Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light, golden brown and shows off some veins and some bumpiness. The seams are smooth but easily visible and the head is finished off with a well applied quadruple cap. There are three bands with the primary being the standard company design in gold and black. The secondary band is a strip band in the same color combination and designates the line while the foot band is a gold ribbon. The aroma from the wrapper is a full mix of sweet hay and barnyard while the foot brings a mix of wood and graham cracker. The pre-light draw brings wood and some tobacco sweetness with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Cubariqueño Protocol Themis Lancero has an embossed gold band with gray-black highlights, and a secondary ‘Themis’ band. The wrapper is tan color and has a very smooth texture. Nosing the wrapper reveals quite intense aromas of hay and wood. In the foot, I pick up rich sweet plum, raisin and fermented tobacco.

Pre-light Experience

The Cubariqueño Protocol Themis Lancero has a caramel Colorado claro wrapper shade. Construction and feel is pretty good as veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even but on the looser end, and head with a neatly applied thick cap. Aromas from the wrapper give strong cedar, barnyard and white pepper. Aromas from the foot tell a stronger presence of white pepper and barnyard. Cold draw reveals cedar and hay.

First Third

The cigar begins with a full mix of wood and cinnamon heavy baking spice. At three quarters of an inch in, the baking spice is less cinnamon heavy and a very subtle cream has joined in to smooth things out slightly. At an inch and a half, the cream has increased, creating a fuller bodied profile with the baking spice slightly behind the creamy wood. The third finishes out with this same full bodied profile. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The Themis Lancero starts with flavors of sweet cocoa, and light spices both on the retrohale. The sweetness carries into the post draw and has a medium lingering finish. The sweetness reminds me of candy notes like Gobstoppers. As the first third settles in, the cocoa also carries into the post draw and the intensity on the palate is significant. There’s almost no hay or bitterness present, which I often associate with Connecticut Shade wrappers. The complexity continues to build as the spices on the retrohale build to medium with barbecue flavors joining in. By the halfway point of the first third, the cocoa has reached a maximum intensity of medium-full and begins to fall back down. The sweet candy flavor I was getting has moved to finish the end of the draw.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile gives more of a traditional Connecticut shade flavor offering. Nuts, cedar, light leather and soft baking spices. Retrohaling introduces some nice white pepper into the mix as well as toast. The finish is medium in length with namely soft white pepper spice and nuts. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the cream recedes slightly while the wood remains up front and the baking spice is in the background. The retrohale is heavier on the wood but also has some cream present. At an inch in, the wood continues its ascent over the cream and baking spice. At an inch and three quarters, the wood gains a slight char. As the third comes to a close, the wood, along with some char is still up front with the cream and baking spice in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Second Third

Some hay flavors join the profile during the transition from first to middle third, along with some medium strength white pepper. I’m also starting to feel some medium level nicotine strength. The retrohale establishes itself as a combination of light cocoa, white pepper and toasted earth. Each draw is still finishing with sweetness but the candy-like aspect to it is absent. Once the cigar settles in, toasted cedar joins into the profile for the remainder of the third.

Second Third

The main change from first to second third is the spice (white/black pepper) coming in through the mouth draws. Other than that, the remaining flavors are still present (nuts, cedar, light leather, soft baking spices). Strength and body continues to be medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the char is picking up while the cream is decreasing and the baking spice has left the profile. At an inch in, the cream picks back up a little bit to smooth out the charred wood. The retrohale just carries the charred wood. As the cigar comes to a close, the cream drops out as some mustiness joins in with the fairly full charred wood. The strength in this third bumps up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

Some mild bitterness as the Themis Lancero transitions in the final third. A few minutes later, I’m tasting sweet earth and mild hay. The cigar takes on an interesting creamy and bitter twang that carries into the post draw. The cocoa flavors are still present on the retrohale just underneath the earth.

Final Third

The last third continues to have the spice be more prominent but not so prominent that it is overshadowing the other notes. Flavors of white/black pepper, nuts, cedar, light leather and soft baking spices. Strength is a little fuller but still for the most part medium and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy but never needed any attention. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

One thing that’s very consistent about Espinosa cigars is their construction. The Themis Lancero is no different with razor sharp burn, and ash holding on in 1.5+ inch increments. There is some slight waviness to the burn in the second third, but it corrects almost immediately.

Burn

Ideal burn performance. Cool burn, strong ashes averaging 2 inches and sharp burn.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

There was no time wasted in getting straight to a very full flavor profile of wood and baking spice with a quick addition of some cream. The profile became a little less complex as it went on and had a drop in enjoyment in the final third. Construction was very good and needed zero attention. I still feel that the larger ring gauge offerings for this line provide a better flavor profile, but this instance of the Lancero still shows a lot of the best parts of this blend. Which vitola you choose may just come down to the mood you’re in, but none of them will let you down. I would have no problem coming back to this cigar again and again.

Draw

The draw is perfect, with a slight resistance.

Overall

The Cubariqueño Protocol Themis Lancero is a great example of a traditional Lancero that delivers on flavor complexity, despite the restrictions of less filler tobacco. The overall profile is medium-full with the cigar hitting medium strength at points. This cigar will be yet another hit for Cubariqueño Cigar Company.

Draw

Perfect draw providing the best air flow.

Overall

Cubariqueño’s line extension into lanceros continues to prove to be another win. The flavor profile is geared towards the more traditional Connecticut shade offering (nuts, cedar, light leather, soft baking spices, white/black pepper). Although I enjoyed it and see myself enjoying more, it’s not quite up to par against the original Toro size. The Toro size has more body, which the lancero lacks. With all that said, fans won’t be disappointed in this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.56

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

7.52

Cost/Point

$1.40

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.17

Cost/Point

$1.47

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cubariqueño Protocol Themis Lancero