Don’t adjust your monitor or your eyes – these 601 Black Limited Edition 2021 cigars are not made with dark tobacco. It’s not even a Maduro wrapper. This thing is bright and blonde. It just has a name that indicates something else.

These are beautiful Connecticut smokes made with tobacco grown in Ecuador, at least when it comes to the wrapper. The interior blend is Nicaraguan long leaf. The idea behind the 601 Black was to make a Connecticut that offers a bit more strength and flavor than you get from the average mild CT stick. And they hit that mark pretty well!

The flavor profile starts with espresso and pepper and then relaxes into warm notes like sourdough and hay. The finish is interesting and has a note of creamy vanilla, leaving you with the perfect impression of the tobacco’s character. This 601 Black limited edition shows that company founder Erik Espinosa can make a variety of blends, not just full-bore bunker busters like La Bomba, Warzone, and Murcielago – but also milder, smoother cigars for the chill smokers out there.

This cigar actually is a revival, so don’t be surprised if it seems familiar. It was brought back. This was one of Espinosa’s earlier releases under the EO Brands mark that he clearly is partial to. Cigar makers are known for doing this all the time these days. Perhaps in part because it’s a way to ensure that products are grandfathered for regulatory purposes. Or perhaps it’s because a blender knows when a blend is just the way he or she wants it, and simply bides their time to reintroduce it when the market is ready.

In any event, this is a Connecticut with a bit of panache. Light one up and give it a shot!

This 601 Black Limited Edition 2021 Toro cigar is made in Nicaragua. Outside, you'll find an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Inside, the binder is Nicaraguan, and the filler is Nicaraguan. This is a Toro cigar with a length of 6.00 and a ring gauge of 50.

Please browse our selection of 601 Black Limited Edition 2021 Toro cigars at your leisure.

• What are the flavors like?
o Espresso, pepper, sourdough, hay, creamy vanilla on the finish

• What’s the strength level?
o Mild-medium

• Who is this cigar for?
o 601 Black Limited Edition 2021 Toro cigars are for Connecticut lovers who want something that defies the “boring” label that these blends sometimes receive.

• Will I want to smoke it to the nub?
o It’s smooth and creamy. You’ll be down.

• What’s a good pairing with it?
o How about a Not Your Father’s Vanilla Cream Ale? Get a pint glass and pour a cold one.

• What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar?
o When you kick off some day drinking before lunch.

• Any flaws/downsides?
o No one has talked down about this one. Sounds like a very solid stick.