Cohiba Lancero

[ajgagnon]

What a piece of work. Long, beautiful chocolate brown colorado maduro with a cute little pigtail. Very comfortable narrow ring gauge, but smaller than I am accustomed to. After reading about the different types of tobacco (tiempos) I wondered if this thin cigar would be spicy (with ligero) or toasty. Looked gorgeous.

Please don't mind the tense shift... notes were taken on my iphone at the time.

On lighting it went straight into stride- cohiba woody spice and twang. Still a bit young but already in first 1/4" showing signs of mild sweetness, chocolatey. Supple cigar... seems bendable it's so long. Going to baker's chocolate.

I bought this as a single in Pinar del Rio in May 2010 at a rum shop. Here I am smoking it at the end of July, so it must be very young, and bought along with suspect sublime extras with Maduro 5 band, so may be fake, but look magnificent. Good bands, nice dark, rich wrapper, flawless pigtail cap. A bit underfilled at the head. Reminding me of an oversized Partagas Chico (haven't tried thr 898 to compare). Getting a bit hazelnut. Bit of an anise undertone. Med-full, growing strength over first inch, still predominantly cedar, baker's chocolate, cohiba... But different due to smaller gauge.

End of first third I'm into choc, dark woody, not sharp or spicy though darkness and strength/richness want to suggest it. Glorious sunshine in the park in front of a cathedral (Calgary scale, not quite with the usual pedigree, though RC). Threatened to get strong after 1st third but backed into rich wood/choc instead. Even hints toward mint or something.

Before lighting, it seemed tight pre-light but has been great... Any looser and it would have burned too fast/hot. Burn went a bit wonky once and went out once but stayed consistent through second third. Lovely. A wedding party is spilling out onto the street. Re the burn, I reckon most problems are due to smoking technique (operator error) unless severe. I can't seem to manage the nasal retrohale... always wants to burn me out from the inside. Each to his own. Anyway, this couldn't be mistaken for anything but first rate, and damn civilized.

Silently threatened to get tough but always backed off smoothly like a high class enforcer. I take back that bit about the operator error; humidity and construction are key. Nice that small ring ga are so forgiving (push/pull technique helps, I learned from a Cuban roller). What a beautiful cigar... All Cohiba richness, chocolate, slight nuttiness or composting hay, and a touch of tobacco sweetness.

Hard to beat for about 75+ minutes in the glorious sun. I'd say 91 or 92, but I am not accustomed to the vitola. Certainly an A rated cigar. I'm thinking of eating the roach!

[Disburden]

Very nice review and clean pics too! The cohiba lancero is on my list of to gets, I want to learn what Castro knew from these!

[mazolaman]

Great review,looked like a fine ceegar!

[bolivr]

Very fine review, thank you. What a great way to spend 75+ minutes.

[shrink]

Nice review. Appreciated the pix, too. The Lancero deserves some age on it. Then it's like a creme de caramel.

[Trevor2118]

I love this cigar....

[samb]

Great review!

[Quint]

Great review, great looking cigar...thanks

[Puros Y Vino]

My favourite Cohiba!! The Lancero is a great smoke. Great pictures and review.

[partagasd4]

Thanks for the review. You look badass in those pics.

[MoneyPit]

Thanks for the review. I smoked my first one today, but the one in your review had a much darker wrapper. No worries, still a great cigar.

[tugboat]

Great review.

Had the chance to get together with Van the other week at a local B&M and he brought 2 Cohiba Lancero’s with him which we smoked on the spot. I think he said they were from 01 maybe. What a wonderful cigar. Plenty of smoke and a clean burn with the Cohiba taste coming out with every draw. Thanks Van!

[coneatty]

Thanks for that fine review. I've never tried a Lancero, but have entertained the notion of late. I think your review just pushed me over the edge.