Noel Rojas’ latest project is on its way to stores today, as he has begun shipping the Rojas Street Tacos Barbacoa.

The cigar is the first in a series of three cigars that will bear the Street Tacos name, and uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler from the Somoto region of the country. The cigars are being made at Tabacalera Flor de San Luis in Estelí, Nicaragua.

While the cigar was delayed from it scheduled launch at the end of 2020 due to production delays, it does come with two changes from the original plan for the release. First, Rojas has added a 5 x 50 robusto size to the line, joining the 6 x 50 toro and a 5 1/2 x 46 short corona. Also, pricing is now between $7.50 and $8 per cigar, a bit lower than the original range of $8-$9.

The cigar gets its name from a meat preparation that traces its roots to the Caribbean and Mexico, and in particular sheep and goat cooked over an open fire or via an in-ground oven. That definition has loosened over time to include different meats and preparations. It’s also the word that eventually became barbecue.

Overall Score

Avatar photo

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.