Los Tejanos by OSOK X Rojas Toro

In 2020, Edgar Hoill’s EH Cigars joined up with Noel Rojas of Rojas Cigars for a co-branded line that had one really unique attribute: different sizes were made in different factories.

The Los Tejanos by OSOK X Rojas was introduced in three different sizes, two of which were made at Tabacalera Flor de San Luis, the Nicaraguan factory Rojas was using at the time. The other size—the lancero—was made by Rojas in Richardson, Texas. Presumably, this unique arrangement only applied to the early shipments of these cigars. In 2021, Rojas opened up his new factory in Estelí.

All three cigars use the same blend: a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a corojo binder from the Somoto Valley, Nicaragua and fillers from the Somoto Valley.

• Los Tejanos Mareva (5 1/8 x 42) — $7.50 (Box of 15, $112.50)
• Los Tejanos Toro (6 x 50) — $9.98 (Box of 15, $149.70)
• Los Tejanos Lancero (7 x 38) — $12 (Box of 10, $120)

Here’s what I said in September 2020 to conclude my review of the Toro vitola:

This is an example of a cigar whose score is going to be higher than my own personal feelings about the cigar. From a technical standpoint, construction was good enough to avoid any deductions, though could have been a notch better. Flavor is a bit more complicated. At no point was the flavor off-putting, but altogether it wasn’t my favorite profile. While there were changes, the wet leaves flavor was a bit too much for me, both in terms of its intensity in the first two thirds and also the amount of time it was present. A bit of sweetness here and there would dramatically change my opinions of this cigar, but as it stands, it’s just too dry and linear for me.

• Cigar Reviewed: Los Tejanos by OSOK X Rojas Toro
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacalera Flor de San Luis
• Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
• Binder: Nicaragua (Corojo, Somoto Valley)
• Filler: Nicaragua (Somoto Valley)
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Shape: Round
• MSRP: $9.98 (Box of 15, $149.70)
• Release Date: August 2020
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 3

The wrapper of the Los Tejanos by OSOK X Rojas Toro is on the darker side, with a decent red hue and a general lack of mottling. It is not lacking in veins, though I’m more concerned that the cigar is quite hard, which is always a risk with these redux reviews. Pretty quickly, I get distracted by the band and it reminds me that there’s a lot of intricate work here, especially on the back and sides of the bands. The aroma from the wrapper is medium-plus with some barnyard and a scent that reminds me of walking through the woods after a rain shower. The foot is partially covered, similar to the style of the 1502 “Cigar Lock,” with aromas of a funkier barnyard and the smell of a rotisserie chicken. The cold draw—while also medium-plus—is muted. There’s a weird orange flavor—almost like if an orange got turned into dry powder—and some spoiled chocolate milk.

As interesting as all that, the first puff is also quite unique. There’s some cherry, nuttiness and sawdust before a somewhat tart earthiness emerges on the finish. In most regards, the first puff is medium-plus, but the nicotine strength quickly becomes apparent, and the cigar is quite strong. Flavor-wise, the first third has lots of cedar with some nuttiness and tartness underneath. The tartness isn’t all that strong, but when it’s present, there’s an added amount of sharpness that really affects the profile. Woodiness and white pepper add themselves during the finish, the latter can sometimes get intense enough that it reminds me of horseradish. The retrohale has nuttiness, leather, white pepper and apple core flavors, they finish with the tartness really picking up and affecting the undersides of my tongue to really change things. Flavor is full, body is full, and strength is full. Construction-wise, the draw is a bit tight but it doesn’t seem to be impacting smoke production or the ash, which is very even and also quite white.

While the list of flavors is not all that different, the way they hit the profile is a bit different in the middle part of the Los Tejanos by OSOK X Rojas Toro. Now, the woodiness is oftentimes accented by the apple core flavors. There’s leather, white pepper and earthiness, with the tartness and sharpness still regularly present. As before, the tartness and sharpness tend to get stronger during the finish, where they are joined by some mild amounts of lemonade. Retrohales bring out more of the apple core flavor with cedar and then toastiness emerging. It remains sharp and while it’s mild, it’s noticeable. Consecutive retrohales really bring out a metallicness on the underside of the tongue. The finish of the retrohale is more enjoyable than before, with woodiness and toastiness the main flavors. While there aren’t many changes in the final third, the toastiness is a clear change. With less than two inches left, seemingly every puff has toastiness and it doesn’t take long for it to overtake the profile. For the most part, I find the cigar to be generally like it was in the middle part, but with the added toastiness. The one notable difference is the retrohale, where some strawberry flavors and caramel sweetness join the mixture. Neither are the strongest flavors, but they are quite different than before. Flavor is full, body declines to medium-full, while strength remains rather full, though perhaps peaks in the second third. Toward the end of the second third, I need to make a touch-up to help with a significant part of the wrapper that stops burning. There’s one more minor touch-up needed shortly thereafter, but I generally avoided having to worry about the construction.