Another new release from Espinosa Cigars in 2025 is the Knuckle Sandwich Puro, an additional regular release line that will join the Connecticut, Maduro, and Habano versions of Knuckle Sandwich. The brand is made in collaboration with celebrity chef, Guy Fieri, and produced at A.J. Fernandez’s San Lotano factory. This release uses all Nicaraguan tobacco, is made in a box-press format, and comes in three different vitolas.
I couldn’t find anywhere that stated what varietals are used as different components in this blend, but the wrapper does give the impression of being a Maduro of some sort with it’s between-milk-and-dark-chocolate color and oily touch. It smelled of earth and cedar, with just the slightest bit of sweetness in the mix. The foot of the cigar had a rich earthy barnyard aroma, along with a touch of hay.
There was enough chocolatey sweetness in the prelight draw to reinforce the perception that the wrapper was Maduro. One lit, the Knuckle Sandwich Puro featured notes of espresso bean, leather, and black pepper on the palate, along with cedar and white pepper on the nose. As I went further it developed a good amount of dry cocoa powder, as well. While it was definitely full-bodied, I didn’t find it as full as either Chefs Special 2025 or the regular Maduro. This cigar had a really nice balance of flavor and body. I paired it with some Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond, one of my go-to bourbons for its mix of flavor, versatility, and price.
In the end, I found this to be a good cigar that I would smoke again. Not as good to me as the Connecticut or Chefs Special 2025, but better than the Maduro…and I haven’t had the Habano yet.
