Cigar Review: 601 Green Label

September 19, 2009 By Adam 2 Comments

Cigar: 601 Green Label
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Made In: Nicaragua
Size: Tronco 5×52
Price: $146.50per box of 20

Initial Thoughts: This cigar is blended by none other than Don Pepin Garcia for the gentlemen at United Tobacco also known as EO Brands. This is a nice looking cigar with no visible defects and has a nice looking band. This is hailed as EO’s fullest blend and we are about to put that to the test right now. Let’ fire it up!

Flavors: The cigar starts with a nice sweet espresso flavor with notes of chocolate and a bit of citrus flavor. As the cigar progresses through the first third I start picking up a creamy roasted nut flavor that reminds me of cashews. I also pick up a smoky component that is tough to describe but almost like the smoke from a charcoal grill. The finish is slightly dry but lasts forever and is defiantly satisfying between puffs. The second third adds a faint cinnamon flavor and that nuttiness I was describing has faded. Notes of leather can also be traced throughout but it never stays for more than one puff. The final third of the cigar is much of the same, a flavor roller coaster. A soft pepper flavor is added but is balanced nicely with the rest of this cigar.

Smoking Characteristics: The draw is excellent and is borderline perfect from my liking. The burn is slightly wavy and the ash is nice and firm. To be honest I was so busy taking notes of the many different flavors that I didn’t really pay too much attention to how this cigar was smoking.

Final Thoughts: This is a very nice cigar that I like a lot. It is super complex, nicely balanced and the flavors are nice and rich. I am always looking for cigars that can hold their own against a stout beer such as my Murphy’s Irish Stout or my new favorite Central Brewing Company’s Imperial Stout and this one defiantly does the trick. In the past I have smoked this cigar and have got the typical “Pepin Blast,” but the cigars I smoked for this review had zero spice in the beginning which can probably be due to them sitting in the humidor for a good six months. This cigar should not be smoked by newer smokers or the occasional smoker as it is a full bodied cigar and is quite strong in the nicotine department.

Worth a Shot: Yes, but stay away newbies and occasionalist
Buy Again: Yes, this is a staple in my humidor
Enjoyablity: Very High
Similar Cigars: Liga Privada #9 with more of richness to it. La Flor Dominicana Ligero and I say this one because of the sweetness is similar. Rocky Patel Spring 2009 Collection again with more balance and complexity.

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