In late 2020, Rojas Cigars announced a new series of cigars named after a popular food served out of street carts throughout Mexico and the U.S. The Street Tacos Series debuted with a cigar called Barbacoa, named after the goat-based dish that is a popular taco filling.
During the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show, Rojas Cigars showed off the second addition to the Street Tacos Series, named Carnitas, a term used to describe Mexico’s version of pulled pork. The three-vitola line is made up of an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper covering both a binder and filler tobaccos grown in Nicaragua.
The third blend in the Street Tacos line is named Al Pastor, and the company also added a limited edition to the series in 2024 named Street Tacos Cinco de Mayo. All of the Street Tacos cigars are being produced at the Rojas Cigar Factory in Nicaragua. There is also the Rojas Breakfast Tacos, its own series that comes in different blends.
Here is what I wrote in my original review back in November 2022:
After a bit of a rough start, each of the Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robustos calmed down nicely, exhibiting main flavors of creamy cedar, hay and tea leaves along with a consistently light amount of syrupy vanilla sweetness and white pepper on the retrohale. In addition, the profile is enjoyable after the first third and there is absolutely nothing to complain about when it comes to the construction, with excellent draws, copious smoke production and only two cigars needing minor burn corrections. Unfortunately, the astringency that was present in all three cigars immediately after they were lit caused varying issues with the balance until it dissipated; however, if you can get past that point, you will find that the Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robusto is a well-made, enjoyable example of an Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped blend.
- Cigar Reviewed: Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robusto
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Rojas Cigars Factory
- Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut-seed)
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Length: 5 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 50
- Shape: Pressed
- MSRP: $8.50 (Box of 16, $136)
- Release Date: July 2022
- Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
- Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 1
Wrapped in a golden-brown, velvety-smooth wrapper, the Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robusto looks nice. There are numerous thin veins running up and down the cigar’s length, and the combination of a soft box-press and a covered foot is a nice touch. Aromas from the wrapper are led by a strong and creamy hay note, followed by barnyard, earth, generic nuttiness, and vanilla beans. Cinnamon leads the scents coming from the foot, joined by cedar, sweet breadiness, leather tack, earth and coffee beans. The cold draw is extremely creamy, with cedar, leather, cashews, white pepper and a light vegetal note all in place.
Creamy breadiness and white pepper start the cigar off, along with a touch of spice on my tongue. Within short order, the breadiness fades enough to move into the background, replaced by the main flavors of creamy peanut butter and dry hay. Secondary notes include sourdough bread, creamy cedar, coffee grounds, earth and cocoa nibs. The retrohale features a small amount of white pepper and a large amount of brown sugar sweetness, with a light earthy note on the finish. Flavor ends the first half at full, while the body hits a point between mild and medium, and the strength is on the lower end of medium. So far, there are zero issues with any aspect of the construction.
During the second half, the profile of the Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robusto shifts to include main flavors of toasted bread and creamy cedar, followed by additional notes of rich coffee beans, roasted peanuts, baker’s spices, dark chocolate, and earth. Compared to the first half, there is more spice on my tongue, along with slightly more of the earthy note on the finish. There is also a change in the notes on the retrohale, albeit not necessarily for the better: the amount of white pepper has increased noticeably, while the brown sugar sweetness is less distinct. Flavor remains at full, the body increases enough to land at a point just under medium, and the strength is at a solid medium. Construction-wise, the burn line is razor-sharp, the draw resistance is excellent, and the smoke is plentiful.
89
Overall Score
In my first review, my main issue with the Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robusto was a short-lived but significant astringency in the first third, along with some burn issues. I was hoping that some downtime would solve both of those problems and that proved to be the case, as this aged cigar showed no signs of either problem, while also gaining a new—and frankly, more enjoyable—brown sugar sweetness on the retrohale. The construction also improved dramatically, as this cigar featured razor-sharp burn lines, excellent draw resistance and plenty of smoke. While time does not always heal all wounds, this is a better cigar after about four years of rest.
Original Score (November 2022)
85
Redux Score (July 2026)
89
Nicaragua
Robusto
Rojas Cigar Factory
Rojas Cigars
Rojas Street Tacos
Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas
Rojas Street Tacos Carnitas Robusto
