appearance (*)

The Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper of the ZDT had a dark reddish-clay tint. There wasn’t much in the way of oil on the wrapper. The wrapper had more of a silky complexion to it. There were some thin visible veins and minimally visible wrapper seams. The box-press shape had a soft, Cuban-style square-press.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw (*)

A straight cut was used to remove the ZDT cap. Once the cap was removed, it was on to the pre-light draw ritual. The cold draw was very different, not only for an Espinosa cigar but also in general. The notes picked up include tea, plum, and natural tobacco. This was a satisfactory pre-light draw in my book. At this point, I removed the footer ribbon of the ZDT, toasted up the footer, and prepared to head into the smoking experience.

Tasting Notes

The ZDT opened with notes of black tea, cedar, clove, plum, and earth. The tea notes moved into the forefront early on. The cedar, clove, plum, and earth notes settled into the background, with the plum the most prominent note. As the cigar progressed through the first third, some black pepper surfaced in the background. At the same time, a layer of black pepper was on the tongue with some clove/warm spice notes mixed in.

The second third of the ZDT saw the tea notes remain primary. The plum sweetness slightly decreased, while the pepper notes slowly, gradually increased. At the same time, clove, cedar, and earth notes remained in the background.

The final third saw the tea notes remain grounded in the forefront. The pepper notes were now the most prominent of the secondary notes. Cedar, clove, earth, and plum notes rounded out the flavor profile. This is the way the ZDT came to a close. The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn

When it came to the burn, there was some unevenness from time to time on the burn line. In addition, multiple touch-ups were needed to maintain a straight burn path. While the touch-ups kept the burn on a straight path, many touch-ups were required. The resulting ash was mostly silver-gray with some darker spots. This wasn’t the firmest ash but was not loose or flaky. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both maintained ideal levels.

Burn of the Las 6 Provinicias ZDT

Draw

The ZDT’s draw performed very well, especially for a box press. This draw had a touch of resistance to it, making it ideal in my book. At the same time, this was a low-maintenance cigar to derive flavor from.

Strength and Body

The ZDT started out on the upper end of medium regarding strength and body. Strength and body increased in the second third. Just past the midway point, both attributes crossed into medium to full territory. In terms of strength versus body, both attributes balanced each other, with neither attribute overshadowing the other.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)

The Las 6 Provinicas packaging has simply been outstanding over the years. Give credit to Erik Espinosa Jr., who has spearheaded the packaging efforts. The ZDT’s packaging features a classic Cuban-style ceramic jar. While it is simpler than its predecessors, it is perhaps my favorite. The artwork on the jar was done by local Cuban artist Edin Gutierrez.

Packaging of the Las 6 Provinicias ZDT

The double band design is similar to its predecessors, but red is the primary color in this case, and the name “ZDT” is on it. One note: the bands of the Las 6 Provincias have been quite challenging to remove, and unfortunately, the ZDT falls into that category.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

For a long time, I’ve wanted to see what Espinosa Cigars can do with a Corojo wrapper. With the ZDT, they come through with flying colors. I mentioned that the pre-light draw was unique, but it is probably more important to mention that this flavor profile was unique. I don’t think I ever used the words “tea” or “plum” when reviewing an Espinosa Cigar. It also continues the excellent track record of the Las 6 Provincias as a whole, which has now established itself as one of the best annual limited series out there. At $18.00, it isn’t the most inexpensive cigar, but kudos to Espinosa Cigars for keeping the price of the ZDT the same as 2022’s CMW installment of Las 6 Provincias.

In the end, this is a cigar I would probably steer to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast, but it’s not a cigar I would discourage a novice from trying. As for myself, this is easily a cigar I would buy and smoke again. Coming in at 90 points, this cigar earns a Standard of Excellence designation.

Summary

Key Flavors: Tea, Plum, Cedar, Clove, Earth, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good