Lancero Cigars

A connoisseurs guide 

 

Lancero means "Lancer" in Spanish and was created in Cuba with the creation of the Cohiba brand in the 1960's.  The original size was made in a 7 1/2 X 38.  Outside Cuba in the late 1990's the standard ring gage went to 40.  The size is considered a Gran Panatela, or "Long" Panatela. 

 

This cigar size has long been revered by those who make cigars as it has a wrapper-to-filler ratio that changes the cigar "blend" to strongly favor the specific region the wrapper came from without being adulterated by excessive filler and binder.

 

This characteristic is clearly evident when you are used to smoking a certain brand and are used to the subtle differences between a robusto and churchill.  These 50-58 ring gage cigars have a wrapper, filler and binder ratio that helps certain characteristics of the cigar.  The wrapper gives most of the flavor, the binder and filler either give notes of spice, body, aroma or other hints.  They may also tone the wrapper down as in the case of the Ligero leaf, which is very strong. 

 

In Lanceros, the wrapper has to be of sufficient quality that it has to carry the cigar by itself.  Quality control is very hard with this size as it is very easy to over fill or under fill the cigar.  Too little and the wrapper burns hot giving it a bitter taste, too much and the cigar won't draw. 

 

This cigar has had problems over it's lifespan and has gained a reputation from consumers as a difficult smoke.  Some do not like it simply because of it's size.  Back in the late 1990's and early 2000's, Cuba was notorious for sending out boxes of unsmokable cigars because the draw was too difficult.  I myself had a box of these and remember them well.  In fact I still have a few left.

 

Because of the design of the cigar, it has become more of a connoisseurs cigar not unlike wine.  The experience we are looking for in this cigar is stimulating the palate, not with copious amounts of smoke but intricate specific tastes.

 

While this may not be for some or even most cigar smokers, as this is a departure from the generally accepted paradigm of a cigar, one should at least try it. 

 

Many of the cigar companies are making this size now so you can find the region you wish to try fairly easily.  Just remember it will be different, and it might be great!

 

Cigar Rights of America
FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM TO ENJOY FINE CIGARS 

These are the principles on which America was founded. Unfortunately for cigar enthusiasts, the age-old pleasure of enjoying a cigar is under attack. On a daily basis, your freedom to enjoy a cigar is being stripped away by an overzealous, anti-smoking movement. Their tactics are varied; be it through supporting onerous cigar taxes or lobbying government for restrictive smoking bans. The anti-smoking movement will stop at nothing short of the complete prohibition of tobacco.

•  Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products to people younger than 18.
• Requires retailers to obtain photo identification of any customer that appears to be younger than 27 years old to verify that the customer is at least 18 years old.
• Prohibits the sale of cigarette packages with fewer than 20 cigarettes.
• Requires that cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products be sold in a direct, face-to-face exchange between the retailer and the customer.
• Prohibits the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products in vending machines, self-service displays, or other impersonal modes of sales, except that vending machines and self-service displays are allowed in retail stores where the retailer ensures that no person younger than 18 years of age is present, or permitted to enter, at any time.
• Prohibits giving out free samples of cigarettes and allows free samples of smokeless tobacco products only in qualified adult facilities.

So, what does this have to do with you?  Everything, in a word.  As tobacco users of every form we each have had to endure limits on our freedoms.  I believe that we have gone out of our way when we smoke not to offend others and that has translated to a passive endurance of these restrictions.  I say NOT ONE MORE!  Not one more restriction, not one more tax, not one more ordinance.  We have given enough and if we do not stop these unfair restrictions at every turn they will continue and be even more restrictive.