Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special (2023)

Early last year, Espinosa Premium Cigars announced a new collaboration with Guy Fieri, celebrity chef, restaurateur and—perhaps most notably–host of the show Diner’s, Drive-Ins and Dives. Named Knuckle Sandwich, the new regular production brand debuted in February 2022 with two different blends: one uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, while the second incorporates an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.

Five months later, during the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show, Espinosa showed off a new limited-edition release under the Knuckle Sandwich brand named Chef Special. There was only one vitola—a 6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed figurado—made up of a habano rosado wrapper from Ecuador and a filler blend composed of all Nicaraguan tobacco. Each cigar was priced at $15 and production was limited to 2,500 boxes of 10 cigars.

In June of this year, Espinosa announced a return of the Chef Special in the same 6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed figurado vitola and the same $15 price point. However, there are two major differences between last year’s version and the 2023 version. First, the blend is different: the newest incarnation of the cigar is made with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper covering a Nicaraguan binder and filler blend. Second, there are fewer cigars: just 1,500 boxes of 10.

“This is the first LE we did for Knuckle Sandwich Cigars a year ago,” said Erik Espinosa of Espinosa Premium Cigars in a press release. “It went very well, both the size and the blend really hit. So, we are back this year with a new blend in that same great size, it’s an exceptional smoke.”

As with the original release, the newest Chef Special was rolled at the San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua and boxes started shipping to retailers in July.

• Cigar Reviewed: Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special (2023)
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: San Lotano Factory
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Perfecto
• MSRP: $15 (Box of 10, $150)
• Release Date: July 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: 1,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (15,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

This is one of those cigars that just feels great in my hand the first time I pick it up. In addition, the slightly reddish, medium brown wrapper is extremely attractive from a visual standpoint and is also silky smooth to the touch. There are veins present, but none of them are close to large enough to be distracting, and the box press is very well done on all three cigars. Aromas from the wrappers include aromatic cedar, barnyard, earthiness, cinnamon and a strong milk chocolate sweetness. The small foot openings make it difficult to pick out any many differences compared to the scents coming from the wrappers, but I do notice some white pepper along with a bit more nuttiness that reminds me of peanuts. Finally, after straight cuts, the cold draws bring flavors of strong hay, cedar, brewed coffee, white pepper, dark chocolate and fondant sweetness.

Immediately after I light the foot, bitter espresso and black pepper start the cigar off, along with some noticeable but not overwhelming spice on my tongue. Nine puffs in, the profile changes quite a bit, with a combination of cloves and cocoa nibs taking over the top spots, followed by coffee beans, leather, gritty earth, straw and cedar. The notes on the retrohale are quite enjoyable, as black pepper combines nicely with some honey sweetness. Flavor ends the first third at medium-plus, while both the body and strength lag a bit behind at a solid medium. Construction-wise, there are no problems with either the draws or the smoke production, but one cigar goes out randomly—see more on that in the Final Notes below—while the other two need a couple of minor corrections to stay on track.

A distinct and creamy almond flavor joins the cocoa nibs note at the top of the profile during the second third of the Chef Special, replacing the cloves note from the first third. Secondary notes of charred meat, cedar, gritty earth, cinnamon and coffee beans flit in and out at various points, but the retrohale has changed very little—including how enjoyable it is—and still features a combination of honey sweetness and black pepper. Flavor increases to medium-full, and while the strength bumps up to medium-plus, the body stays put at a solid medium. In terms of construction, I have no issues with either the draws or the smoke production, but one cigar does need a quick burn correction to stave off further problems.

Creamy almonds and cocoa nibs once again take center stage during the final third of the Knuckle Sandwich limited edition, but secondary flavors of cinnamon, cedar, espresso beans, sourdough bread and charred meat are never far behind. The retrohale remains similar to the previous two-thirds as well, with about the same amount of black pepper and honey sweetness. Flavor is content to remain at medium-full until I put the nubs down with about an inch remaining, while the strength both increase to land at medium-plus and medium-full, respectively, but there is a change in the strength, which has increased to medium-full. Finally, all three cigars seem to get on the same page, and there are absolutely no issues with the draws, smoke production or burn on any of them.

Final Notes

• This is a very different cigar than the original Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special release: the newest version is creamier and has a more nuanced flavor profile than what I remember from the original that I smoked last year.
• There seems to be some confusion about what this cigar is actually named: while the boxes have the name as “Chef Special,” the name appears as “Chef’s Special” when you roll your mouse over the photograph of the cigars on Espinosa’s website.
• Not only are the original Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special and this newest version the same vitola and size, but they also use the same main band. That means that the only real way to identify which cigar is which is by the color of the foot ribbon if you see them outside of their boxes.

• Two of the cigars I smoked had main bands that pulled off a bit of the wrapper when I removed them, but neither was bad enough of an issue to cause any noticeable construction problem.
• My second cigar went out randomly near the end of the first third and had to be relit. The relight did not affect the flavor profile for very long and neither of the other cigars experienced anything close to that issue—nor did the same cigar experience it again—so I just chalked it up as an aberration.
• Final smoking time for all three cigars averaged one hour and 53 minutes.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• If you would like to purchase any of the newest Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special cigars, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Cigars Direct and JR Cigar all have them available on their respective websites.