This is the second in a line of four lancero reviews.  The first was a Nestor Miranda Special Selection.  Now, we’re onto the EO Cubao No. 7 Lancero.  This is a 7.5×38 cigar.  Long and strong is what you can expect if you’ve already tried the Cubao in another size.  Another Pepin blend brought to you by Eddie and Eric at United Tobacco, makers of my beloved 601 brand.  This cigar boasts Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos and an Ecudorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper.  It’s touted as medium to full bodied with lots of flavor.  Let’s see if it stands up to its claim.

Appearance: You can see the plain band, which almost matches the color of the wrapper itself.  This is a light oscuro wrapper.  There are many prominent veins in the wrapper, but very little tooth.  It’s a little bumpy, too, from the roll.  The triple cap is finished off with a little pigtail, which I happen to prefer.  It’s easier for rollers to finish a cigar this way as well instead of trying to set a cap on top.

Taste: I recently reviewed the No. 7 Corona, and this, as expected, has the similar flavor profile of cedar and leather, but not as much of the spice.  The amount of flavor, though, is more if that makes sense.  It’s much smoother than its shorter brother, too.  It starts out strong, but mellows out into that medium-fullness that they claim.  There were also hints of toasted bread in there.  Again, these are creamy cigars.  Very tasty.

Aroma: The pre-light sniff was very aromatic and smelled like roasted nuts and wood.  The smoke itself wasn’t anything special.  Probably not something your significant other would like sifting through the house though.

Construction: The samples I had were a little soft and spongy when feeling them before lighting.  The draw was great; not loose like I expected based on the feel, but the ash was loose and very flaky.  It held a pretty consistent even burn though.  I think the roll could have been a little better accomplished, but then, having never rolled a cigar myself, let alone a lancero, I’ll leave it at that.  I’m not complaining.

Overall Impression: This is the kind of cigar that forces you to distinguish between flavor and strength.  Many people confuse the two, but there are full-bodied cigars and there are full-flavored cigars.  They’re different.  This is definitely a full-flavored cigar that is just pure enjoyment.  The only reason it didn’t get another half-star in the rating is that it could have had a little better construction.  Flavor is subjective, but if you like full to medium-full bodied cigars, I can almost guarantee that you’ll love this.

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Up next in the lancero head-to-head is the Oliva Serie V Lancero.  Stay tuned…

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Okay, so this is the latest release from Eddie Ortega and his boys over at United Tobacco. It’s been out for a good while now and has gotten rave reviews. Of course, like all 601s, this oscuro was blended by Don Pepin and rolled in his factory. I’ve had plenty of them as I crave an in your face smoke every now and then. This smoke definitely gets in your face. The great thing about this 5×52 robusto is that its power is not so overbearing that you can’t taste the flavors.

Appearance: This parejo is magnificently rolled when looking at it. The dark oscuro wrapper is a deep chocolate brown that is highlighted by the familiar 601 gold and green band. This is a classy looking cigar. The triple cap is perfect. Its veins are smooth though the cigar has a little tooth to it.

Taste: You’ll notice below that what you smell is what you get with this cigar. At first light I was bowled over with the pepper that fired my tongue and lips. POW! After a few puffs, the pepper settled into the background and let the wood come forward which was soon joined by some coffee. This cigar starts out really hard but then settles into a blend of the pepper, wood, and coffee intermingling all simultaneously.

Aroma: Holding this to my nose, pre-light, I get wood, pepper and coffee. This is a very odorous cigar. Smelling it before smoking it does not give you any hint of its strength, though it does give you insight into its flavor profile.

Construction: Squeezing it gently, this cigar is consistent. It’s firm but not too solid. Looking at the foot, you see an even, tightly rolled bunch. My last sample had some issues with the burn, but I’ll attribute those to the storage since I was not too careful in transporting it and it was affected by being unprotected from today’s heat. The draw was perfect and I was able to smoke it down to a good nub.

Overall: This is one of the best really full-bodied cigars on the market. You get strength AND flavor and lots of it. It’s not overpowering like some but if you aren’t used to this or haven’t had something to eat before you smoke the 601 Oscuro, you’ll feel it. It took me a good hour and 45 minutes to enjoy this smoke to the fullest.

Cigar Rating:

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