Luchador by Sam Leccia
Size: El Guapo (6x50)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Pennsylvanian Ligero, Honduran Ligero, Nicaraguan
Price: $8.50 B&M Purchase.
Appearance: Beautiful rich, very dark brown wrapper that has a nice sheen to it under the light. The seams are noticeable, and there are a few small veins on the surface. Texture of the wrapper is slightly rough to the touch.
Pre-Light
Aroma: The first thought that comes to mind when smelling the wrapper is freshly cut grass that fades into a sweet hay. Some earthy smells here, but they are light in comparison to the sweetness. The foot of the cigar offers more earth and hay, but the sweetness isn't present there.
Cold Draw: The draw is slightly loose. There is a nice bite of pepper on the tip of the tongue, and the hay from the aroma is present in the cold draw.
1st: Again, an initial bite of pepper on the tongue. There are smooth, medium strength tobacco flavors that are most prevalent here. Some hints of a leather, and some background wood tones. The retrohale offers stronger pepper, a smoky tobacco and stronger wood tones.
2nd: The wood flavors get stronger going into the 2nd. Still some noticeable pepper that blends well with the wood. The tobacco flavor has gotten darker in terms of taste, but is secondary behind the wood and spice. Retrohale still offers a nice sharp hit of pepper.
3rd: In the transition from the 2nd, there are some nice hints of a sweet cedar coming into play. There are hints of leather, the dark tobacco and a nice lingering spice. The wood has toned down to a background flavor behind tobacco once again. Cedar is more noticeable here in terms of identifying a specific wood flavor. The retrohale offers a clean cedar also, backed by some medium pepper.
Impressions: There are some nice medium to lower full flavors present. Pepper offers up some nice bites, coupled with lingering spice without either being too strong and over running the other flavors. As it burns, the Luchador gets darker in its flavor profile. Tobacco that started off somewhat mild becomes darker and heavier near the end, but it remains smooth throughout. The wood flavors are nicely balanced and don't leave the mouth feeling dry. The sweetness on the cedar nearing the end really adds a nice touch also. Burn stayed wonderful throughout the entire cigar, and it was an overall smooth and enjoyable smoke. My second of these so far, and I expect to have many more in the future.
Size: El Guapo (6x50)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Pennsylvanian Ligero, Honduran Ligero, Nicaraguan
Price: $8.50 B&M Purchase.
Appearance: Beautiful rich, very dark brown wrapper that has a nice sheen to it under the light. The seams are noticeable, and there are a few small veins on the surface. Texture of the wrapper is slightly rough to the touch.
Pre-Light
Aroma: The first thought that comes to mind when smelling the wrapper is freshly cut grass that fades into a sweet hay. Some earthy smells here, but they are light in comparison to the sweetness. The foot of the cigar offers more earth and hay, but the sweetness isn't present there.
Cold Draw: The draw is slightly loose. There is a nice bite of pepper on the tip of the tongue, and the hay from the aroma is present in the cold draw.
1st: Again, an initial bite of pepper on the tongue. There are smooth, medium strength tobacco flavors that are most prevalent here. Some hints of a leather, and some background wood tones. The retrohale offers stronger pepper, a smoky tobacco and stronger wood tones.
2nd: The wood flavors get stronger going into the 2nd. Still some noticeable pepper that blends well with the wood. The tobacco flavor has gotten darker in terms of taste, but is secondary behind the wood and spice. Retrohale still offers a nice sharp hit of pepper.
3rd: In the transition from the 2nd, there are some nice hints of a sweet cedar coming into play. There are hints of leather, the dark tobacco and a nice lingering spice. The wood has toned down to a background flavor behind tobacco once again. Cedar is more noticeable here in terms of identifying a specific wood flavor. The retrohale offers a clean cedar also, backed by some medium pepper.
Impressions: There are some nice medium to lower full flavors present. Pepper offers up some nice bites, coupled with lingering spice without either being too strong and over running the other flavors. As it burns, the Luchador gets darker in its flavor profile. Tobacco that started off somewhat mild becomes darker and heavier near the end, but it remains smooth throughout. The wood flavors are nicely balanced and don't leave the mouth feeling dry. The sweetness on the cedar nearing the end really adds a nice touch also. Burn stayed wonderful throughout the entire cigar, and it was an overall smooth and enjoyable smoke. My second of these so far, and I expect to have many more in the future.
