Most everyone will agree that the Warped La Colmena is an excellent cigar, but finding a group that can reach consensus on their favorite size takes more effort than I’ve been able to manage in recent years.  Each size offers certain nuances to command our attention, making every experience feel like our favorite vitola was blended just for us.

The size that I reach most often for is La Colmena Reina, a Small Batch Cigar exclusive.  And now that more have arrived at Small Batch HQ, I’ve reached for it today as the Cigar of the Week!

What’s interesting to me about this cigar is the comparison to the Unico Especial, a renowned cigar from the Warped historic portfolio.  While I’ve never heard it spoken outright, I don’t think we’d be wrong in assuming that it’s the same blend as the famed Unicos except in a 6 x 48 expression instead of 5 x 48.  Gain an inch; lose the band (until this year!)

Photo Credit: Warped Cigars

As soon as I torched the closed foot and sampled the wrapper, I knew this cigar was right where I like ‘em.  A little pepper, mild cedar, graham cracker, and soft leathery notes brought back pure moments of nostalgia from when I used to smoke these in cooler weather.  And now that they’ve settled in, it’s open season on this bundle.

Whereas Reina was more aggressive and peppery early on, they’ve mellowed out after a year or so and swapped the pepper for an easy-going, delicate experience.  The same creamy texture is still present throughout the experience, though, and is quite possibly my favorite thing about this cigar.

Hints of baking spices like nutmeg and clove danced around a dulce de leche sensation as well during today’s smoke session.  Yep, it’s decided… I’ll definitely be following this up with more Reina throughout the week.

Recommendations

If you like ‘em to reach out and grab you by the shirt, I’d say get a handful of these and light one up after a couple weeks.  Whereas I smoked last year’s production, Andrew tells me that the new batch is a little stronger this time around.  I’d expect more pepper, more woodsy notes, and more ass kickin’.  I remember the first time I lit one of these up with coffee and thinking that it would’ve gone better with a pour of COL E.H. Taylor. 

If you’re like me and love the softer side of Reina, I’d stash these away for a bit and come back to them in six months or so for a checkup.  You can’t go wrong holding La Colmena in your humidor, but you sure can miss ‘em when the limited production is gone.

Check out La Colmena Reina