Cohiba Lancero LTO JUL 21 (FreeOct24)

[loose_axle]

This was the third and last Cohiba Lancero from a box I bought and put away for my 40th birthday celebrations and finally opened the other week. I was able to smoke this inside too which for me always adds to the experience (outdoors I don't seem to get half the flavours). 

The first inch was chocolate and vanilla bean. 

1/3 went into a mellow hay, bison grass (as in the flavours from the bison grass vodka) and a lemon/lime cheesecake with crushed biscuit base flavours. 

2/3 was a pure honey roll log, cream and a touch of marzipan. 

3/3 honey, choc & vanilla marble cake and hints of mint, marzipan, and vanilla bean. 

This was a very rich and delightful smoke. It absolutely blew my socks off and is probably the best I have in my stable. I have to say that the draw has been tight across the board for everyone who's smoked from this box but with it only just over the 3yr mark I'm hoping time will do wonders to these. 

Paired very well with a Ron Cubay Anejo rum, coffee and Middleton Rare 2021 blended Irish. The rum and coffee were the best match whereas the whisky and cigar were just two very nice things side by side. The cigar soared by itself so I was sipping infrequently. 

The plan is put this box away now until 50 unless there's a very special occasion along the way. 

If I had to give this a point rating it would 98 out of 100. 

[MrBirdman]

Happy Birthday! Nice review. 

[loose_axle]

Thank you! 

[JohnS]

Not that box codes count like they once used to, however; that LTO box code for that year is quite reputable. I have a box of Montecristo Especial (incidentally, the same vitola as the Cohiba Lanceros) with that code.

Congratulations on celebrating your birthday with this box, @loose_axle. I just hope you can make it last another 10 years!

[westg]

Congrats. Nice review. If they are that good now I would smoke at least half of them over the next month or two. Probably all of them. Enjoy! 

[loose_axle]

8 hours ago, JohnS said:

Not that box codes count like they once used to, however; that LTO box code for that year is quite reputable. I have a box of Montecristo Especial (incidentally, the same vitola as the Cohiba Lanceros) with that code.

Congratulations on celebrating your birthday with this box, @loose_axle. I just hope you can make it last another 10 years!

That is interesting, and thanks for that info! I was wondering whether LTO was anything special, the taste certainly has been. 

So do I, both box and I, God willing

[KCCubano]

4 hours ago, loose_axle said:

That is interesting, and thanks for that info! I was wondering whether LTO was anything special, the taste certainly has been. 

So do I, both box and I, God willing

I have some LTO Sig V- Dont recall month and have not sampled but hear good things about them as well. @JohnS may be on to something here! 

[Chucko8]

Happy birthday mate! Nice review and pictures.

[MrBirdman]

11 hours ago, loose_axle said:

That is interesting, and thanks for that info! I was wondering whether LTO was anything special, the taste certainly has been. 

So do I, both box and I, God willing

LTO those years was the one code I’d jump on for Cohiba. They were getting great leaf.

[hrs1]

Happy belated birthday 🥳🎂🥳

Have loved the '21 Lanceros I've had (AMP & MAR) - gotta go chase down a box from LTO!  Great review.

[loose_axle]

Thank you all for the well wishes and kind comments. 

This made me go through the stash as I picked up the other lancero boxes around the same time-ish. But my Montecristo Especials are SOR DIC 20 (still very delicious and the only Monte I like apart from and indeed prefer to the No 2) and the Trinidad Fundadores are a TLU JUN 21 box and I haven't tried any of those yet. 

[hrs1]

14 hours ago, loose_axle said:

Trinidad Fundadores are a TLU JUN 21 box

Would love to get your thoughts when you crack this open - have a TLU MAY 21 box that has been awesome  

Wish I had scored some Especials - great pick ups!

[loose_axle]

3 hours ago, hrs1 said:

Would love to get your thoughts when you crack this open - have a TLU MAY 21 box that has been awesome  

Wish I had scored some Especials - great pick ups!

That is great, I will definitely let you know when I open them! It may be a few years as I've had young Fundadores and they were great but this box is to see what 5 years + are like. 

I was lucky, I was off Montecristo as a brand and then the Especials came up at a decent price and I thought oh I'll grab these in case they disappear/ prices go up. One of the few times I made the right decision