Espinosa’s Wasabi line will be getting a lancero in the coming weeks.

Héctor J. Alfonso Sr., director of operations for Espinosa, made the announcement during a recent interview on the Rocky Mountain Cigar Show, and later confirmed the news to halfwheel. Details of the cigar have not yet been released as Alfonso said he is still waiting for the cigars to arrive at the company’s Hialeah Gardens, Fla. warehouse, saying it could be a month or so before that happens and the cigars are ready to ship.

The Espinosa Wasabi debuted in November 2016, when it was one of eight cigars collectively known as the Backroom Series that was released to Espinosa-branded Lounges. It debuted in a 5 x 52 box pressed robusto vitola, then got a second release in 2018, which was priced at $7.95 when it was released.

The company has not disclosed the Wasabi’s blend, other than that it uses a candela wrapper to give the cigar its distinctive green shade, which leads to its name. Erik Espinosa has previously described the profile as being a “spicy candela,” while also dispelling speculation that the cigar tasted like actual wasabi, a popular accompaniment to sushi and sashimi in Japanese restaurants.

The line is made at the La Zona Cigar Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. While Espinosa has not yet disclosed the size of the Wasabi Lancero, it has used a 7 1/2 x 38 vitola for its other lancero releases.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.