LONSDALE love!

[borndead1]

OK, so the lancero thread is still going strong after quite a while, so let's start a thread for the lancero's slightly fatter cousin...the LONSDALE. :banger

Tonight, I smoked a Siboney Reserve lonsdale. This is a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive line made by Casa Fernandez.

Great smoke. Medium 'strength' throughout, with a nice baking spice flavor present through most of the cigar. A bit of a crooked burn that required several touch ups, but all in all a good cigar. And at the auction price of around $5/stick with shipping and taxes, the Siboney Reserve lonsdale is a winner. :ss

[Wharf Rat]

I like the SR lonsdale, too!

I’ve got a long relationship with the Oliva Connecticut Reserve lonsdale. It’s sorta a Sunday afternoon tradition with me. A little mellower than the O, which is regular rotation for me.

[icehog3]

I love lonsdales. Unfortunately as a 90%+ Cuban smoker, the regular production choices have become super limited in the last decade+. :mad:

I do like some of Caldwell's lonsdales, and a few other NC ones as well.

That being said, think I may smoke a Ramon Allones 898 for Xmas.

[RevSmoke]

Oliva Connecticut lonsdale is very good.

[Chainsaw13]

Been working my way thru a box of Herrera Esteli Miami lonsdales.

[Buckeye Jack]

H.Upmann Lonsdale.....I have two (I think) left from 97.......beautiful stick

[icehog3]

My last RA 898.... another lonsdale box bites the dust.

https://i.imgur.com/NgkRTir.jpg

[Buckeye Jack]

My last RA 898.... another lonsdale box bites the dust.

https://i.imgur.com/NgkRTir.jpg

A tear just ran down my face......

[icehog3]

A tear just ran down my face......

Ain't it the truth, Jack.... :(

[sigsauer]

icehog3 thats a beautiful cigar

[icehog3]

icehog3 thats a beautiful cigar

Thanks Tom, She's just a memory now....

[borndead1]

My last RA 898.... another lonsdale box bites the dust.

https://i.imgur.com/NgkRTir.jpg


Damn...that's one of those pictures that is both beautiful and sad. Hope it was an epic smoke.

[borndead1]

Oliva Connecticut lonsdale is very good.

They are indeed a nice smoke, and can be had for under $4/stick on both C-Bid and Cigar Auctioneer.

[icehog3]

Damn...that's one of those pictures that is both beautiful and sad. Hope it was an epic smoke.

Thanks Mark, it was amazing.

[borndead1]

Guardian Of The Farm Apollo Seleccion De Warped Natural


This 6 X 44 dandy is a nice smoke indeed. Rich and medium 'strength' with that recognizable flavor that I call Nicaraguan Spice. Long finish that lingers on the palate between draws. Mellows a little at around the halfway point and the flavor profile changes. Dominant flavors are still the same, but the nose exhale has taken on a woodsy flavor, with a nice anise flavor on the finish.

[borndead1]

Mucielago Rabito (6.5" X 46)

Having tried and enjoyed the Murcielago toro and lancero, I was pleasantly surprised to find a lonsdale size on the Famous auction site. Snagged a fiver and have had one nekkid and in the low RH humi for a couple of months now.

A bit less bite in the nostrils than the lancero, more prominent coconut flavors than either the lancero or toro. Solid medium "strength" in the first half, kicks it up a notch around halfway.

Like the other sizes I've tried, no major twists and turns in this cigar. But it was very enjoyable. :ss

[Snook]

H.Upmann Lonsdale.....I have two (I think) left from 97.......beautiful stick

I have a handful left from a '00 box. Unfortunately most have suffered from tight draws. But when the draw is just right, it's an amazing smoke with several flavor transitions.

[borndead1]

Puros Huerfanos by Drew Estate lonsdale (6.5" X 44)

This is a 10-pack bundle cigar that I believe is a Famous exclusive.

Good construction. I have very rarely encountered a DE cigar with poor construction. Even La Vieja Habana, their short filler line, have always been well constructed in my experience.

Nice floral/tobacco smell to the wrapper. Good draw. Again, I have very rarely had a DE cigar with any type of construction issues.

First 1/3...pleasant but fairly typical medium-bodied, Habano-wrapped Nicaraguan cigar flavors. The floral aroma from the wrapper does start to come in after the first few draws, though. A few minor burn corrections. The aroma coming from the foot is woodsy.

