At the 2024 PCA trade Show, Scandanavian Tobacco Group (STG) did something they have never done before. They created and showcased a box pressed lancero version of their Cohiba Riveria blend. The company has held the US trademark for COHIBA since 1978 and has been through numerous court battles with the most recent in 2023, affirming their right to the trademark in the US for distribution in the country.
Hand crafted at the STG Estelí factory in Nicaragua, the Cohiba Riveria has a blend described as:
- Wrapper: Mexico – San Andrés
- Binder: Honduras
- Filler: Honduras (Jamastran Valley and La Entrada), Nicaragua (Condega and Estelí)
Adding that all up you will note there are 6 different tobaccos in this blend. Considering the size (7 x 38) that is a lot of leaf for a small ring gauge cigar. With the addition of the lancero, the blend is now offered in 4 vitolas:
- Lancero BP (7 x 38) 15-count boxes – MSRP $14.99/cigar
- Perfecto (6 x 60) 10-count boxes – MSRP $24.99/cigar
- Toro BP (6.5 x 52) 20-count boxes – MSRP $22.99/cigar
- Robusto BP (5 x 52) 20-count boxes – MSRP $20.99/cigar
For this review, I sampled 3 of the Cohiba Riveria Box Pressed Lanceros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Cohiba Rivera Box Pressed Lancero is nicely constructed box pressed lancero. It has a medium brown and smooth wrapper that exhibits some light marbling throughout. There are practically no notiecable veins in the wrapper. I did notice that the center has a bit more squishiness to it. A well applied double cap completes the construction.
A single band adorns the cigar using a purple background with the STG Cohiba Logo in the center and the name “Riviera” printed in silver under the logo. There is also holographic ink on the sides of the band with the words “Republica de Nicaragua” printed throughout.
Runing the cigar along the nose, I picked up a barnyard note along the barrel and an enticing, mild vanilla like note off the foot.
Once I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar, I gave it some cold draw puffs that greeted the palate with notes of earth and mild pepper.
Using my Xikar fan flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery smoke. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial start offers pepper notes especially on the retrohale
- A light grey ash forms on top of a mildly wavy char line
- The presence of cream notes softens the pepper notes moving though the first third
- As the ash falls in a small chunk, it reveals a flat but centered burn cone
- Mild licorice notes rest in the background
- The second third starts the development of dark cocoa notes
- Spice, wood, and fruit dominate the final third with a slight astringent note
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 15 minutes
Final Analysis
The Cohiba Riviera Box Pressed Lancero begins with a distinct peppery punch, particularly noticeable on the retrohale. As the cigar progresses into the first third, the sharpness of the pepper is mellowed by a creamy smoothness that softens its intensity. Subtle hints of licorice linger gently in the background, adding complexity without overpowering the other flavors. The second third introduces the rich, dark notes of cocoa, deepening the profile. In the final third, the flavors shift towards a robust combination of spice, wood, and fruit, accompanied by a slight astringency that provides contrast to the smoothness of earlier flavors. This one you may want to try a fiver of. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild wave in Burn; (-1) Flat but centered burn cone; (-1) Barrel gets squishy midway; (-1) Slightly astringent in final
