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BoM Jan '11
Up for review today is the Don Carlos Lancero a.k.a Don Carlos Phantoms
Normally, before writing up a review of a cigar, I like to give a little bit of background information as an interest piece for the reader; unfortunately, this information on this particular vitola appears to be even more elusive than obtaining one itself. However, I was able to find out that in 2001, 100 “packages” - my source did not specify whether these were boxes, bundles, or something else entirely - were auctioned off to charity. In 2005, it was officially released as part of the Don Carlos 30-year Celebration gift set, and prior to this, the only way to obtain one of these cigars was to have one handed to you by Carlito himself. Since its official release, oddly numbered boxes of 37 have been seen for sale at Casa Fuente. Alas, the difficulty I had in retrieving even this little bit of information just makes reviewing a HTF stick like this that much more exciting.
I have been eyeing this stick in my humidor for quite some time now, ever since I received it in raffle winnings from BBE IV from Hendy himself. Judging by lack of the information I could find on it, I would go out on a limb and say this is probably the rarest cigar I've had the pleasure of reviewing since I started a mere 6 months ago, though, this isn't what excites me most about putting fire to it. This particular cigar not only happens to be my favourite size – in this particular case measuring 7x41 – but but was also adorned by a Cameroon wrapper – hence the black band at the foot of the cigar. Unfortunately, I know nothing of the binder used in this particular cigar as I could find nothing at all about it, while the filler appears to be the same Don Carlos blend shared with the other vitolas in this line.
After removing the cellophane declaring “Don Carlos Lancero” and the cedar veneer, the wrapper comes into view. Sandy brown and mottled in spots from the oils in the leaf, the wrapper looks flawless, with the exception of a small crack under the band with a firmness indicative of excellent construction, complete with a triple cap crowned by a small pig's tail.
Pre-Light: The notes rising up from the cigar as I removed the cellophane shocked me, though not unpleasantly. I haven't ever before experienced the sting of spice to the nose while opening a box of cigars, never mind simply removing the sleeve from just one. Taking in the notes of the wrapper and foot more closely, cedar and raisins are strongly present in addition to the spice. Clipping off the pig tail, the cold draw is exceptionally mild, with hints of spice and cedar enveloping my palate.
Light: Under the attention of my trusty Ronson, the foot toasts and lights quickly and without fault, the draw reveals flavours of cinnamon, spice, and cedar though remaining much milder than I had expected. Additionally, vanilla, cinnamon, and spice complete the notes of the ambient burn.
First third: For the most part, the flavour profile was rather mild until about 15 or 20 minutes in at which point sweet vanilla, cedar and hints of spice began to creep over the tongue, while the expelled smoke retains fragrances of hints of toasted nuts, specifically almond, while exuding raisin notes present on the pre-light. While the burn has kept to a relatively even edge throughout the first third, I had to continually break off the ash to prevent it from falling on my keyboard; however, before this, it stood a good three-quarters of an inch on its own before falling prey to the ashtray.
Second Third: Midway through the second third, the vanilla has begun to die off with cinnamon and now almond taking its place followed by a strong spice; the expelled smoke has begun to take more of a leathery characteristic, with the almond now omitted.
Final Third: True to its reputation, this cigar continues to impress. Caramel seems to have come out of nowhere, along with I can only describe as a sweet spice – a nuance I've never before experienced. Cinnamon is still heavily present followed by a touch of leather which also continues to reign over the nasal retro-hale. The burn has become slightly more uneven towards the nub, but nothing that needs correcting. It is also worth noting that the draw has remained quite cool through to the nub.
Final Thoughts: Truth be told, I had expected quite a bit from this cigar at first light and was somewhat disappointed until it knocked me out of my seat with a brilliant cascade of flavours – some of which I've never experienced before – at the 20 minute mark. Perhaps what I found most intriguing was that the overall strength of the cigar remained mild throughout the entirety of the smoke, despite its incredibly complex make-up. Hard to find and carrying a price tag that accompanies a cigar befitting of its reputation, this is still one rarity that every serious cigar smoker should track down and try at least once.
Total smoking time was about an hour and a half.
