601 Blue Label Maduro

601 Blue Label Maduro

Strength: 5/5
Size: Robusto (5.2 x 52)
Origin: Nicaragua
Price (local): $10.15
Wrapper: Habano Maduro
Flavor Text:

A box-press beauty from Erik Espinosa.

As if 601 Serie wasn't good enough, Erik Espinosa decided to raise the bar with this maduro-wrapped lovely finished in box-pressed format. On the outside, a dark Nicaraguan maduro glistens with oils and boasts a mouthwatering, toothy texture. Inside, a robust blend of aged Cuban-seed long-leaf tobaccos marries to promote a rich, medium to full-bodied profile layered with satisfying flavors.

Expect a classic combination of earth and coffee complemented by a touch of spice on the finish. Naturally, quality is top-notch with each slow-burning cigar, so sit back and savor this impressive super-premium. Stack 601 up against any other box-pressed maduro on the market — we're sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

601 Blue Label Maduro received a healthy, 93-point rating, which noted: "A thick, box-pressed cigar with a triple-seam cap and dark, clean wrapper. The substantial draw layers the palate with a chewy, complex smoke full of dark-roasted espresso bean flavours, touches of almond, and caramel."

Today, we are taking a break from the Halloween series of reviews to look at a cigar I smoked recently that I am really excited to talk about. The Monster series will resume on Monday with the Tatuaje Skinny Drac, and it will continue through the entire week. I hope you are enjoying this awesome theme so far.

As I've been experimenting more with boutique cigars, I was sold this 601 during my most recent trip to the new boutique cigar shop in town. Stocking everything from Roma Craft to Crowned Heads to Tatuaje and everything in between, this shop was packed full of cigars I have never smoked before. Don't get me wrong, I lovr my standard issue Flathead or Oliva V most of the time, but mixing it up is nice, and I find that the care and flavor are much more prevalent in boutique cigars. You really do get what you pay for.

This trip to the boutique secured me this 601 Blue Label Maduro and a Tatuaje Skull Breaker that I am excited to try. I also grabbed another Roma Craft Neanderthal, which I'll review here soon. This cigar was the first to be tasted, and the initial draw alone gave me an excellent idea of what this cigar would be like. The Maduro wrapper produced a natural subtle sweetness that I have grown familiar with from boutique Maduro cigars, and the taste of this one was of very rich almond, light cinnamon, and dark coffee flavors that are robust and hearty. There is no real pepper or spice to this cigar, but mostly just these flavors you taste from the first draw. I got a very light hint of cinnamon graham cracker after digging into this one a little, but overall, it is just a master class in excellent flavor combinations with a subtle, sweet Maduro wrapper.

The draw from this cigar was phenomenal at all times throughout the smoke. I have come to learn intimately that size dictates flavor, always. The Robusto 601 Maduro provided so much flavor in such a small cigar. Smoke time was about an hour, but it was an hour that was packed with many, many flavorful draws. Every pull of this cigar tasted absolutely fantastic, and there was never a dull moment with this one. It kept me occupied the entire time. I cannot say enough about how fantastic this cigar was. By the end of this smoke, I had decided that this was the best Maduro cigar I have ever had.

Try it if you see it. I can't wait for my next one. It's wonderful.

Happy smoking! CB