EO No. 21 Torpedo

The EO No. 21 was created by the man behind the highly rated 601 brand, Erik Espinosa. To say he knows cigars is an understatement – to say the least – as he’s worked with Alec Bradley, Gurkha, Rocky Patel, and Drew Estates. Carefully crafted at Espinosa’s own factory in Nicaragua, this very “Cuban-esque” handmade starts with a silky Connecticut Shade wrapper that secures a bold and well-aged blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-fillers. That combination leads to a well-balanced, flavorful bouquet of oak, black pepper, sweet cream, and coffee that is buttery smooth. A perfect everyday smoke, enjoy it with a lemonade.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.