Back in May, I introduced you to a new cigar company C.L.O.U.T. Cigars and reviewed their Select Toro. It was quite a pleasant offering. Today I would like to introduce you to the C.L.O.U.T. Cigars Signature Lancero Plus.
The C.L.O.U.T. Cigars Signature line has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Cameroon
- Binder – San Andres
- Filler – Nicaraguan/ Brazilian
The line is expressed in two vitolas and come packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Toro – (6 x 52) – MSRP $11.00
- Lancero Plus -(7.5 x 42) – MSRP $11.00
For this review I sampled one of the C.L.O.U.T. Cigars Signature Lancero Plus which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The C.L.O.U.T. Cigars Signature Lancero Plus exhibits a beautifully oily medium to dark brown wrapper that has a few veins running along the barrel. The wrapper also has a decent marbling to it. The cigar is firm to the touch with no soft spots detected in the bunching. A well applied triple cap finishes the presentation.
A single large band adorns the cigar using a black, gold, and red motif. The company logo is proudly displayed near the top and the blend name “SIGNATURE” is printed in gold on a red background on the bottom.
Running the barrel along the nose, I detected a sweet and enticing baking spice aroma while the foot exuded notes of fresh baked bread.
Using “The Baller” Cutter by CigarMedics. I opened the cap and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that found to be a tad more loose than like but it offered enticing notes of pepper and butter and a tinge of earth. The pepper starts to tingle the lips the more it is cold puffed.
Using my dual flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of pepper smoke. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper and sour coffee note not sure what to make of it
- I let it play out like I did with the Select and it starts to settle in – 1st comes a bit of cream
- A solid white ash forms on top of a fairly straight thin char line
- Bitter cocoa powder notes enter as the profile starts to find its balance
- Fruit starts to break out along with the cream
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing an excellent burn cone
- Sweet roasted nut aroma
- Grapefruit bitterness much akin to a hoppy IPA throws the palate off – bit of a bite
- Early sour notes reenter
- Dark chocolate notes join the mix trying for a second balancing act
- Midway the bite calms down
- Peppery spice builds
- Touch of sweetness forms deep in the second third
- Pepper increases on the retro significantly
- Smoke gets a tad hot in the final – this is where I ended
- Medium Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
Smoking the C.L.O.U.T. Cigars Signature Lancero Plus was a rather unique journey. The cigar had excellent construction and combustion quality but the flavor profile seemed to dance around trying to find a balance. Starting with a pepper and sour coffee note I powered through and then it started to develop only to attack the palate later with a bitter grapefruit rind. The profile then, once again started to develop and finally settled in the second half eventually offering an increased pepper note. Unfortunately, as it got close to the final, the smoke started to burn hot and that was the end of the Signature journey. This is one you may want to try if you like those note, As for me I think it may age a little and then revisit it. I rate this an 88.
Point Deductions: (-1) Sour start; (-1) Bitter bite in second third; (-2) Smoke gets hot in final; (-2) Unbalanced Flavors; (-1) May Try Another
Bonus Points: (+1) Excellent Burn
