Founded by tobacconists Nick Syris and Omar Nasr, Lavida Habano Cigars was originally offered in Lavida Habana lounges in the Middle East. The company found success and made the choice to bring the brand into the US in 2016. and added a lancero vitola in that expansion. The company launched with 3 different blends:
- Claro
- Colorado
- Maduro
Each are hand crafted in Costa Rica, using the company’s own factory and now offered in 7 vitolas, each come packaged in 20-count except for the Lancero that comes in a 24-count box:
- Robusto (5 x 52)
- Toro (5.5 x 6)
- Gordo (6 x 60)
- Lancero (7.5 x 42)
- Petit Gordo (4 x62)
- Corona (5.6 x 44)
- Churchill (7 x 48)
As noted, when they brought their line to the US market, they introduced the Lancero to the lineup and today I would like to offer a review of the LH Cigars Maduro Lancero, which I was gifted by a friend of mine, Lou Piscitelli.
The LH Cigars Maduro blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Criollo 98
- Binder – Nicaragua
- Filler – Nicaragua, Peru, and Brazil
The most current pricing for this cigar can be found at the Privada Cigar Club where it is listed at $9.50.
Pre-Light Examination
The Lavida Habana (LH) Cigars Maduro Lancero is a well constructed lancero with its coffee bean brown wrapper that is smooth the the touch and displays a fine oily sheen. It has just a few noticeable veins running along the barrel. The head of the cigar is capped well and it has a closed foot.
The cigar is branded with a single band that uses a red, gold, black and white motif. The Company’s logo is boldly presented in the center along with the name “LAVIDA HABANA” on top and “PREMIUM CIGARS” on the bottom.
Running the long barrel across the nose, I was surprised I did not pick up any aromas but switching to the foot, my nasals were graced with notes of sweet floral.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to have a perfect restriction while offering a touch of pepper on the lips along with dry leather, earth, and floral on the palate. – more I puffed the more I felt the pepper growing.
Using my single flame torch, I warmed the foot, which took quickly to the heat and brought it to an even orange glow as I drew in the first puffs of floral and pepper notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Floral and pepper notes to start
- Touch of caramel adds a balancing sweetness to the early profile
- White ash forms on top of a thin char line
- Cocoa aromas start to fill the air around me
- Excellent volume of smoke
- Heavy oiling is popping above the burn line after an inch of burn
- Ash dropped fairly early revealing an excellent burn cone
- Mouth watering citrus notes adds to the pleasure
- Dark chocolate notes enter moving into the 2nd quarter
- Aroma shifts to a sweet caramel note
- Slight bitter notes enter midway with an added touch of cedar
- Spice notes enter in 3rd quarter
- Slight off burn developed but did not require a touch-up
- Final quarter brings in continued cedar and a bit of earthiness
- Ash fell more often than I prefer
- Medium to Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The Lavida Habana (LH) Cigars Maduro Lancero is one of those cigars I really wished I knew about years ago but I am happy that I know the brand now. It was a pleasurable journey of balanced and intriguing flavors and aroma. I enjoyed the floral and caramel notes that treated the palate and the nose along with the dark chocolate and spice notes later in the burn. notes It burned quite well with just a mild wave and small off burn, but never required a touchup. It did drop the ash more frequently than one may like, but once you date a cigar a few times and you know the behavior, that would be less of a problem. This is worth a box buy and I rate it a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slight Wave; (-1) Mild Off Burn; (-1) Ash Fell Often; (-1) Slight bitter note deep in burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (-1) Nice Oiling during the burn
