Leaf Bean by Esteban
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Jalapa Criollo/Corojo Hybrid (Nicaragua)
Filler: Esteli, Jalapa, and Condega (Nicaragua)
Toro: 6 x 52
Price n/a

This cigar was assessed in detail on Cigar Coop.

This is a cigar being made for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based retailer Jim Robinson’s Leaf & Bean shops. The cigar is made at the Skip Martin and Esteban Disla’s Nica Sueno factory in Esteli, Nicaragua (and thus bears the name Esteban). The Leaf & Bean by Esteban is one of three cigar lines in Robinson’s Leaf and Bean series – joining the the Leaf & Bean by Oscar and the Leaf & Bean by Noel. The latter two are made by Oscar Valladares and Noel Rojas, both of whom are factory owners.

This cigar is a real hidden gem coming out of Nica Sueno. It contains notes of natural tobacco, red pepper, chocolate, cream, and a slight floral note. I found this to not only be a complex smoke, but a well-balanced one. The flavors are medium to full-bodied. The strength starts out medium, but moves to medium to full in the last third.

It is worth noting what Jim Robinson commented on the band:

“Leaf and Bean Label. Our label is made from the same plant that makes the Tequila that some of us like to drink, NOT ME! I like Rum. The label is a handmade paper product. Get it wet and pretty much its gone, so for you wet smokers. I dont see us using any other kind of label for the Leaf and Bean line of cigars. Paper is locally made in Honduras. The colors you see in label are the actual flowers in the plant (Agave). Paper is made in little shop, this little shop is the livelihood for many families in Danli, without it they would not be able to support their families. No, its not shiny, its not embossed, its made of love. This label represents a family being able to put food on table for their kids. I like it.”