We have featured two previous collaborations between Erik Espinosa and celebrity chef Guy Fieri here in The Corner Of No Hope – the Knuckle Sandwich Habano (rated 92) back in 2022 and the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut (rated 91) last February. Both were enjoyable cigars, so this year’s “Chef Special” must be really REALLY good, right? Let’s find out together. Unless you’ve already smoked this cigar, in which case you already know if it’s any good or not… so why are you even here?
THE CIGAR – KNUCKLE SANDWICH CHEF SPECIAL 2025 by ESPINOSA PREMIUM CIGARS
Size: 6 x 55 (box-pressed toro grande)
Wrapper: Brazilian mata fina
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $16.00 (Knuckle Sandwich boxes are currently on sale at Famous Smoke Shop and you can save $20 off your purchase of $100 or more by using promo code TNCC20)
The Chef Special 2025’s mata fina wrapper is rustic and dry. There are a few soft(er) spots along the sides of the box-pressed cigar. A floral aroma combined with some sweetness is found when sniffing the foot directly.
After experiencing a cold draw comprised of damp wood and hay, it’s time to light this bad mama jama on fire. That sounds like something Guy Fieri would say… or at least name a dipping sauce after. Crisp black pepper immediately floods the nose upstairs, while a bold woodsy hickory is the initial note detected downstairs. After a few puffs, that woodsiness begins to develop underneath the retrohale’s pepper as well.
I’m going to take a moment to acknowledge and show appreciation for an actual box-pressed cigar. I’ve smoked quite a few cigars recently that claimed to be box-pressed but they looked as round as the full moon. Worse yet are the so-called “soft-pressed” sticks… give me a break. There’s nothing soft about Guy Fieri, nothing! Well except for maybe his Trash Can Nachos due to the inclusion of SMC (super melty cheese) but I digress…
A creamy vanilla pudding sensation just showed up on the retro and it’s joined by a newly emerging espresso flavor through the draw. These new notes rise in prominence quickly, soon overshadowing the hickory-forward profile.
The Chef Special 2025 has featured excellent overall construction so far with a smooth draw and a nice burn resulting in a strong ash. The black pepper’s dominating presence has yet to dial down but, somewhat surprisingly, it’s gelling extremely well with the vanilla and espresso flavors. I’d like to pair this cigar with a super hoppy, flavorful beer like the Indian Pale Ale from Nebraska Brewing. But I don’t have one of those handy, dammit, AND I’m a professional cigar reviewer after all (water only during reviews, dems da rules) so that pairing experiment will have to wait for another day. Around the fifty yard line, the hickory makes a bit of a comeback via the draw but it’s nowhere near as prevalent as it was in the early goings.
Here in the Chef Special’s second act, the cigar begins to burn a little hotter than I’d prefer which is the first noticeable hiccup in the smoking experience. My lips aren’t burning yet but I’m hoping things settle back down soon.
The temperature increase hasn’t negatively influenced the cigar’s enjoyable flavor profile as of yet. I’m appreciating the hickory transitioning in and out at random while the retro’s cream and the draw’s espresso continue to play nicely with the omnipresent black pepper sting. It’s a unique flavor presentation and I’m here for it.
In the final third, an orange zest saddled with a splash of mineral briefly materializes underneath the black pepper and cream just as a mustiness arises below the draw’s espresso. These are all intriguing late additions that don’t stick around long but, again, I appreciate the Chef Special keeping things interesting. Boring cigars fucking suck. The draw’s temperature also cools down considerably so I’m able to enjoy this bombdotcom stogie down to the nub.
THE NUB
TNCC Final Score = 93
As far as celebrity cigars are concerned, I believe anybody who’s been paying attention can attest that Guy Fieri’s partnership with Espinosa is not the norm. The TV chef is involved, he’s committed, and he has shown up in ways that other celebrities repeatedly have not. And when the cigars smoke like the Chef Special 2025 just did, I can see why. Another Knuckle Sandwich review, another solid winner.
* Total Smoking Duration: 65 minutes
