Cigar Aficionado

"We just received the first shipment of the updated Espinosa Habano," Anthony Jimenez, creative director for Espinosa Premium Cigars, told Cigar Aficionado. "We will start shipping today to our accounts nationwide."

First unveiled at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show this year, the new Espinosa Habano features a modified blend, new packaging and new band artwork. Two of the cigar sizes, as well as the overall vitola count, have also been adjusted.

"We tweaked the blend and streamlined the design of the band and packaging," Jimenez said. "The vitolas have changed and have been streamlined to three offerings."

The cigar features Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos over an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper. Once offered in four sizes, the line has been reduced to three: No. 4, which measures 5 1/2 inches by 50 ring gauge; No. 5, at 6 by 52; and No. 8, at 6 1/8 by 58. The cigars retail from $6.75 to $7.50. "The No. 4 and No. 8 are new sizes in the line. We reduced the ring gauges in order to taste more of the rich Habano wrapper."

The new Espinosa Habano cigars also feature new band and box artwork and come packaged in 20 count boxes. "As far as the packaging upgrade, we decided to keep the same neo-Cubanesque style that is found in the new Espinosa Especial," said brand owner Erik Espinosa. "We decided to go with a blue-and-gold color scheme as to not diverge too far from the original."

The original Espinosa Habano first shipped to retailers in the fall of 2012 after Espinosa ventured out on his own as a cigarmaker. (He was previously a partner in EO Brands.) Espinosa Habano was Espinosa's first brand after starting his own company, and the first line he made at his new factory, La Zona Cigar Factory, in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Similar to its predecessor, the updated Espinosa Habano is made at the La Zona Cigar Factory.