Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light golden brown. There are a couple of noticeable veins as they carry a slightly lighter color. The seams are pretty easily visible but are smooth. The head carries two well applied caps. There is one band, but it is pretty large as it runs about 2 1/4 inches in length. It is primarily black with rose gold or copper artwork and lettering. The aroma from the wrapper is a very light hay while the foot provides a slightly fuller hay. The pre-light draw is a nice mix of hay and creamy leather.

Pre-light Experience

The Lucious Lyon No. 1 has a semi-oily claro wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed and seams are tight, but visible. The cigar is jam packed with tobacco with virtually no give. The head is finished off with a well applied, thick double cap. Nosing the wrapper gives faint cedar and barnyard. Nosing the foot creates subtle dry white pepper and dry wood. Cold draw tells cardboard and dry wood.

First Third

The cigar starts with a mellow, creamy cinnamon along with some wood. The retrohale provides a fuller cinnamon with a nice zing. At a quarter inch in, the cinnamon mellows a bit and the creamy wood takes the main stage with the cinnamon in the background. At three quarters of an inch in, the cream reduces a bit as the wood moves forward and there is still a hint of cinnamon in the background. The cinnamon on the retrohale has calmed down with the introduction of some cream which makes it much smoother. Nearing the end of the third, the cream and cinnamon have both left and the woodiness is the lone note. The retrohale is also just wood now. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

Initial quarter inch brings forth namely a dominance in wood bitterness and hay. Past the quarter inch mark, the wood bitterness is thankfully hugely tapered, providing flavors of soft black pepper, cedar, roasted dry nuts, medium bodied sweet cream and citrus tanginess. Through retrohaling, stronger notes of black pepper, cedar and dry nuts. The finish is on the shorter side, providing subtle light black pepper, cedar and dry earth. Body and strength is at the medium mark within the entire first third.

Second Third

As this third begins, a little cream comes back to join the primary wood note. At a half inch in, the wood gains a bit of greenness to it while the light creaminess remains. At an inch in, the greenness goes away and goes back to the general woodiness with some cream. The retrohale carries the same slightly creamy wood. As the third comes to a close, the creamy woodiness remains and a slight bitterness has joined in. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

Primary differences within the second third is the major lack in spice and sweetness. The black pepper is very faint, and the sweetness is lost, replaced by a generic cream note. Other flavors still remain, such as cedar and roasted dry nuts. The retrohale remains unchanged, still providing prominent notes of black pepper, cedar and dry nuts. The finish is still short, with notes of cedar, dry earth and soft wood bitterness. Strength and body remains at the medium mark.

Final Third

As this third begins, the creamy wood and slight bitterness continues. At a quarter inch in, the bitterness fades away and the cream also slightly lessens while the woodiness maintains its level. At a half inch in, a slight char joins the wood while a slight creaminess remains. The retrohale has also taken on the charred wood note. This is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third for the most part mimics the second third. The only notable change is the wood bitterness becoming a deeper note, but never overpowering the remaining flavors. Still, a profile that is centered around faint black pepper, generic cream, cedar and roasted nuts. The retrohale still gives deeper notes of black pepper, cedar and dry nuts. The finish is short with cedar, dry earth and wood bitterness. Strength and body finishes at the medium mark.

Burn

The burn line was just slightly wavy but always kept up with itself. Ashes held on in about inch and three quarter increments.

Burn

Picture perfect burn. Total smoking time clocked in at a great 1 hour and 50 minutes. Ashes held on tight with solid 1.5 inch ash increments. Burn line was razor sharp throughout the entire time.

Draw

The draw was just slightly tighter than I prefer and didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

This was a pretty good traditional Connecticut cigar. Strength level was right around where you would expect it, starting below medium and finishing right around medium. Just a slight bitterness in the end but no off putting flavors. The price is a bit up there as you’re paying for some licensing fees to the show, but it can already be found below MSRP and I’m sure price may go down as time goes on. If you’re a fan of U.S. Connecticut shade and/or a fan of Empire, it’s definitely worth smoking and I definitely wouldn’t turn this down as a nice morning smoke, especially with some coffee.

Draw

Draw was perfect. The firmness felt within the pre-light experience caused zero issues for the cigar.

Overall

I find the Luscious Lyon No. 1 to be more in line with the old, mild Connecticut shade days. The blend for the most part was smooth and easy going, but a bit too easy going. The major lack in spice and loss of sweetness was disappointing and much depth was lost because of it. This is a try if you are a fan of the TV series and/or if you’re just getting into cigars.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$2.08

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.33

Cost/Point

$1.97

Scoring System