Lancero love

borndead1 · 01-08-2022, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

La Gloria MdO No. 4, one of my faves. Getting tougher to find, and super pricey even if you do.

Man, that looks nice. It sucks that Habanos SA has all but abandoned the LGC brand (and long slim smokes in general).

borndead1 · 01-08-2022, 09:25 PM

300 Hands maduro lancero (7" x 40).

The 300 Hands line is apparently made by AJ Fernandez for Southern Draw. I've tried (and liked) a few Southern Draw cigars recently, so I nabbed a fiver of this lancero on the Famous Smoke Shop auction site.

Good construction and draw. The cigar has a nice weight in the hand but a good draw. Rolling a good lancero ain't for noobs. The wrapper is a nice dark brown with no major blemishes.

First few draws...this cigar immediately shows typical maduro flavors and aromas. Unsweetened cocoa and coconut, with a bit of spice through the nose. The nose exhale is smooth with almost zero harshness. Nice.

Around 1" in...good burn with only 1 small correction. Flavors and aromas are still the same, but there is a nice sweetness that lingers on the palate between draws. I guess this could be caused by the wine I'm drankin' (a California cab).

Toward the middle...digging this cigar so far. Dominant flavors are still the same. Nose exhale is smooth and coconutty. Burn holding steady with no corrections needed. This is a well built cigar.

Around halfway...dominant flavors are still the same. Burn is still near perfect. I am really liking this cigar. As I type with the cigar between my teeth, the aroma coming from the foot is very nice.

A little past halfway...coconut flavor has all but disappeared, replaced with an anise flavor that I find a lot in maduro wrap cigars. Burn is still fantastic, and honestly it's the most impressive aspect of this cigar so far.

Toward the end...anise flavor is still present. There's a teeny bit of an unpleasant bitter flavor on the finish at around 2.5". Rather than continuing, I tapped out on this cigar at just over 2".

Final thoughts...this cigar burned almost perfectly and showed great aging potential. Gonna strip the remaining 4 nekkid and try another one in a few months.

icehog3 · 01-09-2022, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borndead1

Man, that looks nice. It sucks that Habanos SA has all but abandoned the LGC brand (and long slim smokes in general).

Agreed, Mark. Sadly agreed.

borndead1 · 01-25-2022, 08:38 PM

Smoking another La Palina Illumination lancero. A couple of burn corrections, but otherwise a fantastic smoke.

Go ahead and buy some. I stocked up already.

borndead1 · 01-29-2022, 08:57 PM

Smoking another Bellas Artes maduro lancero after a short humi nap since the first one.

The draw is a *touch* on the tight side, but the cigar is still producing a really nice amount of smoke on the draw.

Flavors and aromas haven't changed much from what I can remember. But this was a really nice cigar.

borndead1 · 02-04-2022, 08:57 PM

Smoking another 300 Hands maduro lancero.

Similar experience as the first. Not a complex smoke, but a nice one. Standard maduro flavors and aromas. Smooth all the way through with no harshness.

I can honestly see these becoming a regular cigar for me.

borndead1 · 02-16-2022, 09:13 PM

Giving the 'Cuban Copy' Habano Sun Grown from Cuban Crafters another shot. The first one I smoked didn't impress me, so I pulled a couple out and left them in the low RH humi for a bit.

TL;DR version: leather, wood, spice. Fantastic $3 cigar.

First few draws...nice but typical Habano wrap/Nic filler flavors. A teeny bit harsh through the nose.

About 1" in...man...I have GOT to start resisting the temptation of trying a cigar ROTT. This is a very tasty smoke so far. Good burn with only 1 minor correction, nice white ash, slow burner. Now onto the flavor...it's really nice. I don't have one of those distinguished palates that can taste hints of 7 yr aged Madagascar vanilla, but this is one tasty cigar. Prominent leather flavor on the draw, woodsy on the finish. Leather is one of those flavors that I thought could only be tasted by cigar snobs, but apparently I was wrong.

About 2" in...dominant flavors are still the same, but a very strong anise flavor has come in on the finish. As I sit typing with the cigar between my teeth, the aroma coming from the foot is very nice. It is a woodsy aroma that matches the flavor of the finish.

Around halfway...burn has been damn near straight as an arrow since the first correction. The leathery flavor is still there on the draw and the nose exhale, and the anise flavor on the finish has intensified. It's very present on the palate between draws.

A little past halfway...one more minor burn correction. This cigar has burned really well so far. The leather flavor is gone, having been replaced by the typical flavors for this type of blend. I call it 'Nicaraguan spice.' Y'all know what I'm talking about...that 'strong' Habano wrap, Nic filler flavor made famous by Don Pepin and AJ Fernandez.

Toward the end...Nicaraguan spice on the draw and through the nose, STRONG anise flavor on the finish. The anise flavor is *almost* too much, but never gets to the point of unpleasantness. Let 'er die at just over 1".

