The Last Cast is a limited-edition cigar from Lure Cigars, released annually to honor the memory of Lou Cross Jr., the founder’s late father. The name comes from a fishing term for the final cast of an outing, symbolizing one last chance for a bite, a moment, or a story. The release is tied to June — Lou Cross Jr.’s birthday month, Father’s Day, and the month he passed away. The brand’s motto, “Smoke Great Cigars & Tell Tall Tales”, reflects its focus on shared experiences and storytelling. The Last Cast was introduced in 2024 and Lou has released them every June to celebrate his father.
I met up with Lou Cross Jr. at this years PCA and he offered me a pre-release sample of the forthcoming 3rd rendition of The Last Cast. He explained that this release is expected to hit the shelves in the July – August timeframe.
The blend of The Last Cast is described as:
- Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
- Binder: Nicaraguan (Ometepe)
- Filler: Nicaraguan (Esteli, Condega, Ometepe)
They come in 10-count sealed wax packs, tuxedo black craft stock with Boveda® humidification. MSRP is set at $16.00/cigar. Previous release was a toro while this year’s releases is a square, boxed pressed toro.
Pre-Light Examination
The Last Cast from Lure Cigars sports a dark brown wrapper that leans more toward an oscuro shade than a traditional maduro. The cigar is box-pressed with crisp, square edges and displays subtle marbling throughout the leaf. The wrapper is smooth to the touch with minimal visible veins, and the cigar feels expertly packed, offering just a slight amount of give when gently pressed. A well-applied cap completes the presentation.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band proudly showcases Lure Cigars’ signature “Tackle & Tobacco” branding, reinforcing the company’s fishing-inspired identity. A secondary dark green and white band further identifies this release as “The Last Cast.”
Running the cigar along the nose reveals very little aroma from the barrel. The foot, however, offers a pleasant combination of tangy and earthy notes that hint at the flavor profile to come.
Following a straight cut, the cold draw proves excellent, delivering notes of earth and sweet cracker with just the right amount of resistance. The combination creates an inviting pre-light experience and sets the stage for the journey ahead.
Using my dual flame torch, I warmed the foot of The Last Cast to an even orange glow and drew in the first introductory puffs of mild peppery notes to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
The Lure Cigars “The Last Cast” journey begins with a mild pepper note that gradually builds in intensity during the opening puffs. As the cigar settles, the sweet cracker nuance discovered on the cold draw joins the profile while the pepper eases back, creating a more balanced experience. Tangy fruit notes soon emerge, rounding out the first inch of burn with a refreshing brightness.
A fine white ash develops atop a thin, even char line, while earthy notes begin to weave their way into the profile, helping define the first third. The ash eventually falls in a solid chunk, revealing a well-formed and centered burn cone beneath.
As the cigar progresses, an interesting combination of peanut, fruit, and the lingering cracker note creates a flavor sensation remarkably reminiscent of peanut butter and jelly on toast. It may sound unusual, but the profile genuinely evokes that nostalgic combination and does so quite pleasantly.
Moving into the second third, earthy notes become more pronounced while a very mild spice lingers quietly in the background. Hints of dark espresso begin to emerge, adding depth and richness to the blend. Deep into the second third, the spice level increases while an ever-present nutty essence continues to anchor the profile.
The final third shifts the spotlight toward the spice notes, which become the dominant characteristic of the blend. Unfortunately, the cigar begins to burn a bit hot near the end, slightly diminishing the enjoyment and ultimately signaling the conclusion of the journey.
The cigar finished in the medium-to-full strength range and delivered a total smoking time of approximately one hour and thirty-five minutes.
Final Analysis
Overall, The Last Cast delivered a flavorful and distinctive smoking experience built around earth, nuts, fruit, and spice. The profile evolves nicely from an initial pepper-forward opening into a unique combination of peanut, fruit, and cracker notes that remarkably evoke a peanut butter and jelly on toast sensation. Hints of espresso and growing earthiness add depth through the second half, while the strength steadily builds into the medium-to-full range. Although the cigar burned a bit hot in the final third, its solid construction, lengthy smoking time, and memorable flavor profile make it an enjoyable and unique offering from Lure Cigars. Look for this to be released in the wild and grab a ten pack, you will be satisfied.
Point Deductions: (-1) Burned a tad hot in the final third; (-1) Slight Off Burn Near The final
Bonus Points: (+1) Unique and memorable flavor profile (PB&J on toast sensation); (+1) Buy a Pack
