While I do enjoy the thick ring gauge and smoke them regularly, the feeling upon lighting this swanky lancero is akin to listening to a throwback Frank Sinatra classic like, say, "What Now My Love?" after hearing non-stop rock. Very mellowing, understandable, absorbing, and comforting.
The Pinar del Rio blue label oscuro lancero is wonderful from the get go. As soon as you light it and take the first puff you just know that you're in for a treat. The stick is medium to full body, a bit creamy and chocolatey. It is smooth at the beginning and stays silky. It is complex enough that you will not have a single "ho-hum" moment throughout the smoke.
Most pleasant is the bountiful puffing. The cigar burned even and never had to be relit. It's construction was practically flawless. But, again and assuredly, what is best about this cigar is the sweet earthy flavor and the glory of knowing that, at that moment, you are smoking one helluva stick. A lancero!
This $12 cigar is much better than the inconsistent $30 Padron stick being peddled (see "Padron 64 - Premium No More" October 1, 2012 post) and has a much better construction and deeper taste than the formidable Lancero made by Santiago Cabana.
A good lancero is hard to find and this one is hard to finally put out. But, hey, I did buy a box at the Rodriguez brothers store on Canal Street in New Orleans -- Don Leoncio's Cigar Bar. So, finish one off and light up another one. The song just plays on and on and on.
CS Rating: 5
El Alcalde
Whenever I see anything rated above a 4.0 my first instinct is to pull out the guns and have a good ole fashion saloon brawl.
ReplyDeleteBut my reaction is as follows:
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The Oil Baron
I agree 100% with the 5 rating--this is an elegant and extraordinary pleasure machine. I have actually smoked the entire Oscuro line and there's not a dud in the chamber. It fires on all cylinders, pushes all the right buttons, hits every spot, takes no prisoners, leaves no stone unturned, engages all the senses, well, you get the point!
ReplyDeleteMamey
I have smoked a couple of these recently and have been a little disappointed. They start off as World Class but then they peter out in terms of taste and burn. They would be World Class if they finished as they started.
ReplyDeleteI would give them a 3.5
Diamond E
Diamond E's comments are fair and need to be addressed. Generally the Lancero vitola is a tricky and difficult one to make, especially a full-flavored stick like the Oscuro which has a dark, thick, oily beautiful Brazilian wrapper. As such, it is sometimes difficult to smoke hese in non-optinum conditions, such as he great outdoors when it's a little windy because the wwrapper burns unevenly. This also has a detrimental effect on the flavor because the wrapper provides most of the flavor in a cigar, and especially in Lanceros. If the PDR Oscuro is not burning evenly the taste will undoubtedly suffer, which is what Diamond E experienced. Still a 5 in my book, but this stogie needs to be smoked in the comfort of your friendly cigar lounge.
ReplyDeleteMamey