Back in March 2019, Drew Estate announced the return of the Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero. This was a cigar that was originally released back in 2014, and as a limited line extension to the original Herrera Esteli blend that was highly acclaimed. The Herrera Esteli was one of the first projects Drew Estate’s Master Blender – Willy Herrera – worked on when he was recruited to the company in 2011, from El Titan de Bronze.
If you were fortunate to get your hands on some of the first limited production run of these back in 2014, congratulations. If you did not, or you did and really enjoyed it, well they are available again.
Drew Estate, Master Blender Willy Herrera noted the following with regards to this spectacular lancero:
“The lancero is a notoriously difficult vitola to master both from a blending and rolling perspective. The same rollers who make the L40 are assigned to this special blend since they’re the best of the best. We took our time here at the factory when we decided to re-release this cigar so that every aspect from flavor to construction is perfection.”
I received a little care package a few months back that had two of these beauties in it and though I smoke one a month ago, I smoked the second the other day and I am here to report on it today.
The Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero has the same blend as the original which is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder – Honduran
- Filler – Nicaraguan
As Lanceros require some of the highest skill level to roll, there were only only 4 pairs of rollers at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate allowed to produce this cigar.
The Herrera Esteli Habano Edicion Limitada Lancero is expressed in a 7 x 38 lancero and comes packaged in 15-count boxes with an MSRP of $186.96/box ($12.45/cigar).
Pre-Light Examination
The Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero is a expertly constructed lancero that has a dark brown and marbled wrapper with a decent oily sheen. The filler in this is bunched using the classic Cuban Entubado method, where each leaf is rolled into a tube and then bunched. This process takes longer but is known for a better more consistent draw. The wrapper had practically invisible seams and the presentation is finished with a well applied double cap.
Two bands adorn this limited edition cigar. The primary is the standard Herrera Esteli band that uses a white, red, and gold motif and boldly declares this as the “Herrera Esteli by Drew Estate”. The secondary band is positioned just below and uses a black and gold motif while declaring this as an Edicion Limitada.
I ran the cigar along the nose and was greeted with pre-light notes of barnyard along the barrel along with a light pepper off the foot.
Once I sliced the cap straight with my double blade Xikar cutter, I proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that were nicely restricted and graced my palate with notes of earth and red pepper nuances.
I chose to use a the soft flame of a lit cedar spill to warm the foot as I drew in the first mouth filling puffs of buttery and pepper smoke. Follow along as I break down the Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero and turn it to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Butter and peppery spice to start, with a gentle nasal burn on the retro-hale
- Excellent volume of thick smoke right off the first puffs
- Pearly white ash forms on top of a straight and thin char line
- Cocoa aroma wafts off the foot filling the air around me
- Ash fell after about an inch or so of burn revealing a perfect burn cone
- Cedar notes enter to brighten the profile
- A lingering nut note lays on the palate
- So far this is a smooth and delightful smoke with a perfect draw
- Light citrus notes enter to keep the palate interested
- Cocoa notes move into the profile near the end of the first third
- Aroma shifts to a maple syrup sensation
- Slight wave in the burn but no touch up required
- Cocoa evolves into more of a dark chocolate
- Earthy and spice notes develop deep in the second third
- Ash holding tight in the second run
- Spice builds and takes control in the final down to the nub
- Strength was medium to full
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Overall, the Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero was a spectacular blend and perfect draw lancero. Never needing a re-light or touch up, this beauty graced the palate with ever evolving yet balanced flavors and aromas from foot to nub. The only negative point on this, and it is minor, is it did develop a minor wave in the burn deep in the second third. This is one I highly recommend picking up a box of. I rate this a 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave deep in second third
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Worthy, (+1) Extremely Complex
