La Rosa Especial

Made in Honduras by cigar master Nestor Placencia, the La Rosa Especial brand, introduced in 2002, was originally meant to be a full-bodied cigar. In fact, early promotion touted that "the strongest cigars on earth" were being released. But the aging process of the finished cigars caused changes, turning them into a great, medium-bodied cigar brand.

Not deterred, instead determined, Nestor blended and reblended until he achieved his goal. He stopped production of the original blend in 2005, re-launching the new La Rosa Especials in 2006 with a fuller-bodied, four-nation blend and made with dark Lingero filler tobaccos.

We don't know if they are the most powerful cigar on earth, but they are powerful. If you like strong, premium cigars like The Edge, La Flor's Double Ligero, La Gloria Cubana or Joya de Nicaragua, you will love La Rosa Especial.

With filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras, it ended up such a powerful blend that Nestor named each size after a different kind of pepper. Its complex flavor is right up the alley of Cuban cigar connoisseurs. The Honduran wrapper on the EMS is smooth and often oily, while the Nicaraguan maduro wrapper is a bit toothy. Packaged 20 per box, each hand crafted cigar is secured with a Costa Rican binder leaf.

This cigar packs a wallop; produces lots of smoke; imparts a woodsy flavor and aroma; and draws well.