601 Steel Girder (6x52)

A few years ago people in the know about boutique offerings were sucking the 601 cigars up wherever and whenever they could find them.  If you were not in the know then you were out in the cigar wasteland with the rest of the cigar sheeple, blissfully ignorant of the wonderful offering that was put together by Espinosa and Ortega with Don Pepin Garcia.  After some woeful times, there was a relationship with Rocky Patel that led to a horrific gas station cigar rebranding, Espinosa is back and making cigars bearing this frontmark again, and the branding is back to the old way, just the way I like it.  You see, I am one of the ones in the know about boutique offerings, some would even say that I am an acclaimed member of the boutique cognoscenti (self acclimation counts in my world!), and I was actually very happy to see this brand back where it belongs.  I have been hoarding my old 601 Red's and Blue's because they were just that good and they were gone forever.  Now I need not be so parsimonious because I can always get some 601 Steel, so can you by the way, and whether you are in the know or an ignoramus, you can get them here.  It's that simple, anyone can click a link...

The cigar presents with some interesting visuals.  The exterior is ruddy, much like I would envision unfinished steel, there is some roughness to the wrapper (some would call it tooth, they would be wrong).  The band has the old 601 style and a nice steel gray finish that adds oomph to the nomenclature of the smoke.  Visually I would say this resembles more of a knock around cigar than an accomplished premium, but then the 601 name comes back to mind and I realize that I am likely in for taste roller coaster.  The pre light draw shows some signs of dark fruit and pepper and the pre light aroma has some hints of anise and spice.

The cigar opens with all sorts of power up front.  I am actually a bit taken aback by this show of teeth right up front.  The core profile is full of heady blasts of nicotine and the palate tingles from the get go.  The flavors show some wonderful bursts of black pepper and black cherry and I am not sure I have had this combination present itself in a cigar before.  At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying dark wood note that combines with a licorice note that is initially interesting, but then becomes a bit too much.  The draw is superb at this point, delivering big cloudy bursts of smoke.  The burn is slightly wonky, but I don't believe I will need a touch up at this point.

The first half of the smoke proceeds nicely, though the power recedes and I wish it would have hung around for a bit.  The core profile takes on a more fruit laden quality with notes of black cherry and orange peel coming through.  The back of the palate has begun to show some more licorice type notes at this point and I would really like to have more of the dark wood from earlier in the presentation.  The draw continues to perform very well.  The burn has continued to be a touch off, but I am resisting the reapplication of flame, as I so often do, because a fine cigar should correct itself.

The final half of the cigar really comes home strong.  The core profile continues to show measured allowances of black cherry and orange, but there is some very solid black pepper coming back into the mix and taking over the overall impression.  The back of the palate really shortens up and becomes a more solid mix of earth and wood, with a slightly metallic impression that will slightly hinder the score.  The draw was solid all the way through.  The burn did have to be touched up, I hate that, I will score accordingly.

The finish was long and powerful showing pepper and dark cherry notes.

All in all I am very pleased with the return of this frontmark.

Appearance- 88 a bit rustic for me, but still not bad

Taste- 91 a fine experience here, could have used more body in the front half.  Metallic notes late hurt the score

Construction- 87 can't go any higher with a cigar that I have to put flame back to, but the draw was outstanding

Strength- 89 a very nice full bodied and flavorful smoke

Overall- 88.75 worth grabbing some ASAP