Final thoughts...this was, legit, one of the best $3 cigars I've ever smoked. I may just have to snag 10 more bundles and bury them in the cabinet.

01-08-2022, 09:25 PM	#2
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,376 Trading: (7)	Re: Lancero love 300 Hands maduro lancero (7" x 40). The 300 Hands line is apparently made by AJ Fernandez for Southern Draw. I've tried (and liked) a few Southern Draw cigars recently, so I nabbed a fiver of this lancero on the Famous Smoke Shop auction site. Good construction and draw. The cigar has a nice weight in the hand but a good draw. Rolling a good lancero ain't for noobs. The wrapper is a nice dark brown with no major blemishes. First few draws...this cigar immediately shows typical maduro flavors and aromas. Unsweetened cocoa and coconut, with a bit of spice through the nose. The nose exhale is smooth with almost zero harshness. Nice. Around 1" in...good burn with only 1 small correction. Flavors and aromas are still the same, but there is a nice sweetness that lingers on the palate between draws. I guess this could be caused by the wine I'm drankin' (a California cab). Toward the middle...digging this cigar so far. Dominant flavors are still the same. Nose exhale is smooth and coconutty. Burn holding steady with no corrections needed. This is a well built cigar. Around halfway...dominant flavors are still the same. Burn is still near perfect. I am really liking this cigar. As I type with the cigar between my teeth, the aroma coming from the foot is very nice. A little past halfway...coconut flavor has all but disappeared, replaced with an anise flavor that I find a lot in maduro wrap cigars. Burn is still fantastic, and honestly it's the most impressive aspect of this cigar so far. Toward the end...anise flavor is still present. There's a teeny bit of an unpleasant bitter flavor on the finish at around 2.5". Rather than continuing, I tapped out on this cigar at just over 2". Final thoughts...this cigar burned almost perfectly and showed great aging potential. Gonna strip the remaining 4 nekkid and try another one in a few months. __________________ None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.

01-25-2022, 08:38 PM	#4
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,376 Trading: (7)	Re: Lancero love Smoking another La Palina Illumination lancero. A couple of burn corrections, but otherwise a fantastic smoke. Go ahead and buy some. I stocked up already. __________________ None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.

01-29-2022, 08:57 PM	#5
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,376 Trading: (7)	Re: Lancero love Smoking another Bellas Artes maduro lancero after a short humi nap since the first one. The draw is a touch on the tight side, but the cigar is still producing a really nice amount of smoke on the draw. Flavors and aromas haven't changed much from what I can remember. But this was a really nice cigar. __________________ None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.

02-04-2022, 08:57 PM	#6
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,376 Trading: (7)	Re: Lancero love Smoking another 300 Hands maduro lancero. Similar experience as the first. Not a complex smoke, but a nice one. Standard maduro flavors and aromas. Smooth all the way through with no harshness. I can honestly see these becoming a regular cigar for me. __________________ None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.

02-16-2022, 09:13 PM	#7
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,376 Trading: (7)	Re: Lancero love Giving the 'Cuban Copy' Habano Sun Grown from Cuban Crafters another shot. The first one I smoked didn't impress me, so I pulled a couple out and left them in the low RH humi for a bit. TL;DR version: leather, wood, spice. Fantastic $3 cigar. First few draws...nice but typical Habano wrap/Nic filler flavors. A teeny bit harsh through the nose. About 1" in...man...I have GOT to start resisting the temptation of trying a cigar ROTT. This is a very tasty smoke so far. Good burn with only 1 minor correction, nice white ash, slow burner. Now onto the flavor...it's really nice. I don't have one of those distinguished palates that can taste hints of 7 yr aged Madagascar vanilla, but this is one tasty cigar. Prominent leather flavor on the draw, woodsy on the finish. Leather is one of those flavors that I thought could only be tasted by cigar snobs, but apparently I was wrong. About 2" in...dominant flavors are still the same, but a very strong anise flavor has come in on the finish. As I sit typing with the cigar between my teeth, the aroma coming from the foot is very nice. It is a woodsy aroma that matches the flavor of the finish. Around halfway...burn has been damn near straight as an arrow since the first correction. The leathery flavor is still there on the draw and the nose exhale, and the anise flavor on the finish has intensified. It's very present on the palate between draws. A little past halfway...one more minor burn correction. This cigar has burned really well so far. The leather flavor is gone, having been replaced by the typical flavors for this type of blend. I call it 'Nicaraguan spice.' Y'all know what I'm talking about...that 'strong' Habano wrap, Nic filler flavor made famous by Don Pepin and AJ Fernandez. Toward the end...Nicaraguan spice on the draw and through the nose, STRONG anise flavor on the finish. The anise flavor is almost too much, but never gets to the point of unpleasantness. Let 'er die at just over 1". Final thoughts...this was, legit, one of the best $3 cigars I've ever smoked. I may just have to snag 10 more bundles and bury them in the cabinet. __________________ None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.