Warped Corto X46

Warped Corto X46

The Warped Corto X46 is a 4 1/2 x 46 slightly box pressed Rothschild handmade at the TABSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, using 100% Nicaraguan Aganorsa leaf: a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper and binder with Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 fillers. Kyle Gellis described the Corto as “the fullest-bodied cigar in the Warped portfolio,” and it earned a 90 from Cigar Aficionado. The Corto originally debuted in 2015 as the X50 (4 1/2 x 50), which was retired in 2016 when the X46 replaced it with the identical blend in a slightly narrower ring gauge. The X52 (4 3/4 x 52) short robusto followed as a second vitola. Cigar Dojo’s review captured the experience: “Right out of the gate, the cigar bursts forth with flavor, putting my senses at maximum capacity.” Stogie Press was equally enthusiastic and smoked it down to the nub. This is Warped’s power cigar, a compact Nicaraguan puro that opens with a pepper blast and settles into cocoa, honey, coffee, and leather, all built on some of the best tobacco in Nicaragua. Sold in boxes of 25.

• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 (EMS). Silky smooth, medium brown, slightly oily. Stogie Press described it as a “silky smooth med brown wrapper.” The Corojo ’99 seed was developed in Nicaragua from traditional Cuban Corojo and selected for its disease resistance and flavor. The EMS designation refers to the specific seed selection used by Aganorsa, producing a leaf with a distinct sweetness, spice, and oiliness that defines the Corto’s personality.
• Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99. Same seed variety as the wrapper. Doubling the Corojo ’99 in both wrapper and binder amplifies the varietal’s spice and pepper character, explaining why the Corto opens with such intensity.
• Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99. The Criollo ’98 adds depth, sweetness, and complexity. The Corojo ’99 adds strength and pepper. All tobaccos are Aganorsa grown, giving the blend a single farm, single origin purity. Aganorsa is widely regarded as producing some of the finest Nicaraguan tobacco available, and Warped’s exclusive use of Aganorsa leaf across the portfolio is a key differentiator.
• Size: Rothschild, 4 1/2 x 46, slightly box pressed. The compact format concentrates the all Nicaraguan blend into a focused, intense smoking experience. Cigar Dojo noted “smoking through the first inch of the cigar is my favorite part. The smoke is cool, the flavors are intense, and the cigar is simply beautiful.” Smoking time runs just under an hour.
• Strength: Medium to full. Cigar Aficionado rated the strength at medium. The body runs full. Stogie Press found “smoke is full and thick in body.” Cigar Dojo described the first few minutes as “a powerhouse of flavor and strength.” The consensus: the flavor and body are full while the nicotine strength stays closer to medium, a separation that makes the Corto feel bigger than it actually hits.
• Construction: Exceptional. Cigar Dojo: “I’ve smoked a dozen of these, and every single one had the same exact draw and burn as the last, a truly impressive feat.” The cigar features a triple cap. Stogie Press confirmed “cold draw is perfect with a sprinkle of pepper.” Made at the TABSA factory in Estelí, the same facility that produces Warped’s El Oso, La Colmena (all non Miami production), and cigars for Illusione and RoMa Craft.
• Core Flavors: Black pepper, red pepper, white pepper, cocoa, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, coffee, espresso, honey, leather, cedar, cream, malt, caramel, nuts, almonds, raisins, black cherry, floral, bread, earth, charred meat, hickory, cinnamon, spice, umami, wood.

What it tastes like

The cold draw is clean and precise. Stogie Press found “cold draw is perfect with a sprinkle of pepper” with a “bread note on the foot” and “sweet aroma along the barrel.” The wrapper reads smooth and slightly sweet. The foot reads bread, cocoa, and pepper. These aromas forecast the cigar’s two personalities: a spicy, peppery opening that transitions into a sweet, creamy, cocoa driven second half.

The first third hits hard. Stogie Press captured the opening: “1st puffs offer floral, cocoa, and pepper. Medium level nasal burn.” That nasal burn is the Corojo ’99 announcing itself. Katman’s review of the X50 (same blend) was more emphatic: “Then POW! The pepper bomb strikes. My eyes are watering and my nasal passages are clearing.” Beyond the pepper, he found “malts, caramel, cocoa, coffee, nuts, raisins, black cherry, creaminess, and cedar.” Cigar Dojo experienced “pepper, a little spice, a deep, raw tobacco, a strong leather like flavor, and a little bit of milk chocolate.” The Reddit reviewer confirmed “white pepper, espresso, nuts, and rustic tobacco.” Small Batch Cigar’s blind review described “earth, chocolate, pepper, charred meat, hickory, spice, cinnamon, and umami.” The first third is dense with flavor. Every puff carries multiple layers. The pepper is real and present, but it is not empty heat. It sits on top of a rich, complex base.

