Laranja Reserva Hybrid Toro

Erik Espinosa has never been one to let a good name gather dust. The Laranja Reserva first showed up in 2014, built around a striking orange-hued Brazilian wrapper, and it quickly racked up 90-plus scores and a loyal following that has stuck with the line for over a decade. Now comes Hybrid, the fourth chapter in that story, and it arrives with a bit of a twist: the Brazilian leaf gets moved from the wrapper down into the filler, making room for an Ecuadorian Habano oscuro to take the outside. It’s a subtle swap, offering a fresh take while maintaining the line’s Brazilian theme.

Laranja has a long history with Cigar Dojo and the DOJONATION community, where it has always been a huge hit. The Laranja Reserva received a 93 upon its release, as well as the No. 2 Cigar of the Year award in 2014. Next came the Laranja Escuro, which received No. 4 Cigar of the Year award in 2019 and had a rating of 92. The third iteration was the Laranja Reserva Azulejo, with a rating of 89 and the designation of No. 10 Cigar of the Year award in 2021.

Laranja Reserva Hybrid Toro Breakdown

Laranja Hybrid is crafted with an Ecuadorian Habano oscuro wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder, with the filler blending Nicaraguan and Brazilian tobaccos. The cigar ships box-pressed in two sizes: Short Churchill and Toro, with 10-count boxes rolling out to retailers earlier this month.

Appearance

Laranja Hybrid has a nice press to it, with sharply defined edges. The wrapper carries a deep reddish-brown color with a light oil sheen, and the seams are tight enough that you have to go looking for them. Veins are present but modest, giving it a rugged, working-class look rather than a flawed one. The band leans into the Laranja identity with the classic “Laranja seal,” with its familiar gold accents but trading out the orange for green. This definitely gives it a green-and-gold Irish vibe from the outset.

Smoking Experience

Pre-light, the wrapper gives off notes of leather, cedar, and cinnamon. The cold draw, after a clean cut into the cap, brings a mix of black pepper and cedar that stings the tip of the tongue.

Lighting up, Laranja Hybrid opens with a burst of black pepper on the retrohale, joined by a thick mouthfeel and notes of cedar and brown sugar sweetness. There’s an earthy foundation running underneath all of it, and a very faint hint of a citrus zest picked up every once in a while.

Moving into the second third, the pepper settles into more of a background hum, and the profile shifts toward a warm, cedary spice, with the earthy character becoming stronger while a light cinnamon spice builds on the tongue. Into the final third, the spice subsides as the sweetness becomes more pronounced and the earthy character takes on a more mineral quality. The flavor profile is medium-full without ever tipping into overwhelming.

Construction on the Laranja Hybrid was good throughout, with a slightly wavy burn line that did not need attention. Smoke output was generous and thick, and the draw was slightly loose. The ash held in firm, tight layers for about one-cm segments. The burn temperature stayed relatively cool from foot to nub.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

Laranja Hybrid does exactly what its name promises: it takes the brand’s Brazilian identity and wraps it into a darker experience without losing the component that made the original a hit. The earth, cinnamon, and brown sugar sweetness holds the whole smoke together, while the light citrus zest keeps it from settling into one note for too long. At $12, this is a well-built, flavorful, medium-full smoke that punches above its price point, and I’d have no problem keeping a few of these in regular rotation.

• Currently, the Laranja Reserva Hybrid ranks on Dojoverse as “99% Smokable,” placing in the top 22 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.
• There are two vitolas offered in the lineup:
  • Short Churchill: 6″ x 48 | $11.50 (MSRP)
  • Toro: 6″ x 52 | $12.00 (MSRP)

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