Pre-light Experience

The JFR Lunatic Loco El Gran Loco is a massive perfecto and with the 80 ring gauge at the center point of the cigar, you forget that it is only 5.5″ in length. Nicely tapered at the head and foot, the cigar features a lovely wrapper that is between dark Colorado Maduro and Maduro. There is an aroma and cold draw of barnyard, rich tobacco, soft chocolate and earth, and it is not overpowering but smooth.

First Third

The first third has a lovely beginning and it is showing some earth, charred wood, soft chocolate, ground coffee and subtle spices with a focus on cinnamon. It is very balanced but showing some richness. I would classify the strength to be around medium to medium-full, and I felt the body and flavors were there as well.

Second Third

I am in the second third of the cigar now and there is a continuation of those earthy, cinnamon and soft chocolate notes. The charred wood flavors are still present as well and there is a rise in this peppery spice and tobacco flavor. The new flavors really increase the body and strength to a medium-full level, and I would say the flavors are there as well.

Final Third

The final third has a peppery spice, rich earth, charred wood and tobacco profile and it is much fuller than the first two thirds. To be honest, it catches me off guard a little bit and I thought it would be more of a transitioning to the first third profile rather than something completely different. I would say it is between medium-full and full for flavors, body and strength.

Burn

In my opinion, for what the cigar is, it smoked great. Having a Perfecto of this nature is bound to present problems in terms of burn, but that was not the case. I had to touch-up from time to time, but when you have an 80 ring gauge Perfecto that should be expected.

Draw

The draw was fantastic on this cigar. It started off a little constricted which helped in focusing on flavors delivered, got a little bit easier in the middle and eventually really opened up at the end. A very well made cigar.

Overall

I’m going to be honest and tell you I would not smoke this cigar again. It has nothing to do with the blend or how it smokes, but everything to do with the vitola offering. I am interested in trying the cigar in one of the smaller offerings, and I believe it will smoke much better there. Maybe I should have reviewed this line in those offerings. At the same time, the Lunatics are big ring gauge smokes. The JFR Lunatic Loco El Gran Loco didn’t have a lot of complexity or beautiful transitioning and depth throughout, but it was a solid cigar. If you look at how they blended for a cigar of this nature, they did a great job.

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$1.78

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: JFR Lunatic Loco El Gran Loco