Team Cigar Review: Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich 57

Cigar Name: KnuckleSandwich57

Brand: Espinosa

Vitola: Robusto Gordo 5 ¾ x 55

Origin: Ocotal,Nicaragua

Wrapper: MexicanSan Andres

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Price: $16

Date Smoked: Mike - June 11th, 2025, 

Marty - June 18th, 2025

Smoking Time: Mike - 90 minutes, Marty - 80 minutes

Reviewers: Michael George, Marty C

1. Taste 

Mike

Flavor Profile: 

• Cold Draw: Chocolate comes through with a little spice

• First Third: Starts off with some white pepper on the tip of the tongue then some chocolate and coffee notes. There are some very good bread notes.  The retrohale is very smooth, no pepper and no burning, get some earthiness.

• Second Third: As we enter the second third chocolate, coffee and bread notes maintain their levels. Pairing this with 818 Tequila Reposado is just perfect.   The tequila really compliments the cigar and allows the breadiness to just linger for a bit.. 

• Final Third:There is no real change to this cigar, however on the retrohale say hello to the black pepper.  I wish I would have gotten a few more of these when they were available. 

Complexity: This is a well balanced flavor profile. Flavor is not complex, but very enjoyable.   The bread notes and coffee are perfect.

Strength: Medium to full body and medium strength 

Aftertaste: A pleasant taste, not much to think about, just enjoy it.

Notes: This would be a great cigar to have a new cigar smoker try.    

Score: 32/40

Marty

Flavor Profile: 

• First Third: Cigar starts with Whole Wheat Breadiness in the forefront, with a mustyness in the background. Easy retrohale with some mineral notes and little spice

• Second Third: Breadiness continues to dominate but is joined with some cashew nuttiness. There is a slight saltiness that keeps my mouth moist. Coffee notes begin to join the party

• Final Third: As we enter the final third coffee notes start to dominate. Moving towards espresso. With some toasted bread notes in the background.

Complexity: Flavors are well melded with some nice transitions

Strength: Medium 

Aftertaste: A pleasant mild spice and salt remains for several moments after each puff

Notes: Put the cigar down with ¾ inches remaining.

Score: 33/40

2. Construction 

Mike

Quality: Wrapper is dark and smooth with great  construction. The wrapper held up with no issues

Feel: Feel is firm roll with no soft spots

Cut: Straight cut

Score: 19/20

Marty

Quality: Wrapper is high quality. Cigar is a soft box press

Feel: Firm with a slight give to the touch typical of soft box press. 

Cut: Straight cut was easy and maintained cap integrity

Notes: The manufacturer calls this an oval press, but it looked like a typical soft box press to me

Score: 20/20

3. Draw

Mike

Resistance: The draw was perfect

Smoke Volume:  Decent amount of  smoke output 

Consistency: Draw never changed throughout.

Notes:  The draw was what I wanted and enjoyed.

Score: 20/20

Marty

Resistance: Draw is efforless maybe a little on the light side

Smoke Volume: Moderate smoke output

Consistency: Remained consistent throughout

Notes: 

Score: 19/20

4. Appearance 

Mike

Visual Appeal:  Wrapper is dark brown almost chocolate like, there was a vein down the one side, the box press had some nice rounded edges.  

Band Design: (If applicable—style, placement, ease of removal?) There are two bands and a foot band.   I am never a fan of a foot band but it came off with no issues.   Erik Espinosa and Guy Fieri did a great job, love the design of the band you can rarely go wrong with gold, black and red.  The skull with the chef’s hat stands out and the bold 57 in gold is a nice touch.  It’s always a scary moment when you need to remove the band and both of them came off with no issues and no tearing of the wrapper.   

Overall Presentation:  This cigar had a great feel in my hand and looked amazing throughout the smoke. .

Notes: Please no more footbands 

Score: 9/10

Marty

Visual Appeal: Cigar is gorgeous 

Band Design: Dual band with black background and gold and red highlights. 57 is prominently displayed on the second band. Also includes a gold fabric foot band.

Overall Presentation: Well done and in line with the other knuckle sandwich offerings

Notes: Bands were easy to remove.

Score: 10/10

5. Burn 

Mike

Evenness: Burn started out straight and required no touchups.  The first third had a weird uneven burn but that evened out the rest of the way.  

Ash: Ash is whitish and held up nicely.  

Relights: None

Burn Time:95 minutes

Notes: The weird burn at the end may have been my fault in the initial light but overall the burn was fantastic. 

Score: 8/10

Marty

Evenness: Burn started straight but one side fell behind in the second third and needed a coupe of touchups

Ash: Ash is whitish grey and held on in 1 inch chunks.

Relights: a couple of minor touchups needed to keep it straight

Burn Time: 80 minutes

Notes: no Issues other than the minor touchups

Score: 8/10

Overall Experience

Mike

Summary: Guy Fieri turned 57 on January 22 and this cigar was shipped to stores in early February. This was the third of his birthday cigars and it will be enjoyable to see if he continues until his 60th.  .

Guy was involved with the blending of this cigar and it shows.   From the blend to the wrapper and size this has Guy’s chef’s hands all over the cigar.   This is the second time I smoked this cigar and both times it delivered.  The added rest or aging didn’t hurt this cigar and brought out some of the breadie notes.   

Pairing Suggestions: Reposado, Coffee, maybe even a green tea.   

Would You Smoke Again?: If I could find more I would pick up a box

Total Score: 88/100

Final Thoughts: Knuckle Sandwich 57 is a solid smoke.   It doesn’t have a lot of strong flavor notes, but it's an easy and enjoyable cigar.  If you are looking for something to just enjoy and not have to put a lot of thought into this is a great cigar.   It’s too ba this was a limited release but if you can find a few I recommend you grab them.  

Marty

Summary: The cigar began with a dominant whole wheat breadiness, accompanied by musty and mineral notes with minimal spice in the first third. In the second third, the breadiness persists, joined by cashew nuttiness, slight saltiness, and emerging coffee flavors. By the final third, espresso-like coffee notes take over, with toasted bread in the background, offering well-melded flavors, medium strength, and a pleasant spicy-salty aftertaste.

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Pairing Suggestions: I think something that added a slight sweetness would pair well with this such as an old fashioned, or Whiskey and cola and as always a rootbeer.

Would You Smoke Again?: If I could get some more definitely.

Total Score: 89/100

Final Thoughts: A great celebration of Guy Fieri’s 57 birthday.

Combined Score: 88.5