Second 1/3...similar flavors and aromas are still dominant, but a nice anise flavor has crept into the finish. Honestly I'm digging this cigar so far. Burn has straightened out.

Last 1/3...woodsy flavor has become the dominant flavor through the nose, with the anise still in the background.

Toward the end...woodsy flavor is still dominant, but the finish has gotten a bit harsh (ammonia...y'all know that flavor). I let 'er die around 1.5".

Final thoughts...this was pretty damn good for a $3 bundle cigar. I can see myself buying 10+ bundles of these things and just burying them in the humidor.

[Wharf Rat]

Puros Huerfanos by Drew Estate lonsdale (6.5" X 44)

This is a 10-pack bundle cigar that I believe is a Famous exclusive.

...

Final thoughts...this was pretty damn good for a $3 bundle cigar. I can see myself buying 10+ bundles of these things and just burying them in the humidor.

I had some of these when they were $5 or $6 each and thought I’d rather spend my money another way. At the $3 sale price, they’re a great deal.

[borndead1]

Room 101 Farce lonsdale (6.5" x 42)

Blech. Didn't even make it 1/2 inch into this turd. Lousy draw, heavy chemical aftertaste right away.

[icehog3]

https://i.imgur.com/9w9tFSc.jpg

Aladino Palmas. Smoked this and an Aladino Vintage Rothschild yesterday. The lonsdale was not the winner.

[borndead1]

https://i.imgur.com/9w9tFSc.jpg

Aladino Palmas. Smoked this and an Aladino Vintage Rothschild yesterday. The lonsdale was not the winner.


Did the cigars have a loose draw? That was the case when I tried one of the lonsdales. In fact, it's the reason I stopped buying anything made by the Eiroas. The draws were always like sucking air through a straw, and the cigars would burn hot and fast and start tasting nasty around the halfway point. It sucks, too, because they had some really great blends.

[icehog3]

Did the cigars have a loose draw? That was the case when I tried one of the lonsdales. In fact, it's the reason I stopped buying anything made by the Eiroas. The draws were always like sucking air through a straw, and the cigars would burn hot and fast and start tasting nasty around the halfway point. It sucks, too, because they had some really great blends.

Mark, this one had a great draw. Only my second Aladino fo I can't speak for them in general, but no issues with the two I smoked last week.

[borndead1]

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series corona natural (6" x 42). Last one from a box from...2014? 2015?

I won a box of these on the Famous auction site years ago for a RIDICULOUSLY low price (less than $170). I honestly was kinda underwhelmed by them and only held onto them to give them away to other BOTL. Now that I think about it, I think I've only smoked 4-5 cigars from this box, and this is the last one.

It's a pretty good smoke. A bit of a crooked burn. Good draw. Good enough flavors, but not much depth. I feel like this is a NC that definitely does not improve with age. One thing I noticed is that drinking wine with this cigar makes the flavor pop a little more. If you took the band off this cigar and I smoked it blind, I'd be a buyer at under $10. I guess that's why I'm not in love with this cigar. It's good, but it just ain't worth the coin. :2

[icehog3]

Maybe you'll find another crazy inexpensive box, Mark.

[borndead1]

Charter Oak maduro lonsdale (6.25" x 46)

SOLID smoke. Good construction, burn, and draw. Straight medium as far as 'strength' goes, pretty typical maduro flavors of cocoa/coffee/coconut. Coconut becomes more pronounced around the halfway point.

Not a cigar you would give as a gift, but definitely above yard 'gar status. At around $5/stick retail, a pretty good value.

I'll put it this way (and yooz guys will know exactly what I'm talkin' about): this is one of those cigars that you buy a few of at the local cigar lounge, because they're decent smokes and you wanna support the place that lets you smoke. :ss

[icehog3]

I'll put it this way (and yooz guys will know exactly what I'm talkin' about): this is one of those cigars that you buy a few of at the local cigar lounge, because they're decent smokes and you wanna support the place that lets you smoke. :ss

Absolutely. :tu

[borndead1]

Man O' War corona (6 X 44)

This one has been resting nekkid in the humi for well over a year, so I feel like what I'm tasting is legit.

It's just OK, and that's only until just past halfway.

