Roberto Duran Premium Cigars released a few new blends at this years IPCPR. The one that really caught my eye was the new Neya F8 Texas Tactical Lancero. Lanceros are one of my more favorite vitolas, they offer the truest flavor from the wrapper as there is much less filler and binder to impact it.
Hey, even Santa liked it!
Having had the F8 Typhoon, I was looking forward to trying this new addition to the Neya lineup. I know I am not the only one that feels this way, as the press release for the Texas Tactical noted that consumers, retailers, and fellow colleagues were asking to see the F8 in a Lancero.
“The Texas Tactical Lancero is a very exciting project. The suggestion came from Texas, from colleagues, retailers and consumers of the Neya F8 that were wondering how that F8 flavor would translate in a Lancero size. Once production started in Nicatabaco, we noticed that some of our fellow cigars manufacturers in Esteli were stopping by the factory more often than usual to pick a fuma of the new Lancero. This is when we knew the Texas Tactical Lancero will be a very special F8 and much welcomed by our customers. We look forward to sharing it with our retail family.”
The F8 Texas Tactical, like the others in the portfolio are produced at Nicatabaco S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua. The cigar itself is a 7 x 40 lancers with a pig tail cap. It is available in 15-count cedar cabinet style boxes. The odd 15-count is a reference to an ammunition magazine and is keeping with the “Texas Tactical” persona.
The blend for the F8 Texas Tactical starts out with an Ecuadorian Corojo Maduro which is different from the F8 Typhoon, which uses a Habano wrapper. The fillers and binders are Nicaraguan and of course there is that touch of ligero in it, to give it a classic F8 punch.
I had this cigar resting in my humidor for a good 4 months so take that into considering when I describe the notes.
Cigar Review Notes
- Beautiful lancero with a dark marbled wrapper
- Spicy sweet aroma along the barrel
- Nut, pepper, and cocoa on the foot
- Finished with a pig tail cap
- Biting off the tail the cold draw offers earth and some pepper
- Once fired up, you get a warning shot of pepper
- The ash is light and falls easily. unlike the F8 Typhoon that carried a wicked long ash
- Typical for a lancero it does require re-lights if you let lay, but that is ok – it’s a lancero!
- Spicy salty butter enters once the pepper tones down
- Touch of chocolate lays in the background
- Woody and earth notes enter just shy of the secondary band with an earthy aroma
- The final third finishes with a toasty note
- Solid Medium to Strong smoke
Overall the Neya F8 Texas Tactical was well constructed lancero that delivered a delicious set of flavor notes. It is certainly a fine compliment to the larger F8 Typhoon vitolas. Personally I would like to see more lanceros on the market but I understand the expertise required to roll them which is far and few between.
Neya F8 Texas Tactical