Today, we review Espinosa Cigars’ 601 La Bomba Warhead 11. Warhead is an annual limited-edition series that debuted in 2013 and has become one of the most popular limited-edition cigars on the market over the past decade. Warhead was an offshoot of the original 601 La Bomba line, in which the La Bomba’s Nicaraguan Habano wrapper was replaced with a Broadleaf wrapper. As the name Warhead suggests, it is intended to be a stronger and bolder cigar.
Each installment of the Warhead has featured a different size, a tweaked blend tailored to that size, and a different set of artwork. Warhead debuted in 2013 and, with a couple of exceptions, has maintained an annual release schedule. As the name indicates, Warhead 11 is the eleventh Warhead to be released. The Warhead 11 comes in a 6 3/4 x 54 “oval figurado”. It came packaged in a unique “bomb”- style package.
SPECIFICATIONS
The Warhead 11 is a premium cigar that proudly showcases Nicaragua’s rich heritage, featuring tobaccos sourced entirely from the region. Wrapped in a Nicaraguan Broadleaf, this cigar is crafted at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory located in Ocotal, Nicaragua. The blend was expertly developed by Hector Alfonso, Espinosa’s Director of Operations. This 6 3/4 x 54 oval figurado marks the second occasion that a figurado format has been utilized in the Warhead series, following the Warhead VI, which was the first to do so.
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: San Lotano
- Oval Figurado: 6 3/4 x 54
PERFORMANCE
Warhead 11 opened up with notes of mocha, earth, citrus, and a mild pepper. The mocha notes were a fusion of chocolate and coffee. Early on, the mocha and earth moved to the forefront. Then, the pepper and citrus settled into the background, joined by a mineral note. Meanwhile, the retrohale delivered another layer of mixed pepper. Toward the midway point of the first third, the chocolate component of the mocha dissipated, and the note converted to a black coffee note.
In the second third, the coffee note diminished into the background, leaving the earth primary. Both the mineral and pepper notes increased in intensity. By the final third, the coffee notes returned to the forefront, with mineral and pepper notes. The earth and citrus rounded out the flavor profile from the background. As the Warhead 11 came to a close, it finished with a soft, cool nub.
Warhead 11 keeps to its mantra of being a bold cigar. It starts medium to full in strength and body, and by the second third, it’s in full territory for both attributes. The strength and body balanced each other nicely throughout the smoking experience. The burn maintained a straight burn line and straight burn path from start to finish. The draw was slightly open (I prefer a little resistance), but not loose. Finally, this draw produced ample smoke.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
Every year, I’m impressed by how Espinosa tweaks the Warhead recipe to create new variations. The company takes pride in blending cigars to size, and this one definitely showcases that skill. While it might not be my top pick from the Warhead series, it still stands out as an above-average cigar, reflecting just how impressive this lineup has been. This cigar packs a bold punch, delivering a powerful experience without skimping on flavor. The coffee notes stand out in particular, making this one quite enjoyable.
Given that this cigar goes into full territory for strength and body, I’d recommend this to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I’d still reach for and buy again. Scoring 90 points, Warhead 11 gets a Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation.
Summary
- Key Flavors: Mocha (Coffee, Chocolate), Citrus, Earth, Mineral, Pepper
- Burn: Excellent
- Draw: Very Good
- Complexity: Medium
- Strength: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)
- Body: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)
- Finish: Very Good
Rating
Value: Buy One
Score: 90
Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence
REFERENCES
