This time last year, we were wrapping up our selection for the best Boutique Cigar of 2017, and when all was said and done it was the Foundation Cigars Wise Man Maduro Torpedo that took the top slot. There were numerous other accolades given to Foundation Cigars owner Nick Melillo for his Wise Man Maduro last year. This year the accolades seem to be coming in again but Nick was a Wise Man himself and introduced a lancero vitola of the Wise Man Maduro at the 2018 IPCPR.
Having already placed the Wise Man Maduro Torpedo as number one last year, I was curious as to how this new lancero version of it would stand up to its big brother. I smoked a couple and I have to say, Nick has once again proved that he is a master at what he does.
The Wise Man Lancero weighs in at 7.5 x 40 and is the sixth vitola in the line that was introduced last year. It is available in 13-count boxes with an MSRP set at $12.53/cigar.
The blend is the same as the original:
- Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas wrapper
- Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 from Jalapa
- Filler:Criollo 98 and Corojo 99 from Esteli and Jalapa
Pre-Light Examination
A close examination of the Wise Man Lancero reveals it is a well constructed specimen with a dark brown and toothy wrapper that has a fine oily sheen to it. It is tightly packed from head to foot and has a decent weight for a lancero.
There is a single band on this cigar which is the same as all those in the Wise Man series from Foundation Cigars.
Running the long shaft below my nose I picked up a fruity note off the foot and toasty baking spice aroma along the barrel. It reminded me of walking into my neighborhood bakery when I was growing up so many years ago. I love how aromas can trigger memories like that.
I proceeded to clip the cap with my double blade cutter, giving it a clean straight cut and moved onto a few cold draw puffs. The draw a bit snug but it still delivered notes of fruit (plum) and a slow growing peppery spice.
It was time to fire this one up and see how it holds up against some of the many lanceros I have smoked to date. I used a cedar spill, as I usually do on small ring gauge cigars, to get this one going. Ouch, the first notes off this is some heavy black pepper especially on the nose.
Cigar Review Notes
- First light offers black pepper on the nose
- Dry fruit notes enter behind the pepper
- Full volume of smoke is being produced even thought he cold draw was snug
- Solid white ash grows atop of a thin char line
- Pepper smooths out giving way to fruit and toasty bread note
- Butter and cinnamon round out the early profile
- Ash fell revealing a perfect burn cone
- Earthy notes enter the mix at the start of the 2nd quarter
- Natural tobacco sweetness smooths the smoke and a sweet cashew aroma fills the post exhale nose
- Cocoa notes blend with the sweetness adding to the rich complexity of the profile
- Very smooth and delicious cigar so far with a pristine burn
- Bitter notes enter starting the 3rd quarter
- Bitter gives way to a mouth watering mint component
- Aroma shifts to a toasted bread
- Light spice enters joined with cedar notes in the background
- Finishes with notes of sweetness, spice and cedar
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes to the nub
Overall, the Foundation Cigars Wise Man Maduro lancero is an excellent addition to the well acclaimed line. Like its brethren in the line, the lancero is a complex, flavor filled and well balanced smoke. The only issue I had with it was the bitter note that triggered in the 3rd quarter but that was short lived. From a construction perspective, it had excellent burn quality including a perfectly formed burn cone once the ash fell. This is another one of those lanceros that I would buy a box of. I rate this a solid 97.
Point Deductions: (-1) Bitter Note
Bonus Points: (+1) Razor Sharp Burn (+1) Buy a Box