I remember being sorta infatuated with ol' AJ Fernandez when he first began producing cigars. And there are still a few of his smokes that I enjoy regularly. But I feel like production quotas have taken a bite out of quality. And when I say quality, I mean properly aged/fermented tobaccos.

Much like Drew Estate, Tabacalera Fernandez is pretty top notch in terms of construction. I rarely smoke an AJ cigar that is poorly constructed. But there is really no legitimate reason that a Nicaraguan cigar, without cellophane, resting for over a year at 62 to 65 percent humidity, should have a heavy chemical/ammonia aftertaste by around the halfway point. The only reason that happens, IMO, is from using underfermented tobacco.

[NCRadioMan]

I have really gotten into the Herrera Esteli maduro's lately. I don't know if it's the particular box but they have been fantastic and I usually don't go for a maduro. I have always been a fan of the original and I think it's the best size for the blend overall anyway.

[borndead1]

Plasencia Reserva Original corona

This cigar is 6.5" x 44, so I'm calling it a lonsdale.

The Reserva Original line has an interesting history. They used to be called Reserva Organica and were touted as the only organic cigar on the market. They were also, as far as I remember, only available from Famous Smoke Shop. I used to smoke the sh*t outta the torpedoes and they were one of my favorite cigars. There was also a short lived 'Edicion Limitada 2001' that came in boxes of 15, were a bit more pricey than the regular line, and were, no joke, one of the best cigars I've ever smoked. Looking at the Plasencia website, these are no longer called 'organic.' It may be a legal thing, or maybe they aren't organic anymore. Who knows.

This cigar tastes different from the original blend. There's a bit more 'strength', and it's not as smooth as the old ones. Construction/burn/draw are all top notch. Zero burn corrections required, which is honestly quite amazing. As far as flavor goes, it's a pretty straightforward tobacco flavor. The originals had a nutty/woodsy flavor that I enjoyed very much.

This was not a bad smoke, but to my palate the blend is definitely different. I still have a few of the old Reserva Organicas left. I may have to do a comparison. :ss

[borndead1]

Merchant's Queen de Luxe (7" X 42)

A resurrected brand from days of old, according to my Google search. Cigar Page has introduced this reboot in several sizes of bundled cigars. And the sizes are all great, IMO. Nothing over a 50 ring gauge! Noice.

And, like a sucka, I clicked on the link and ordered 15 cigars (three 5 packs).

Visually, these are nice looking cigars. Maduro wrapper. Box pressed. They obviously didn't use sh*tty wrapper tobacco on these babies. The wrappers are dark and fairly uniform in color. This cigar is heavy in the hand, but has a great draw, which tells me that they put some effort into the construction of this line.

First few draws...straight tobacco, but with a slight (but not unpleasant) grassy flavor that you wouldn't normally associate with a maduro wrap cigar. Not a bad start. Looking at the info on Cigar Page, this blend is a San Andres wrapper and fillers from Ometepe, Jalapa, and Esteli.

About 1" in...typical maduro flavors coming in. Cocoa, coconut. Medium "strength". A little bit of a woodsy flavor in the nose exhale.

Around 2" in...straight CIGAR flavor is dominant, with the coconut more present on the finish. The woodsy nose exhale is still there.

Around halfway...dominant flavors are still the same, but the "strength" has increased a bit, as well as the woodsy flavor in the nose exhale. A couple of minor burn corrections.

A little past halfway...dominant flavors are still the same, but an unpleasant chemical/ammonia flavor has come in on the finish. That tells me it's time to tap out. Let 'er die at around 2.5."

Final thoughts...this might be a great cigar with a few months of humi time. I stripped a few of their cello, and they are currently sleeping. I will very likely revisit, because this was a great smoke until a little past the halfway point. :ss

[borndead1]

Record Bond #3 (7" X 42)

Another old obscure brand resurrected by the folks at Cigar Page (?). I grabbed these at the same time as the Merchant's Queen. The sizes of the two brands are identical. *Side note* It's nice to see new cigar brands that aren't completely comprised of horse d*ck sized cigars.

Nice looking cigar with a shiny wrapper. Draw is *just* a little tight, but that's to be expected since this cigar has only dryboxed for 2 days. According to CP, the wrapper is Ecuador Habano and the fillers are from Pennsylvania, Condega, and Esteli. Sounds like it should be a unique blend.

