Bellas Artes Maduro lancero (7" x 40)
This AJ cigar was on sale for $55/box of 10. Normal price is $85. I rolled the dice.
Box pressed, dark wrapper with only a faint tobacco scent. Draw is juuuuuust a tad too tight, but not bad.
First few draws...this cigar brings the typical maduro flavors right out of the gate. A bit of cocoa, a bit of coconut. Nose exhale is quite smooth. Zero harshness.
About 1" in...very nice so far. A faint anise flavor has come in on the finish, which is a flavor I taste often with Nicaraguan maduro wrap cigars. Good burn with only one small correction.
Around halfway...dominant flavors are still the same, but the anise on the finish has become stronger. Burn has remained pretty good, with only one more small correction. The ash is almost pure white.
A little past halfway...no real twists and turns. Similar flavors both on the draw, in the nose exhale, and on the finish. The flavors are good, though. Nice smoke so far.
Toward the end...again, no major changes. Started getting a little bitter. I Let 'er die at around 1.5".
Final thoughts...at $55/box, I'm a buyer. At $85...probably not. But then again, this cigar has only been in my humi for a short time, so I may change my mind after smoking another one a few months from now.
