So my man Dave was nice enough to fill a MAW for me a month back or so. I mentioned on there that I wanted a blind stick to review; it was right around the time Jim started doing blind reviews, and I thought it was an interesting idea; too often I think I let the band on the stick "distract me" or sway what I will think about a cigar. He sent me a lancero, here are my butchered thoughts on it (it's my first review, be gentle.)
Cigar: Unbanded Lancero from 3/5King
Drink: Abuelita (it was really cold outside)
First thoughts: This cigar is a thicker lancero with a pigtail cap; I don't have a ring gauge on me, but it feels thicker then a 36rg; closer to 40, similar to the Four Kicks lance. The wrapper is a light milk chocolate color, kind of rough, with a few large veins running through it. It feels like it's been packed well; not too dense, not too loose. I clip the pigtail with my Xi2, and get this party started.
First Third: Initial draws are a toasted wood, with something sweet; a vanilla or chocolate. I can't really put my finger on it. A few puffs in, I almost think it's a little like bread pudding? Having some trouble with the draw, it's a bit tight. There is no pepper or burning on the retrohale. The sweetness morphs, and takes over the finish. It becomes a dried fruit sort of sweet. Deep, very syrupy. A brief hay note pops in and out. Towards the end of the first third, I have to correct the burn, and the draw opens up briefly. Begins pouring smoke; it's very aromatic, almost reminds me of pipe tobacco a little bit.
Second Third: Flavor is changing a bit; little more bitter chocolate, less of the syrupy, fruity sweetness, which got a little overwhelming there for a second. Gets much earthier. Starts to take on more qualities of my drink; deep milk chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Halfway through the second third, I'm starting to get some pepper in the back of my throat. This cigar is starting to turn around for me, leaving it's original profile. All of a sudden, it goes out. I relight, it's a little bitter. Shortly thereafter, it goes out again. I'm beginning to get agitated with it, cause it's really freaking cold out here.
Final third: Flavor is consistent with second third, however, it has a bitter taste to it now; too many relights and touch-ups, this thing doesn't want to stay lit and burn straight. At my final relight, I got a mouth full of the dried fruit again, but this time bitter. It sticks around and mixes with what is now bitter, dark chocolate. If I didn't have to work so much at it, I might be enjoying it a bit more, but when it goes out again with an inch or 2 left, I leave it to die and go warm my ass up by the fire.
Final thoughts: I have been smoking only Nica cigars for the past few months, and this was quite the departure from that. I wasn't so much a fan of the first third; the cherry cordial thing was too much for me. However, I really thought the cigar picked up a lot of steam in the second third. The construction was really poor, however, that might have been due to the heater I had running outside, the wind, the cold; who knows?
I can definitely say I've never had this stick before, not sure if I'd seek it out again. Based on photos, my guess is it's a Caldwell lancero; LLTK maybe?
Final smoking time:1 hour 25 minutes
Cigar: Unbanded Lancero from 3/5King
Drink: Abuelita (it was really cold outside)
First thoughts: This cigar is a thicker lancero with a pigtail cap; I don't have a ring gauge on me, but it feels thicker then a 36rg; closer to 40, similar to the Four Kicks lance. The wrapper is a light milk chocolate color, kind of rough, with a few large veins running through it. It feels like it's been packed well; not too dense, not too loose. I clip the pigtail with my Xi2, and get this party started.
First Third: Initial draws are a toasted wood, with something sweet; a vanilla or chocolate. I can't really put my finger on it. A few puffs in, I almost think it's a little like bread pudding? Having some trouble with the draw, it's a bit tight. There is no pepper or burning on the retrohale. The sweetness morphs, and takes over the finish. It becomes a dried fruit sort of sweet. Deep, very syrupy. A brief hay note pops in and out. Towards the end of the first third, I have to correct the burn, and the draw opens up briefly. Begins pouring smoke; it's very aromatic, almost reminds me of pipe tobacco a little bit.
Second Third: Flavor is changing a bit; little more bitter chocolate, less of the syrupy, fruity sweetness, which got a little overwhelming there for a second. Gets much earthier. Starts to take on more qualities of my drink; deep milk chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Halfway through the second third, I'm starting to get some pepper in the back of my throat. This cigar is starting to turn around for me, leaving it's original profile. All of a sudden, it goes out. I relight, it's a little bitter. Shortly thereafter, it goes out again. I'm beginning to get agitated with it, cause it's really freaking cold out here.
Final third: Flavor is consistent with second third, however, it has a bitter taste to it now; too many relights and touch-ups, this thing doesn't want to stay lit and burn straight. At my final relight, I got a mouth full of the dried fruit again, but this time bitter. It sticks around and mixes with what is now bitter, dark chocolate. If I didn't have to work so much at it, I might be enjoying it a bit more, but when it goes out again with an inch or 2 left, I leave it to die and go warm my ass up by the fire.
Final thoughts: I have been smoking only Nica cigars for the past few months, and this was quite the departure from that. I wasn't so much a fan of the first third; the cherry cordial thing was too much for me. However, I really thought the cigar picked up a lot of steam in the second third. The construction was really poor, however, that might have been due to the heater I had running outside, the wind, the cold; who knows?
I can definitely say I've never had this stick before, not sure if I'd seek it out again. Based on photos, my guess is it's a Caldwell lancero; LLTK maybe?
Final smoking time:1 hour 25 minutes