The second third calms down. Stogie Press tracked the shift: “Cocoa moves to the forefront as the smoke smooths out and pepper diminishes. Honey and coffee develop.” The pepper that dominated the opening retreats, and the sweeter, creamier flavors take center stage. Cigar Dojo found the same transition: “More milk chocolate on the front end of things, with a solid punch of pepper, leather, and cedar trees swaying gently along the finish.” Stogie Press added “touch of leather enters” and “flavors blend excellently by the half.” This is the cigar’s most balanced section. The cocoa, honey, coffee, and leather interplay creates a rich, satisfying profile that rewards slower puffing.

The final third builds the spice back in. Stogie Press: “Spicy honey builds as retro hale burn increases” with “slight bitter cocoa component enters at the end.” The honey sweetness persists but picks up a spicy edge, creating a “spicy honey” that is the final third’s signature flavor. Cigar Dojo noted the cigar “can get harsh near end” if smoked too far past the one inch mark, but through the nub zone the flavors remain satisfying. The YouTube reviewer described the overall profile as “a lot of spicy notes” and called it “a medium plus smoke” that is “a good cigar for anybody” while noting “it is a cigar for an experienced smoker if you like something with spice or pepper.” Neptune Cigar’s customer review agreed: “No harshness, smooth, creamy, with spices and almond.” Stogie Press smoked it for just under an hour and took it down to the nub.

Warped’s power cigar

Kyle Gellis designed the Corto to be the fullest bodied cigar in the Warped portfolio. While Warped’s other lines like La Colmena and Don Reynaldo lean toward refinement and Cubanesque elegance, the Corto is built for impact. The all Corojo ’99 wrapper and binder, combined with Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98 fillers, produce a cigar that leads with pepper and spice before revealing sweetness and complexity underneath. Cigar Aficionado gave it a 90 rating. Small Batch Cigar’s blind review described puffs that are “at times fantastic, and even meat like with savory quality.” The charred meat, hickory, and umami notes that the blind review identified are uncommon in the premium cigar world and speak to the Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98 filler’s unique contribution. If you want Warped elegance, smoke a Don Reynaldo. If you want Warped power, smoke a Corto.

Aganorsa leaf

Every tobacco leaf in the Corto X46 comes from Aganorsa, one of the most respected tobacco growers in Nicaragua. Aganorsa (formerly HATSA, Honduras American Tabaco S.A.) owns farms in the Jalapa, Condega, and Estelí growing regions and is widely considered to produce some of the finest Nicaraguan tobacco available. Stogie Press specifically confirmed that the Corto uses “100% Nicaraguan Aganorsa leaf.” Warped’s relationship with Aganorsa and its factory TABSA is central to the brand’s identity. Nearly every cigar in the Warped portfolio (except the Miami made Don Reynaldo and La Colmena) is produced at TABSA using Aganorsa tobacco. The Corojo ’99 seed that dominates the Corto blend was developed and cultivated by Aganorsa in Nicaragua, making the Corto essentially a single farm Nicaraguan puro.

X46 vs. X52

The X46 replaced the original X50 in 2016 with the identical blend in a slightly narrower ring gauge. The narrower gauge puts more emphasis on the Corojo ’99 wrapper’s pepper and spice character. The X52, a 4 3/4 x 52 short robusto, offers a wider ring gauge that allows more filler expression, producing a slightly fuller body with more of the cocoa, honey, and coffee notes from the Criollo ’98 filler. Both use the same Aganorsa Corojo ’99 wrapper and binder with Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 fillers.

Corto vs. Corto Maduro

In 2025, Warped released the Corto Maduro X46, a different blend in the same box pressed Rothschild format. The Corto Maduro uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper (instead of Nicaraguan Corojo ’99) and adds medio tiempo tobacco to the Nicaraguan filler blend. Cigar Aficionado covered the release under the headline “A Darker, Stronger Corto From Warped,” confirming it is “a full bodied blend, intended to be stronger than the original.” Halfwheel’s three sample review found “lots of chocolate, like a cake batter, with some mild red pepper, wood and fruit” from the Maduro version. The original Corto (this cigar) leads with pepper and spice from the Corojo ’99 wrapper. The Corto Maduro leads with chocolate and earthiness from the San Andrés wrapper and medio tiempo. They share the box pressed Rothschild shape and Warped’s identity as power cigars, but they are different blends with different wrappers, different fillers, and different flavor profiles.

Kyle Gellis and TABSA

Kyle Gellis founded Warped Cigars and produces the Corto at the TABSA factory (Tabacos de Aganorsa S.A.) in Estelí, Nicaragua. TABSA is Aganorsa’s cigar manufacturing facility, producing cigars for Warped, Illusione, RoMa Craft, and other boutique brands. Gellis selected TABSA specifically for its access to Aganorsa’s premium tobacco inventory and its skilled rollers. The Corto was Warped’s first full bodied blend, a deliberate expansion of the portfolio beyond the medium bodied elegance of the Don Reynaldo and La Colmena lines. Warped also produces at El Titan de Bronze in Little Havana, Miami, where the Don Reynaldo and La Colmena are rolled using traditional Cuban techniques. The two factory approach gives Gellis access to both Nicaraguan power (TABSA) and Cuban refinement (El Titan de Bronze).

