Today I’m going to be taking a look at an orange box, at least that’s what the literal translation from Portuguese is. The actual name is Laranja Caixa, which is not only the first box-pressed shape in the Espinosa Premium Cigar’s Laranja line, but the first Laranja line extension as well as first size to get a name as well.

Espinosa Cigars 1

Announced a couple of months before the 2015 IPCPR Convention and Trade Show, it was shown off at the show and released shortly afterwards alongside the relaunch of the Murcielago. As I mentioned it is the first new size for the Laranja since it was launched, which brings the line to four total sizes.

  • Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46, $9.90)
  • Laranja Reserva Robusto Extra (5 1/2 x 54, $10.50)
  • Laranja Reserva Toro (6 x 52, $10.90)
  • Laranja Reserva Caixa (6 1/2 x 48, $11.50)

Laranja Reserva Caixa 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Laranja Reserva Caixa
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: La Zona Cigar Factory
  • Wrapper: Brazil
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 6 1/2 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 48
  • Vitola: Churchill
  • MSRP: $11.50 (Boxes of 10, $115)
  • Release Date: July 30, 2015
  • Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

The orange tinted brown wrapper makes it quite apparent why the line is named Laranja. The secondary band with “Caixa” on it has two gold strips on either edge with a texture that gives it the look of an orange peel. When squeezed there is some give in a few spots, though not quite what I would call soft spots. The wrapper has a very soft, smooth and oily feel to it and is applied wonderfully. Aroma coming off the wrapper is light notes of leather, earth and a little bit of sweetness. The cold draw on the other hand is quite flavorful and very unique, with notes up front of bubble gum, some light floral notes and a juicy sweetness.

Starting out the first third, there is some pepper, a bit of cedar and very minor floral notes while it’s all slightly sweet. As it starts out the burn is slightly wavy, but it seems to start correcting itself quickly enough. The ash holds well to around the inch mark and the draw is right in the middle of ideal. The pepper starts to die down to just a background note, while the cedar and floral notes are more prominent and the general sweetness shifts to a light fruity sweetness.

Laranja Reserva Caixa 2

The second third sees a spice note develop alongside the cedar and floral, while the pepper and fruity sweetness are still in the background as very light notes. The burn needs a quick touch up for one side that’s lagging behind, but is otherwise mostly even. Ash continues to hold well, and while it isn’t flaky it doesn’t look very dense either. The sweetness has really died down, with spice, peppers, cedar and floral notes making up the profile now.

Laranja Reserva Caixa 3

As I move into the final third, there isn’t much change to the profile, with spice, peppers, cedar and floral notes mixing together. The burn has started to struggle, with a touch-up needed not too long after moving into the final third. Another inch and another touch-up, the profile starts to get slightly harsh with the need to correct the burn, but the spice, peppers, cedar and floral notes continue strong to the end.

Laranja Reserva Caixa 4

Final Notes

  • For something that translates to such a plain, though descriptive name, it does really sound cool in Portuguese.
  • Most of the time when I see a Brazilian wrapper, it’s usually a very dark maduro shade. I’ve found the orange-tinted lighter wrapper used for the Laranja to be quite beautiful.
  • For the most part the flavor profiles were very similar across all three samples, with only a little variation. The construction however seemed to be all over the place, with minor burn issues on some to full relights needed on others.
  • The Caixa comes in boxes of 10, while the rest of the line comes in boxes of 20.
  • The cigars for this review were given to halfwheel by Espinosa Premium Cigars at the 2015 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
  • Final smoking time averaged a little over two hours.
  • Site sponsor Serious Cigars has the Caixa in stock. Atlantic Cigar Co. lists the cigars as backordered.
84 Overall Score

Before I even have the score totaled, I know that it’s going to suffer because of the construction. It’s unfortunate that the construction was so frustrating, because the profile was pretty unique and the flavors meshed really well together. Since these samples were acquired at the trade show, it needs to be kept in mind that they’ve traveled a lot in the time surrounding the show, so that could be some of the issue. Having been kept in my humidor at a constant humidity however gives me pause, but either way I’ll be happy to pick a couple of these up and try them again, and I can easily suggest you do the same.

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Brian Burt

I have been smoking cigars since 2005 and reviewing them as a hobby since 2010. Initially, I started out small with a 50-count humidor and only smoking one or two cigars a month. Not knowing anybody else that smoked cigars, it was only an occasional hobby that I took part in. In March of 2010, I joined Nublive and Cigar Asylum, connecting me with many people who also shared an interest in cigars. Reading what they had to say about brands I had never heard of, I quickly immersed myself in the boutique brands of the industry and it was then that cigars transformed from a hobby into a passion.