First few draws...straight tobacco on the draw, floral through the nose. A bit of a unique spicy flavor that I really can't describe. It leaves a very unique spice type flavor and a nice tangy sensation on the palate between draws. Just on the full side of medium "strength."

About 1" in...no burn corrections so far, which is nice. Very light gray ash that fell off in my lap. :mad: Dominant flavors and aromas are the same. The tangy sensation on the palate has become more intense. It's so intense, in fact, that it makes me curious about the blend and how this taste sensation is actually happening.

About 2" in...man, I am digging this cigar. It is tasting good and smelling good. No real twists and turns in the flavor. No burn corrections, either. That palate coating tangy sensation is still present, and that's not a bad thing. "Strength" has stayed at a solid medium.

Around halfway...still no burn corrections, which is a feat in and of itself. Main flavors and aromas are still the same, with a faint "baking spice" flavor coming in on the nose exhale. The palate coating tangy sensation has become a little bit annoying, honestly. It was cool and unique at first, but it has required me to take a sip of water after every 2 or 3 puffs. Sort of like drinking an extremely dry red wine.

A little past halfway...burn is still almost perfect (I'm impressed). The palate coating sensation is still there, and still a little annoying, but I guess it's just one of those things you encounter when smoking hundreds of cigars. :ss Maybe if I found a good beverage to accompany this cigar, it wouldn't be an issue. Main flavors are similar, but the "strength" has decreased a little bit. A little smoother.

Toward the end...I poured a small glass of sparkling wine, and it really made an improvement! :D I gotta say, even with the slightly annoying mouthfeel, that I am really liking this cigar. I've decided that this is a cigar that I need to pair with champagne or sparkling wine. :ss

I let this cigar die at around 1.5".

Final thoughts...overall, I really liked this cigar. I am looking forward to smoking another one after a few months of humi time. I'll make sure I have a glass of bubbly to go with it. :ss

[icehog3]

Some recent lonsdales getting smoked around here:

Rojas KSG Red

https://i.imgur.com/fZso8ay.jpg

LGC MdO No. 4

https://i.imgur.com/0xBxQBB.jpg

[icehog3]

Damn for some $85 boxes of these again.....

https://i.imgur.com/5ctUeFY.jpg

[Chainsaw13]

Damn for some $85 boxes of these again.....

https://i.imgur.com/5ctUeFY.jpg

Now it’s more like $85/stick. :r Savoring the bit I have left.

[icehog3]

Now it’s more like $85/stick. :r Savoring the bit I have left.

Sad and insane simultaneously.

[borndead1]

Kiki Momo Connecticut lonsdale.

I'm in a cigar group on Facebook, and in between all the Chads flexing their watches and Cohibas, the noobs asking noob questions, and the scammers selling fake CCs, there were a lot of rave reviews of a new cigar company called Kiki Momo. So I figured I'd give 'em a shot. Ordered a few fivers, one of which were these CT wrap lonsdales. I gotta be honest, I am not a fan of Kiki so far. One of the 5 packs were rolled so tight that when I screwed the PerfecDraw in, the cigars popped open like a can of biscuits. All of them. Another was a 5 pack of obviously enhanced maduros that I'm probably not even gonna smoke.

Then we come to these CT wrap lonsdales, and I'm honestly amazed at how good this cigar is. I wasn't expecting much, but this is a nice smoke. Mild but lots of flavor, really good burn. Nothing groundbreaking in the flavor department. I mean there's only so much you can do with a blend like this. But a damn good mild cigar.

Will I buy any more? Nope.

[borndead1]

Smoking another Siboney Reserve lonsdale from Aganorsa.

Is it possible for a cigar to smell better than it tastes? I mean, this cigar tastes great, but the aroma coming from the foot of this thing is absolutely amazing. Not only would your wife NOT complain about the smell of these things, she would probably tell you that it smells OK! No BS! :r

All jokes aside, solid smoke. This is the only size I've tried, because I decided I was sick of 50+ ring gauge cigars. This specific cigar has been nekkid in the humi for at least a year. Decent burn, a couple of corrections required. Full side of medium "strength." Starts off a bit woodsy, then pretty typical Nicaraguan spice flavors. No major flavor changes except the transition from wood to spice.