Pairings

The Corto’s pepper, cocoa, honey, coffee, leather, and spice profile pairs naturally with bold, rich beverages. A double espresso or ristretto matches the cigar’s intensity and amplifies the espresso and dark chocolate notes from the second half. A rye whiskey (Rittenhouse, Bulleit Rye, Wild Turkey 101 Rye) mirrors the Corto’s pepper and spice with its own grain, cinnamon, and black pepper character. A bold bourbon (Knob Creek, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Booker’s) brings caramel, vanilla, and oak that complement the cocoa, honey, and cedar. A dark beer (stout, porter, or smoked porter) provides roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee that align with the cigar’s core flavors, and a smoked porter specifically echoes the charred meat and hickory notes from the blind review. A dark rum (Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Ron Zacapa 23) brings molasses and caramel sweetness that counterbalances the Corto’s spice. For something different, a mezcal brings smoky, earthy, peppery notes that match the cigar’s intensity and umami character. A strong black coffee (French press, cold brew concentrate) is the simplest and most reliable pairing for the Corto’s cocoa, honey, and leather profile.

Quick specs

• Vitola: X46 / box pressed Rothschild (4 1/2 x 46)
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 (EMS)
• Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99
• Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99
• Tobacco: 100% Aganorsa leaf
• Strength: Medium (nicotine) / Full (body)
• Cigar Aficionado: 90
• Box Count: 25

What is the Warped Corto X46?

A 4 1/2 x 46 box pressed Rothschild Nicaraguan puro made with 100% Aganorsa leaf. Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper and binder with Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 fillers. Handmade at TABSA in Estelí, Nicaragua. Created by Kyle Gellis as Warped’s first and fullest bodied blend. Scored 90 from Cigar Aficionado. Boxes of 25.

What does the Corto X46 taste like?

Opens with a pepper blast (black, red, and white pepper) followed by cocoa, honey, coffee, leather, cedar, cream, malt, caramel, nuts, raisins, black cherry, and floral notes. The pepper diminishes in the second third as cocoa and honey take over. Spicy honey builds in the final third. Small Batch Cigar’s blind review also found charred meat, hickory, cinnamon, and umami.

How strong is the Corto X46?

Cigar Aficionado rated the strength at medium. The body and flavor are full. Kyle Gellis described it as “the fullest bodied cigar in the Warped portfolio.” Stogie Press confirmed “smoke is full and thick in body.” The flavor punches above the nicotine, meaning the cigar feels bigger and bolder than its actual nicotine delivery.

What is Aganorsa leaf?

Aganorsa is one of the most respected tobacco growers in Nicaragua, owning farms in Jalapa, Condega, and Estelí. Every tobacco leaf in the Corto comes from Aganorsa. The Corojo ’99 seed was developed and cultivated by Aganorsa specifically for Nicaraguan growing conditions. Warped uses Aganorsa leaf across nearly its entire portfolio.

What is the difference between the X46 and X52?

Same blend, different formats. The X46 is a 4 1/2 x 46 box pressed Rothschild. The X52 is a 4 3/4 x 52 short robusto. The narrower X46 emphasizes the Corojo ’99 wrapper’s pepper and spice. The wider X52 allows more filler expression with additional cocoa, honey, and coffee. Both come in boxes of 25.

What is the difference between Corto and Corto Maduro?

Different blends. The original Corto uses a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper. The Corto Maduro (released 2025) uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and adds medio tiempo tobacco to the filler. The Corto leads with pepper and spice. The Corto Maduro leads with chocolate and earthiness. Both are box pressed Rothschilds but they are distinct cigars.

Where is the Corto made?

TABSA (Tabacos de Aganorsa S.A.) in Estelí, Nicaragua. TABSA is Aganorsa’s cigar manufacturing facility, producing for Warped, Illusione, RoMa Craft, and other boutique brands. Kyle Gellis selected TABSA for its access to Aganorsa’s premium tobacco and skilled rollers.

What pairs well with the Corto X46?

Double espresso, ristretto, rye whiskey (Rittenhouse, Bulleit Rye, Wild Turkey 101 Rye), bold bourbon (Knob Creek, Wild Turkey Rare Breed), stout, porter, smoked porter, dark rum (Diplomatico, Ron Zacapa 23), mezcal, or strong black coffee. The cigar’s pepper, cocoa, honey, coffee, and leather profile pairs with bold, rich beverages that match its intensity.