The Traveling Man, a name that holds deep meaning to brother Masons worldwide.
The Traveling Man, a name that fits so many cigar brand owners that are road warriors, zig-zagging across the country, and at times the world, to ply their craft.
The Traveling Man, a highly successful cigar blend from Hiram & Solomon Cigars.
No matter how you look at it, The Traveling Man should be praised, whether it is a never ending journey to help those in need, one who works hard to build a cigar business, or what was the #4 Cigar of 2016 on Stogie Press.
I have enjoyed plenty of Hiram & Solomon’s Traveling Man cigars over the years and each one was as good as the previous – consistent and flavorful. Now this young, but quickly expanding cigar company has hit my sweet sweet spot, with the addition of the Traveling Man Lancero. They got it to me just in time for the completion of the Stogie Press- Battle of the Lanceros.
The Traveling Man Lancero
The Traveling Man Lancero is a classic 7 x 38 vitola that carries an MSRP of $11.00 and is packaged in 30-count boxes. Manufactured at Plasencia Cigars, SA in Estelí, Nicaragua, this cigar incorporates a beautifully enticing, multi-country blend described as:
- Wrapper – Indonesian Sumatra
- Binder – Indonesian
- Filler – Brazilian Arapiraca, Habano Jalapa, Habano Ometepe and Dominican
For this review I smoked 3 samples of the Traveling Man Lancero, not because I wanted to be sure I was right, but because I enjoyed it that much. Each one was consistent in construction and flavor while offering a truly enjoyable smoking experience.
Pre-Light Experience
The Hiram & Solomon Traveling Man Lancero is well constructed lance that sports a milk chocolate brown wrapper which is smooth to the touch and has minimal veins. There is a light marbling n the wrapper. The cigar feels solidly packed and is finished with a well applied cap. I would note that this lancero does not have a traditional twist cap.
The cigar is adorned with the standard Hiram & Solomon band that uses the Traveling Man purple motif. Although the band is the same as the rest of the Traveling Man line, it was specially made to fit the smaller ring gauge of the lancero.
Running the Traveling Man Lancero across the nose, I picked up a light spice and a fermented leaf aroma along the barrel coupled with a natural tobacco sweetness off the foot. Keep in mind this is a true Indonesian Sumatra leaf that wraps the cigar and I am fully expecting plenty of sweetness and cinnamon spice as it burns.
I sliced the cap with a double blade cutter to give it a straight cut, right along the shoulder of the cigar. A few cold puffs led to a few more as there was a delicious pre-light sweetness on the cold draw. I also noted a touch of dryness on the lips.
With the preliminary examination out of the way, it was time to ignite the foot, which I did using a cedar spill. I generally ignite lanceros that way because of the small ring gauge and I don’t want to over burn it to start. The soft flame of the cedar spill works perfectly.
Cigar Review Notes
- The Journey started with a spice component, not peppery, but more herbal like with some underlying sweetness
- A full volume of smoke pours out of the cigar on every puff
- There is a very enticing aroma wafting off the foot
- The burn is excellent, pristine in fact with a solid white ash and a crisp thin char line
- Coffee and cream notes start to add into the profile
- Ash held long and fell after a good portion of the first quarter of the burn
- Once the ash fell, I noted the well formed and centered burn cone
- Sweetness builds and balances well with the cream and coffee notes
- Dry cocoa powder notes appear followed by an herbal nuance
- Very smooth smoke as it burns through the second quarter
- Aroma morphs into a syrupy note – keeping me intrigued
- Cedar nuances enter halfway
- Cinnamon spice starts to grow entering the 3rd quarter
- Sweetness continues as a predominate note
- Tannins grow a bit more adding to the early dryness
- Aroma shifts to more of a freshly opened can of mixed nuts
- There is a mild pepper burn on lips near the final
- Fruit nuance enters to complete the journey
- Smoke has been cool down to the nub
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Overall, the Hiram & Solomon Traveling Man Lancero was one of those memorable cigars that will keep your palate intrigued with complex flavors and aromas from foot to nub. I rate this a solid 97. The burn was pristine and construction excellent. The only point deduction I gave this was the tannic dryness that seemed to grow especially in the second half. This is worth buying a box, especially if you like lanceros. I feel this will age nicely so smoke them slow and enjoy them, knowing that a portion of all sales goes to various charities.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slightly Tannic (Dry)
Bonus Points: (+1) Pristine Burn; (+1) Buy a Box
