There’s no way to avoid saying it – the Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich is your ticket to Flavortown, baby! This is Guy Fieri’s foray into the cigar world, and no, you can’t dip it into a kicking smoky-sweet Kansas City barbeque sauce. This one is purely for smoking.
The man we once knew simply as the host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives has grown himself into the lord of a culinary empire that’s gone international, at this point. We can’t say we’re haters, either. The dude knows big flavor and big fun. We’re down with his recipes any time.
But can he do the same thing with cigars and his Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich? That will be up to you to judge. So far, he’s got the right partners and the right tobaccos to make a big splash in the fryer.
Erik Espinosa, the blender behind the Knuckle Sandwich, knows his stuff. He’s been in tobacco forever, starting his journey in Havana and passing through every role in the industry on his way to becoming an international brand unto himself thanks to the success of Murcielago, 601, and La Bomba.
The Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich comes in two wrapper varieties, both grown in Ecuador. The first is a tasty Habano, and the other is a smooth Sumatra Maduro. The filler blend is Nicaraguan, supplied by A.J. Fernandez. These cigars are also made at his San Lotano factory in Ocatal, Nicaragua.
Any cigar made with Guy Fieri has to be all about the flavor, right? Well, the Knuckle Sandwich early reviews don’t disappoint. These aren’t pushing the envelope with any crazy innovations. That’s not really the style. People turn to Guy for comfort food with a nice reliable kick and some personality, and that’s what the Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich cigars deliver.
The Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Habano is nice and creamy, with notes of nuts, white pepper, and sweet cedar. This is a fairly traditional profile, executed very capably. Take it easy on your retrohale – at least one reviewer noticed a powerful red pepper punch and lots of body. THAT’s the Guy Fieri we all know and love.
As for the Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Maduro. The company describes it as “rich, with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and fruits.” Undoubtedly, this is the smoother of the two, although Sumatra always brings some interesting notes, even when fermented like this.
All in all, it won’t be a total punch to the face like some flavor bombs out there. Instead, it’s a nice sit down at your favorite local spot with good food you can always count on. That’s Guy to a T, right?
Please browse our selection of Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich cigars at your leisure.
