Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Robusto J

Last February, Espinosa Premium Cigars released a collaboration with celebrity chef Guy Fieri named Knuckle Sandwich, a phrase that has long been associated with Fieri. There were two different blends when the brand debuted: while both cigars are made with a Nicaraguan binder and filler, the Knuckle Sandwich Habano incorporates an Ecuadorian habano wrapper and the Knuckle Sandwich Maduro is made with an Ecuadorian Sumatra maduro wrapper.

Less than six months later, during the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show that took place in July, a third line—and the first limited edition release for the brand—was added. The Knuckle Sandwich Chef’s Special was released in a singular 6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed figurado vitola that was made with an Ecuadorian habano rosado wrapper covering a Nicaraguan binder and filler.

In January, Espinosa released the brand’s third regular production line: the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut. As the name indicates, this version is made with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over an internal blend of tobaccos grown in Nicaragua. The cigars are being produced at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

“In the last year, Guy has shown his enthusiasm and commitment to our industry and the Knuckle Sandwich line,” said Erik Espinosa, founder of Espinosa Premium Cigars, in a press release. “He is excited about adding a Connecticut offering to the Knuckle Sandwich brand and providing yet another smoking option to its fans.”

There were three vitolas available in the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut line when it debuted, all packaged in 20-count boxes:

• Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Robusto J (5 x 52) — $12.50 (Box of 20, $250)
• Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchill G (6 1/2 x 48) — $13 (Box of 20, $260)
• Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Toro H (6 x 54) — $13.50 (Box of 20, $270)

• Cigar Reviewed: Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Robusto J
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: San Lotano Factory
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Robusto
• MSRP: $12.50 (Box of 20, $250)
• Release Date: January 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

A golden brown wrapper—almost yellow in a certain light—that is silky smooth to the touch covers the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Robusto, and while there are quite a few veins visible, none are large enough to be overly distracting. All three cigars are extremely hard when squeezed and the feet on two of the three feature a slight box-press. The wrappers surprise me with an aroma combination made up of peppermint candy and dark chocolate, followed by generic wood, barnyard, leather and hay. Notes from the feet are a bit more restrained, with clove sweetness leading cocoa nibs, cedar, earth and slight mint. Finally, after a v-cut, the cold draw brings flavors of more cloves and cedar along with leather tack, earth, lemongrass and banana sweetness.

The first few puffs after I light up the foot of the cigar bring some significant—albeit not quite to the level of overwhelming—spice on my lips and tongue as well as a strong roasted peanuts flavor. That peanut flavor remains as one of the main notes in the profile, joined by a flavor of cloves, and that combination remains on top for the rest of the first third. Additional flavors of powdery cocoa nibs, gritty earth, coffee beans, dry straw and toasted bread all make themselves known, and although a very light mint note shows up on the finish every once in a while on two of the cigars, it does not last very long before disappearing for good. The retrohale features a small amount of white pepper, but the main note is a maple syrup sweetness that seems to be getting slowly stronger as the first third progresses. Flavor ends the first third at medium-full, while the body is at mild plus and the strength is halfway between mild and medium. The smoke production and draws are excellent for all three cigars, but although two cigars have no issues at all with their burns, one does run into enough of a problem that it needs a minor correction.

Unfortunately, the profile of the Knuckle Sandwich changes during the second third, and not for the better: the flavors that were so engaging during the first third lose quite a bit of their distinctness as a combination of generic nuttiness and hay take over the main spots. The overall strength noticeably increases, easily crossing into solid medium territory. Secondary flavors of earth, lemongrass, dark chocolate and wood flit in and out, and while there is still white pepper and maple sweetness present on the retrohale, the amount of both has been reduced by about half compared to the first third. Flavor drops to a solid medium while the body increases to a point just under the medium mark. In terms of construction, there are no issues at all with either the draw or smoke production, but once again, one cigar needs a bit of help with its burn to prevent larger problems.

The final third of the Espinosa is a virtual carbon copy of the second third: a creamy but generic nuttiness continues to top the profile, followed by more earth, a bit of nutmeg, dark chocolate, leather tack and a fleeting vegetal note, none of which ever come close to threatening to take over. There is almost no change on the retrohale, where the maple sweetness and white pepper are strong enough to mention but not strong enough to make more than a minor impact on the overall profile. Flavor remains at a solid medium until the end of the cigar, while the body increases slightly to cross into medium and the strength increases to a point just over the medium mark. Finally, although one cigar does end up with a burn correction just before I put the nub down, the other two cigars have no issues in that regard, and all three cigars continue to exhibit excellent draws and plenty of smoke until the last puffs.

Final Notes

• Although all three regular production Knuckle Sandwich blends are offered in Robusto and Toro sizes, the Connecticut version includes a 6 1/2 x 48 Short Churchill instead of the 5 5/8 x 46 corona gorda size that is used for the other lines.
• As has been the case with the vitolas in the previous two regular production lines, the letters that appear after the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut vitola names are nods to significant people in Fieri’s life.
• The Knuckle Habano line took fourth place on the 2022 version The Consensus.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time for all three cigars averaged one hour and 24 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut cigars, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Cigar Hustler and Cigars Direct all have them for sale on their websites.