Cheers,
Shawn
Normally, before writing up a review of a cigar, I like to give a little bit of background information as an interest piece for the reader; unfortunately, this information on this particular vitola appears to be even more elusive than obtaining one itself. However, I was able to find out that in 2001, 100 “packages” - my source did not specify whether these were boxes, bundles, or something else entirely - were auctioned off to charity. In 2005, it was officially released as part of the Don Carlos 30-year Celebration gift set, and prior to this, the only way to obtain one of these cigars was to have one handed to you by Carlito himself. Since its official release, oddly numbered boxes of 37 have been seen for sale at Casa Fuente. Alas, the difficulty I had in retrieving even this little bit of information just makes reviewing a HTF stick like this that much more exciting.
I have been eyeing this stick in my humidor for quite some time now, ever since I received it in raffle winnings from BBE IV from Hendy himself. Judging by lack of the information I could find on it, I would go out on a limb and say this is probably the rarest cigar I've had the pleasure of reviewing since I started a mere 6 months ago, though, this isn't what excites me most about putting fire to it. This particular cigar not only happens to be my favourite size – in this particular case measuring 7x41 – but but was also adorned by a Cameroon wrapper – hence the black band at the foot of the cigar. Unfortunately, I know nothing of the binder used in this particular cigar as I could find nothing at all about it, while the filler appears to be the same Don Carlos blend shared with the other vitolas in this line.
After removing the cellophane declaring “Don Carlos Lancero” and the cedar veneer, the wrapper comes into view. Sandy brown and mottled in spots from the oils in the leaf, the wrapper looks flawless, with the exception of a small crack under the band with a firmness indicative of excellent construction, complete with a triple cap crowned by a small pig's tail.
Pre-Light: The notes rising up from the cigar as I removed the cellophane shocked me, though not unpleasantly. I haven't ever before experienced the sting of spice to the nose while opening a box of cigars, never mind simply removing the sleeve from just one. Taking in the notes of the wrapper and foot more closely, cedar and raisins are strongly present in addition to the spice. Clipping off the pig tail, the cold draw is exceptionally mild, with hints of spice and cedar enveloping my palate.
Light: Under the attention of my trusty Ronson, the foot toasts and lights quickly and without fault, the draw reveals flavours of cinnamon, spice, and cedar though remaining much milder than I had expected. Additionally, vanilla, cinnamon, and spice complete the notes of the ambient burn.
First third: For the most part, the flavour profile was rather mild until about 15 or 20 minutes in at which point sweet vanilla, cedar and hints of spice began to creep over the tongue, while the expelled smoke retains fragrances of hints of toasted nuts, specifically almond, while exuding raisin notes present on the pre-light. While the burn has kept to a relatively even edge throughout the first third, I had to continually break off the ash to prevent it from falling on my keyboard; however, before this, it stood a good three-quarters of an inch on its own before falling prey to the ashtray.
Second Third: Midway through the second third, the vanilla has begun to die off with cinnamon and now almond taking its place followed by a strong spice; the expelled smoke has begun to take more of a leathery characteristic, with the almond now omitted.
Final Third: True to its reputation, this cigar continues to impress. Caramel seems to have come out of nowhere, along with I can only describe as a sweet spice – a nuance I've never before experienced. Cinnamon is still heavily present followed by a touch of leather which also continues to reign over the nasal retro-hale. The burn has become slightly more uneven towards the nub, but nothing that needs correcting. It is also worth noting that the draw has remained quite cool through to the nub.
Final Thoughts: Truth be told, I had expected quite a bit from this cigar at first light and was somewhat disappointed until it knocked me out of my seat with a brilliant cascade of flavours – some of which I've never experienced before – at the 20 minute mark. Perhaps what I found most intriguing was that the overall strength of the cigar remained mild throughout the entirety of the smoke, despite its incredibly complex make-up. Hard to find and carrying a price tag that accompanies a cigar befitting of its reputation, this is still one rarity that every serious cigar smoker should track down and try at least once.
Total smoking time was about an hour and a half.
Cheers,
Shawn
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. The wrapper on the lancero appeared darker than a typical Don Carlos...I asked the guy if it was a lancero maduro. He said nope, they all look like this. It may have been the mall lighting? Good smoke.