Espinosa Cigars is the cigar manufacturer that I credit with giving me that “oh, I get it now” moment with cigars. I just have not had the opportunity to smoke a lot of Espinosa in the last few years. The exception to that is the 601 La Bomba Warhead series. This seems to be one that I can usually find at a local B&M every year. When I saw the box being released for the 601 La Bomba Warhead X this year, I knew I had to get it and review the cigar. The Warhead X is a Nicaraguan puro that features a Nicaraguan Broadleaf wrapper.

OVERVIEW

VITOLA: Oval-Pressed Toro Extra
SIZE: 6″ x 55

ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: San Lotano Factory

WRAPPER: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Full

SOURCE:
Small Batch Cigar

ENVIRONMENT

WHERE:
Studio/Lounge

WHEN:
August 22 @1pm

DRINKS:
Bottled Water

WEATHER:
70° & 70%RH

HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:
4

PRODUCTION

RELEASE TYPE Limited Release

ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE March 2024

TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 10
Production Totals: 50,000 total cigars

VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Oval-Pressed Toro Extra (6″ x 55)

BAND DESIGN

The 601 La Bomba Warhead X band sits at the foot of the cigar. It is eye catching from the start with it’s gold and black color scheme, with accents of red and white. “601 La Bomba” is on the front of the band, written in black. Underneath that, written in red, is “Warhead X.” Upon looking at the back of the band, you come to realize that the band is the same as the box…it’s a painted bomb, reminiscent of World War II bombs.

PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS

CONSTRUCTION

The Nicaraguan Broadleaf wrapper is rough to the touch. It feels almost like sandpaper. It is a mice shade of chocolate brown, with a lighter shade of brown around the veins. It’s a beautiful cigar. It’s toothy, with pockets of oil clearly visible.

AROMA

The Broadleaf wrapper gives off heavy notes of barnyard and cedar. The foot has the musty, sweet smell of tobacco with a hint of dark fruit. The barnyard not is there too, with maybe a bit of campfire.

COLD DRAW

The cold draw is everything I thought it it would be based on the the aromas, and so much more. Notes of barnyard, a sweet note of dark fruit, a bit of mustiness, a little bit of acidity, and hint of chocolate.

SMOKING EXPERIENCE

LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Le Petit by Les Fines Lames
Fire: The Bar Single Flame Torch Lighter by Peter James

The initial light gives up rich notes of damp wood, chocolate, and red pepper dance on my tongue. There’s a depth of flavor that a lot of cigars just do not have right away. The La Bomba Warhead X has that. There’s almost a peanut butter-esque creaminess to the flavors. Black pepper rules the retrohale.

SMOKE

The smoke is thick and creamy. There is plenty of smoke with each pull; it easily coats my palate.

FIRST THIRD
>> Chocolate, Citrus, Black Pepper

As the initial light fades, notes of chocolatey sweetness, nuts, caramel, wood, and black pepper are easily found. Red pepper flake lingers on my palate. A nice note of citrus cuts through the richness. The smoke is still creamy and plentiful. The burn line is razor sharp. The ash is gray with black streaks running through it. Salted nuts, chocolate, and caramel are still leading the way. Wood and bright fruity/citrus note help balance the first third. Black pepper on the retrohale. There are nuanced flavors just under the surface: baking spices, bread, and something that I can’t quite put my finger on. Regardless, the flavors found in the first third are well defined, vibrant, and absolutely delicious. The fruity/citrus note really brings the La Bomba 601 Warhead X to life. The construction is nothing short of flawless during the first third. The ash finally falls as the first third ends.

SECOND THIRD
>> Cocoa, Baking Spices, White Pepper

The middle third begins with notes of leather, peanuts, cayenne pepper, and sweet cream. White pepper on the retrohale. Toasted bread and charred wood are also there. The vibrant fruity/citrus note is gone and I find myself missing it. The flavors are nice and well defined, but the Warhead X feels like it’s missing something. The burn line is a bit crooked, but nothing that requires my attention. I know how this is going to sound…but I’m getting notes of German Chocolate cake, and I’m not mad about it. Cocoa, nuts, and baking spices. Yes, the profile seems a bit pedestrian, but it’s not. It is much lighter than the first third. More medium+, where the first third was full bodied. Again, I’m not mad at it. The ash is still compact and looks like a stack of nickels. The burn line has corrected itself. Charred wood rejoins the chorus. The more into this middle third I go, the more I’m digging it. It’s nutty, chocolate notes meld well with the baking spices and wood notes. A hint of leather ties it all together. Sweet, nutty, and earthy.

FINAL THIRD
>> Coffee, Wood, Black Pepper

The deep, rich notes from the first third re-emerge in the final third. Coffee, nuts, semi-sweet chocolate, and hint of fruit. There’s a tangy note, that I’m not quite sure what it is, coming through. Wood does seem like the dominant note now. The final third seems to be playing the greatest hits of the first two thirds, sans the fruity/citrus note that made the first third so unbelievably good. The burn line is a bit uneven, but the ash is still compact. Savory and sweet with a nice umami flavor, all complimented by a tangy note. Black pepper on the retrohale. An almost mineral note adds to the depth of flavors of the Warhead X.

RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS

FLAVOR PROGRESSION

The flavors in the first third of the La Bomba 601 Warhead X were nothing short of sublime. The middle third dialed it back to the medium plus range, while still keeping things interesting. The final third replayed the best notes from the first two thirds, but was still able to hold its own. None of the flavors were off-putting or seemed out of place.

BURN EXPERIENCE

I was really impressed with the overall construction and burn of the La Bomba 601 Warhead X. The ash was compact and the burn line was very consistent. No touch-ups or relights were needed

RATING BREAKDOWN
0.78 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.43 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
6.90 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.47 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment

COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES

BOMBS AWAY!

The La Bomba Warhead X vacillates between medium+ and full bodied, but in the best sort of way. The first third is full flavored and full bodied, with great notes of chocolate, caramel, black pepper and this vibrant tangy/citrus/fruity thing that just sets the first third off. Honestly, I was finding myself wanting more of that note each time I smoked one for this review. The middle third is good, but not great…at least when compared with the first third. The final third is very good, too. The flavors are balanced, complex, and nuanced. The La Bomba 601 Warhead X will have even grizzled aficionados entertained with its myriad of flavors. Do not sleep on the Warhead X…it will blow you away.

SIMPLY STOGIES RATING: 9.08 / 10.0

Cigar Review: La Bomba 601 Warhead X