Blogs by Tag: eo brands

Ortega Series D - No. 12 (5 x 52)

Background:
In early February Eddie Ortega announced his departure from his partnership with Erik Espinoza in their EO Brands company. Eddie left EO on good terms, and ultimately made the decision to be more independent and create his own brands. Check out full coverage of this news from our good friends at halfwheel.com.

Very shortly after that he released access to his new website ortegacigars.com, which announced his new cigar imprint, Ortega Cigars. The website lists 3 lines that Ortega will be releasing, the Serie "D", the Brotherhood, and the Aftershock. The Series D is the only cigar by Ortega that has been released, today I will be reviewing the No. 12 (5 x 52) size. Rolled at the My Father Cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the cigar uses a Mexican San Andreas Maduro Wrapper and features Nicaraguan fillers and binders from Jalapa and Esteli. The Series D is available in 5 sizes, all box-pressed.

Eddie's website explains that the Ortega Cigar Co has a deep commitment to quality and that by using the best materials available, and by taking the time to allow the cigar to cure and age to perfection, you will be able to identify a "characteristic personality" within each cigar you smoke. What more can you ask for in a cigar? Atlantic does not currently have the Ortega Series D for sale, but they are coming soon so keep an eye out.

Appearance:
The Ortega Series D is encased in a dark, toothy wrapper, the cigars are box-pressed and very firm and well packed. The scent off the wrapper is very barnyard, the pre-light draw having the same earthiness as well as some sweet tobacco flavor.

First Third:
Upon lighting the Ortega Series D my first few draws give off a very sweet, spicy Nicaraguan flavor. The standing smoke output of the cigar is minimal which I prefer to a cigar that puts off smoke like a campfire. The cigar has a wonderful sweet nutty aroma. Lots of sweet character upfront with the perfect amount of spice through the nose on the retrohale. The body remains in the medium area in the first third, but I can feel it building. Behind the earthy, molasses core is a cashew nuttiness that creates a very nice smooth flavor. The cigar's rich profile also includes some anise or almost a licorice flavor.

Second Third:
The salt and pepper ash has been hanging on in 1 inch segments before dropping off. So far the burn and draw of the Ortega D No. 12 has been great. While the burn is a bit wavy, the draw has the perfect amount of resistance. The peppery spice has fallen into the background and almost disappeared as the cigar hits its midway point. The cigar has hit it's stride and become very smooth, the sweetness has balanced out to produce a very enjoyable creaminess. At this point the body has built to something closer to medium - full.

Last Third:
The last third continued much like on much in the same fashion, with some rich earthy tobacco sweetness. The peppery spice returns, as the body continues to build to medium - full plus. I am very much enjoying this cigar, although the profile is rich, earthy and sweet, it's not super heavy or bowling me over with strength. Even as the Series D gets down to the final few inches, the cigar remains smooth.

Overall:
Although I only smoked a few of these to write this review, I enjoyed everyone individually. Each size brought a different experience to the table. The cigars are a great reference to the rich, flavorful cigars coming out of Nicaragua these days. If someone was to ask me what a Nicaraguan cigar taste like, I would hand them this cigar. I wish Eddie well on his journey, hopefully all that he's learned in his years in the industry will go into creating great product. All indications so far point exactly to that, an awesome first blend for a new Brand from an industry veteran.

*Ortega Cigars are coming soon to Atlantic Cigar, we'll keep you posted!

Currently rated 3.7 by 6 people

Tags: eddie ortega, eo brands, ortega cigars, series d, erik espinoza, san andreas maduro, esteli, nicaragua, jalapa, my father cigars, don pepin garcia, no. 12

Categories: Product Reviews, Industry News

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