This Rojas Quiet Morning Lancero was a pleasurable smoke, being creamy and sweet with just enough earthiness to round it out. With each draw, I find myself needing to slow down in a good way to enjoy the flavors so that I don't overheat the skinny cigar. Good stuff.
I thought the first third on the Blackbird Flamingo was interesting, with balanced flavor combinations. The second third was still pleasant but lacked many of the flavors from the first third and the dynamic combinations. I found the last third enjoyable, but linear. I have another Blackbird Flamingo that I'm going to try to see how the experience compares to the reviewed cigar. The price point is attractive, and the Lancero format is something I enjoy.
The Punch Golden Era Lancero had a nice start with a full and vibrant delivery of flavors. It dropped a level in the second third as the pepper and earth switched places and remained at that level the rest of the way. This vitola had a bit of a better showing than the Robusto, but past the first third was pretty much inline with it. Not a cigar I'd see myself coming back to as JRE wasn't able to create the same magic with this Lancero version that they've been able to do with their other offerings.
The Cohiba Riviera Lancero was an enjoyable cigar to review with engaging flavor combinations and complexity through the first and second thirds. I enjoyed the Cohiba Riviera Lancero and I would seek it out again. The price point is pretty average for the 2024 market, and I think the flavor profile is well served by the Lancero vitola.
The Joya de Nicaragua Joya Cabinetta Lancero has somewhat of a cheat code. In fact, all the Cabinetta’s have this strength. Finishing the cigar with that Nicaraguan Criollo really lights a spark plug in terms of flavors and strength after the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper portion. The Connecticut portion is solid, with a nice bit of depth and strength, but when you put that darker and stronger wrapper on the cigar it sends it in a whole new direction, and it captures your attention in a good way.
This JRE Aladino Classic Elegante is a well blended cigar, showcasing full flavors and balance. The major components of a good cigar are all here (sweet, spice, earth). You can really taste the quality of the wrapper tobacco and I think this is a great example of letting the good tobacco speak for itself. A must try.
The Davidoff Millennium Lancero Limited Edition 2023 wasn't quite what I expected from Davidoff. A more intense and spicy cigar that seems to be a departure from the historical flavor combinations that Davidoff tends to blend for. The first and second thirds were the most engaging, with the last third becoming unbalanced as it heated up. I would happily smoke the Davidoff Millennium Lancero Limited Edition 2023 again if I had the opportunity.
Overall, the Sencillo Black Lancero was a good cigar. Bolder and rustic delivery of mala dried red pepper spice, earthy dirt grit, and softened nicely by naturally sweet and creamy mixed nuts. This isn't the type of flavor profile that I necessarily enjoy, but the delivery of the bolder flavors mixed with softer flavors was well done. And a great burning and drawing lancero to boot.
The Villiger Miami 2022 Laguito No. 1 is a strong addition to the Villiger lineup with balanced and restrained flavors through the first and second thirds. The last third was still pleasant but didn't harmonize as well as the rest of the cigar. With a just over light-plus strength flavor delivery, this was an enjoyable cigar that breaks up a market full of medium or stronger cigars, and I would happily seek it out to smoke again.
The Illusione hl Candela started well, with a nice combination of flavors. The second third dropped a level as the flavor profile wasn't as dynamic as it was in the first third and maintained that level the rest of the way. This is probably one of the best candela offerings on the market, but with that said, it isn't a cigar I would come back to all that frequently.