It has been known for a while that Quesada (makers of the wonderful 35th Anniversary and the Tributo) were releasing a blend that was only being sold in the Spanish market. Dubbed the somewhat obvious, Selección España, the blend started selling in Spain in February, but samples were passed around the ProCigar Festival in Dominican Republic as well…
Apparently, the buzz around these (very few) samples that were handed out and smoked was overwhelmingly positive, and some stores with Quesada accounts even talked the family into sending them a few boxes for their customers…My sources say there were about 15 boxes of each vitola shipped to a few different stores in the U.S., and they sold out almost immediately…There have been a few more boxes that have come in, but nobody knows exactly when or where they will show up at any given time…
As mentioned above, both the blend and the size of the vitolas were made specifically for the Spanish Market and what they prefer there…Says Raquel Quesada:
“The Spanish prefer a lighter wrapper and a Cuban-style taste”
There are three vitolas in the line that are being produced, each priced between $7 and $9…They are (from top to bottom):
The Boxes that the Quesada Selección España Short Robusto come in look like this:
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But enough of that, let’s get down to business, shall we?
The cigar itself is exceptional looking, with a medium cinnamon brown wrapper that has just a bit of oil present…It is extremely firm when squeezed (just short of hard), and it is very toothy as well…The wrapper smells strongly of (sweet) coffee, cedar, leather and chocolate…Prelight notes include wood, raisins and a bit of pepper…
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The First Third starts with the perfect amount of spice on the tongue, along with flavors of sweet cedar, raisins, and leather…It is a great start to a cigar, wonderful flavors, and there is quite a bit of smoke coming off of it as well…
The Second Third retains the sweetness of the first third, but adds a wonderful creamy quality as well, along with very different flavors of chocolate, nuts (almonds?) and coffee…The flavors keep switching on me, so fast that I have a hard time keeping track…The spice from the first third is also a constant background note that really sets off the profile…
The Final Third seems to combine quite a few of the flavors from the first two thirds…Sweet, creamy, leather, raisins, chocolate, nuts, coffee and spice all combine into a wonderfully complex finish that has me wishing it was a bigger cigar…
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Final Notes:
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The Bottom Line: When I was given prerelease samples of this smoke (by 3 different BOTL), I was told each time some variation of “This cigar kicks Ass!” I am happy to report that is definitely the case, and more…This is easily one of the best new cigars of the (admittedly short) year, and it is also one of the most “Cubanesque” blends I have tasted (in a non-Cuban cigar) in quite a while (I would say it is closest to a Bolívar if I had to choose)…The balance, complexity and finish were astoundingly good, and definitely reminded me of a Cuban blend…The last time I thought that was when I smoked the WCD 120…
Having said all of that, the major problem with this release is the fact that you most likely won’t see one for quite a while, if ever…While they have been on sale in the States (in VERY limited amounts, see above), and will be again at some point, for the foreseeable future, the amounts will be miniscule enough to be called “Microscopic”…
You may remember that I ended my review of the Liga Privada Dirty Rat begging them to make them regular production…Well, this is another one of those situations…PLEASE, whoever is at Quesada who (may someday read this), please release these in the States, even if it is just a Limited Edition release…People deserve to be able to smoke a cigar this good…
Final Score: 93
Picked up a box blind related to your review. You guys tend to be spot on for me, so why not. I did go with the Robusto size(over the Short Robusto), even though your thoughts were it was the worst vitola of the bunch. I look forward to giving it a try.
Thanks for the site, info, reviews!
Sounds awesome! Though I for one would prefer fewer LEs and more regular or at least yearly (i.e. Flying Pig) releases.
Sounds like one hell of a smoke. It would be nice to see this released if not under the same name, maybe under a LE run under a new name.
I wonder how these compare to the Tributo and 35 Aniversario? Great review, I hope these become available as well and I'm searching my sources out here in Asia and Europe for availability.
I enjoyed the robusto as well as the corona last night. These are top notch sticks of the highest order. The aroma given off by the wrapper was something truly spectacular. If they ever release this cigar in the States people will line up for boxes like we used to line up for movies like Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Manuel, Raquel, Barbara, and Hostos
We told you they were exceptional and so has everyone else. May we have more?
That cigar looks amazing. I really hope they release some more in the states. Thanks for the review!
Hey, Im new to your blog and let me say "you guys rock!" I have been looking for a straight foward, unbias review of cigars and this is the best forum I have seen period. Also, thank you very much for taking great photos of the cigars bc this adds to the entire review. Ive been smoking for 6yrs and last year got a chance to meet Manuel Quesada in Santiago, D.R. He told me that after the Tributo they wanted to release a stick that would have a cuban style so Im guessing that this is what they came up with. I would be honored to recieve one or if you know any stores in Spain where they can be purchased. Take care and keep up the good work!
Nice review. Hopefully I will get a chance to try one of them. The bands are nice in these, simple and elegant.
Great looking smoke! This petit robusto (short smoke) will work great since I have a new baby coming!
Definitely peaked my interest; would love to give one of these a try if I can get my hands on some.
I am smoking my way through the robusto and all I can think of is Bolivar Royal Corona. Only dare I say better. Probably too early to tell but we have most of the adventure ahead of us. The corona is next.
Thanks for the review. I must admit, I don't understand the rationale for not selling these in the States, where Cubans of course are not readily available.
Great review and the cigar really looks fine, you never know !!
Barcelona is only a 2 and a half hour drive from where I am.
Guy,
France
I feel like all the Quesada cigars i've smoked almost always have a very sweet cedar taste somewhere. It be interesting to compare to the Torano Exodus 1959 50 Years, that too has an Arapiraca wrapper, i believe Brazilian maduro however
What an amazing review! I'm yet another one who is hoping these get released in the US in some form, especially the corona!
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