No ammonia, even at the nub, which I feel like I should make a point of saying.

[RevSmoke]

Damn for some $85 boxes of these again.....

https://i.imgur.com/5ctUeFY.jpg

Exactly!!!

[borndead1]

Smoking another Siboney Reserve lonsdale. Great smokes. I have 5 or 6 boxes of them, and I think I should get 5 or 6 more.

[longknocker]

Smoking another Siboney Reserve lonsdale. Great smokes. I have 5 or 6 boxes of them, and I think I should get 5 or 6 more.

Are These Good Fresh, Mark, Or Do They Need Some Rest? Thanks!:tu

[Wharf Rat]

Are These Good Fresh, Mark, Or Do They Need Some Rest? Thanks!:tu

CI is selling off some Casa Fernandez “Short Churchills.” They’re not exactly a lonsdale, but in the ballpark. Have some age on them and quite nice.

[longknocker]

CI is selling off some Casa Fernandez “Short Churchills.” They’re not exactly a lonsdale, but in the ballpark. Have some age on them and quite nice.

Couldn't Find It, Bob .:confused::confused::confused:

[Wharf Rat]

Couldn't Find It, Bob .:confused::confused::confused:

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/p/casa-fernandez-aganorsa-leaf-habano-short-churchill/2052189/

They were $60 a box recently. But, not now, sorry!

[longknocker]

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/p/casa-fernandez-aganorsa-leaf-habano-short-churchill/2052189/

They were $60 a box recently. But, not now, sorry!

Oh, Well. I'll Keep Looking. Thanks!:tu

[borndead1]

Are These Good Fresh, Mark, Or Do They Need Some Rest? Thanks!:tu

Sorry dude, I don't remember if I smoked one fresh. :sh

[icehog3]

ORG NOV 16 RyJ Cazadores

https://i.imgur.com/tLCJxsz.jpg

[icehog3]

https://i.imgur.com/LJqaMRk.jpg

[borndead1]

https://i.imgur.com/LJqaMRk.jpg

How are those? I've seen the Rojas brand popping up on certain sites.

[borndead1]

National Brand Connecticut Lonsdale (6 x 42)

I used to smoke these back when I was a broke noob. They were $2.99 at the B&M. Recently, I needed $10 more to get free shipping on an order from Famous, and for some reason, these popped into my head. A fiver for $11.99? It was fate.

I had forgotten 2 things about these. The sweet cap, and how well they are made.

The sweet cap used to bug me, but now I kinda like it once in a while as a change of pace. It's a nice contrast with black coffee.

Now onto the quality. This cigar is flawless. Nice looking wrapper with no blemishes. No lumps. Heavy in the hand. Good draw. It's still surprising to me after all these years to find a cheap cigar with this level of quality. By the bundle, these are $2.40/a stick at Famous.

Great flavor. Nothing mind-blowing, of course. It's a pretty common and typical flavor profile. Mild CT wrap cigar. But it has enough flavor to keep your attention and it's very smooth.

Ya know what? I may have to snag a bundle or 5 of these. And add a 5 pack of the maduros. :ss

[icehog3]

How are those? I've seen the Rojas brand popping up on certain sites.

At the risk of sounding like Will Rogers, I've never smoked a Rojas I didn't like. And I actually like the Street Tacos and Bluebonnets better than these. Mark.

[borndead1]

ORG NOV 16 RyJ Cazadores

https://i.imgur.com/tLCJxsz.jpg

I've been smoking on a '17 box and they've been fantastic. So good, in fact, that I decided to pay an exorbitant sum for 2 more boxes. Got lucky with the box dates. 2019.

[icehog3]

I've been smoking on a '17 box and they've been fantastic. So good, in fact, that I decided to pay an exorbitant sum for 2 more boxes. Got lucky with the box dates. 2019.

2019s, nice Mark! :dr

[borndead1]

Guardian of the Farm Nightwatch Orpheus (6" x 44)

Grabbed a 5 pack of these from Cigar Page a while back, because the Guardian of the Farm line are some good smokes.

And this one does not disappoint.

First few draws...right away, sweet cocoa with a nice depth to the flavor. Short, woodsy finish. Good draw; a couple of minor burn corrections in the first 1". Mild side of medium 'strength.'

