The Luchador is an exotic 5 country cigar blend handcrafted in Nicaragua consisting of very unique tobaccos. A San Andres Wrapper leaf surrounds the habano binder leaf grown in Ecuador. The filler uses viso from Esteli, Nicaragua with ligero From Pennsylvania-USA and Jamastran, Honduras. Centering the blend is a distinctive tobacco from Ometepe, Nicaragua.
For those that don’t know, Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes that rose out of Lake Nicaragua.Ometepe is the combination of two Nahuatl words “ome” (two) and “tepetl” (mountain). Ometepe is the largest volcanic island inside a fresh water lake in the world. As we noted in our Cigar 101 article, tobacco farmers greatly desire volcanic soil that is extremely fertile. Ometepe has it. It also has perfect conditions for growing tobacco for cigars. Ometepe Tobacco is a sweet, uniquely spicy tobacco.
The Luchador comes in 4 Vitolas:
El Hombre – 5×54
El Castigo – 6×60
El Guapo – 6×50
Loco Perfecto – 6×58
For this review I sampled the El Hombre.
Examining the Luchador you will notice it is well constructed with a deep cocoa brown wrapper rather rustic in nature, it is toothy with some noticeable veins, but I chalk that up to the San Andres leaf used in the wrapper. It kind of reminds me of a Mexican cigar I smoked many years ago that a friend brought back from the country. The Luchador is finished with a simple nipple cap. The band is whimsical in design representing the mask of a Luchador so there is no mistaking the cigar you are puffing on. Unlike many bands this one has a custom die cut to represent the mask and the colors used give homage to the country of Mexico where the wrapper comes from. Sam Leccia has taken some real pride in this cigar.
A pre-light sniff hits me right to the mat with heavy red pepper. I get up and decide to take this bad boy for a spin. I bite off the pigtail and fire it up. The red pepper is front and center and the wrestling begins. The Luchador develops a beautiful white ash solid and straight. It takes another shot at me as the spice ratchets up opening my nasal cavity on the retrohale.
After an inch of some hard shots, the Luchador mellows out a little and I am greeted with a lighter pepper and some sweetness entered the profile. I am thinking to myself, is it playing with me, trying to catch me off guard? There is a back note of coffee as it burns through the first 3rd. The burn is a tad wavy as it seems to cradle the ash. It doesn’t want to fall to the mat that is for sure.
The Luchador is giving out tons of smoke like a freight train climbing a mountain. It fills my mouth as we enter the 2nd third. The flavors are delightful as the pepper fades and the sweetness develops. Maybe it is dancing with me, or maybe we have come to get know each other better. The ash is holding on strong. But no sooner do I say that the ash falls to the mat.
Entering the final third the Luchador was a little bitter but that didn’t last long as suddenly it changes to shots of chocolate especially on the scent of the foot. The final round was just pure delight as there was nothing but sweetness and chocolate with a backdrop of pepper now and then. I also noticed a slight mineral flavor on the tip of my tongue and I am sure that was due to the Ometepe leaf.
Sam Leccia Luchador
Sam, this is an excellent smoke and I have bought more to enjoy.
– Boston Jimmie