Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown, and even though they are smooth, you can see a network of veins present. The seams are also smooth but easily visible due to the veins and slight color variations. The head has great cap work as they are applied precisely and finished off with a very thin wrap on top. The band is black and has the line name in silver. When I removed the cigar from the cellophane, I got a distinct pipe tobacco aroma from the cigar. After revisiting it, I get wood, pipe tobacco and floral notes from both the wrapper and foot. The pre-light draw is fairly tight, but I do get more wood and floral notes along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Black Works Studio S&R Lancero has a medium light brown Sumatra wrapper. Some faint oil content is present on the finger tips, which is always a plus to feel. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll is very tight with virtually no give and the head is finished off with a triple cap man bun style. Nosing the wrapper gives nuts, faint campfire notes, cedar and dry barnyard. Nosing the foot tells an abundance of nuts and black pepper. Cold draw gives cedar shavings and dried nuts.

First Third

The cigar begins with what I can only describe as buttery wood along with a good dose of black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the wood becomes fuller as the buttery component lessens. At an inch in, some coffee joins in which carries a creaminess to it which replaces the butter component. The pepper has also mellowed which is creating a nice all around profile. At an inch and a half, the black pepper morphs into a baking spice. The retrohale is a mix of wood and bread along with some baking spice. As the third comes to a close, the breadiness enters the mouth draws to go along with the wood, cream and baking spice as the coffee has left the profile. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third has an abundance of roasted nuts, toasted bread and cedar notes. Retrohaling brings forth a black pepper spice and elevated roasted nuts. The finish bears a faintly charred and bitter cedar and nuts. Strength is a tad above medium and body is medium.

Second Third

The second third begins with the continuation of the wood and creamy bread as the baking spice has mellowed a bit. At an inch in, the baking spice picks back up to create a slightly spicier profile. The retrohale has the bread up front along with the wood and baking spice. At an inch and a half, the bread has faded way back while the wood and slight cream remain up front and the baking spice is in the background. As the third comes to a close, the wood has gained a slight char as the cream has left the profile. There are small amounts of bread and baking spice in the background. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third picks up a black pepper spice through the mouth draws. But other than that, the core profile is still intact showing roasted nuts, toasted bread and cedar. Retrohaling brings even bigger notes of black pepper (but never overbearing) along with the same intensified roasted nuts. Strength moves to a consistent medium-full and body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the charred wood continues on with bread in the background as the baking spice has gone away. At a half inch in, the cream picks up again, creating a slightly smoother profile. At an inch in, the retrohale is providing wood and a little bit of cream. The cigar finishes out with this same profile. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third transitions to a more earthy profile giving baking spices and a refined earthy dirt. Black pepper, roasted nuts, toasted bread and cedar are all still there, just an added layer of earthiness. Strength and body finishes medium-full and medium, respectively.

Burn

The burn was perfect the entire way. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

The burn had its fair share of issues. Within the first inch, the wrapper cracked and the crack by the end of the first third spread to the entire cigar. That led to numerous touch-ups within the remaining smoking time. Other than that, smoke production was good and ashes held on tight with minimal flowering.

Draw

The draw started a bit snug, but as the cigar went along it evened out to the draw I prefer which has a slight resistance.

Overall

The cigar provided a nice flavor profile centered around wood, cream and black pepper, later morphing into baking spice. There was an addition of some creamy coffee for a bit as well. Things became a bit less complex in the final third. Construction was very good which is always a plus, especially in the lancero format. The Black Works Studio S&R Lancero is a nice offering in the brands portfolio and the strength, while above medium, isn’t overpowering and is balanced with the flavor profile. I would have no problem smoking more of these and think fans of the brand and those that like lanceros are bound to find a favorite here.

Draw

The draw, although slightly tight, was still an overall non-issue.

Overall

The Black Works Studio S&R Lancero delivers a soft and nuanced type of flavor profile (roasted nuts, toasted bread, cedar) while at the same time providing a good amount of strength (being medium-full overall). Apart from the burn issues, the cigar was good and I hope to try more without the blow up.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$1.42

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.41

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Black Works Studio S&R Lancero