About 1" in...'strength' kicks up just a tiny notch. Dominant flavors are still the same. Sweet cocoa on the draw and through the nose. The sweetness lingers on the palate between draws. I am DIGGING this cigar so far. Burn has straightened out.

About 2" in...dominant flavors are still the same, but the background flavors have taken on a fairly typical maduro profile. A bit of coconut, a hint of anise on the finish. The woodsy flavor on the finish is almost gone, replaced by the anise.

Around halfway...the sweetness on the draw of this cigar is ridiculous. It almost tastes like a flavored cigar. The maduro profile has intensified. All woodsy flavors are gone. As I type with the cigar between my teeth, the aroma from the foot is NICE. This is a cigar that your wife probably wouldn't complain about. :r

A little past halfway...what a great smoke this is. I forgot to mention how smooth it is. ZERO harshness through the nose. Dominant flavors are the same. Pretty typical maduro profile. Solid medium 'strength.' The depth of the flavor is quite nice; it's a depth that most NCs don't have. A palate-coating sensation that lingers between draws.

Toward the end...the sweetness on the draw has subsided a bit. Burn has been very good. Anise flavor is a bit stronger on the finish. Still very smooth through the nose. I'm actually impressed by the fact that the cigar has a lot of flavor but zero harshness through the nose. Most modern Nicaraguan cigars are quite 'strong' through the nose.

Final thoughts...this is one of the best cigars I've smoked recently, and definitely one of the best NCs I've smoked in quite a while. I am looking at my cabinet, playing mental Tetris, trying to determine if I have room for a box.

:ss

[icehog3]

Sounds like a winner, Mark! :ss

[borndead1]

After my great experience with the Guardian of the Farm Nightwatch, I decided to try some of the non-maduro version. Same size, 6" x 44. This cigar is called 'Apollo Seleccion de Warped'.

First few draws...lots of flavor. Some grassy notes, and some hay. Not an unpleasant flavor, but not nasty.

About 1" in...grassiness is still dominant, but there's a nice background flavor of sweet tobacco.

About 2" in...this cigar has THE THING...a palate-coating depth of flavor that I mostly experience with Cuban cigars. It's more of a sensation than an actual describable flavor. It's hard to describe with words. Cuban cigar smokers would call it 'the twang'.' It's a sweet sensation on the draw. I can't explain it with words. If you know, you know. This cigar HAS IT.

Side note: Warped Cigars has *almost* cracked the code as far as making a non-Cuban cigar taste like a Cuban cigar.

Around halfway...HELL yeah. These mfs have almost made a cigar good enough to make me stop buying Cubans. ALMOST. I ain't bullsh*ttin!

A little past halfway...DUDE...this cigar tastes almost exactly like the Cuban Monte #3 that I smoked the other night. NO LIE.

Toward the end..the 'twang' tapers off a bit. Dominant flavors are wood and tobacco. I let this cigar die at around 1.5".

Final thoughts...AWWWW SH*T, Warped (and Aganorsa) has almost nailed it. Those Commies better up their game! :r :ss

[icehog3]

Another cigar I need to find, Mark! :ss

[borndead1]

Smoking another Guardian of the Farm Apollo.

Similar experience to my last review. Nice deep flavors, almost touching Cubans with the depth. The aroma coming from the foot as I type is absolutely incredible. Pure baking spice, like a pumpkin spice bread. I feel like this is a cigar that your wife wouldn't complain about.

Warped teaming up with Aganorsa has created some really fantastic blends. This cigar tastes *almost* Cuban.

I feel like there's a 'meeting point', or a singularity coming, where non-Cuban cigar makers are able to perfectly replicate the Cuban cigar flavor profile, and at the same time, Cuban cigar prices get so high that people just throw up their hands and stop buying.

The Guardian of the Farm line, and many Warped/El Titan de Bronze blends, will be looked back on as harbingers of that singularity.

[icehog3]

Good and bad news in your review, Mark. I hope the NCs keep getting closer but rue day that price increases make buying CCs near unaffordable.

[icehog3]

Not a lonsdale per se, but a "thinny". Smoked an unknown year LGC Medaille d'Or No. 1. Flavors were great (graham cracker, floral) but the smoke was kind of sparce. Overall disappointing considering what it could have been.

https://i.imgur.com/vsBC2pp.jpg