The Good Stuff: If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past two years then you should be quite familiar with Antonio Lam and Reinado cigars. We’ve reviewed his Grand Empire Reserve line (you can check that out here) a while back and I have said on many occasions it was a stand-out cigar that struck my by surprise, and I know I’m not the only one. Well this year Reinado is releasing a tweaked version of that blend which will feature an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper laid over the same blend as the Grand Empire Reserve. Everything you need to know is contained in this press release:

Oradell, NJ, June 04, 2014 –(PR.com)– REINADO® Cigars eagerly announces the upcoming availability of its latest cigar in the Grand Empire Reserve line, a Petit Lancero. Like all Grand Empire Reserves, the new Petit Lancero (6X38) possesses Nicaraguan binder and filler that have been uniquely blended and fermented using REINADO’s signature process. However, it also incorporates an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper that has been finely aged 3 years as well as an ornate pigtail head.

“With the explosive consumption of our exceptionally rated Grand Empire Reserve line, we sought to introduce a complementary profile that delivers a rich, toasty, and distinctive flavor for smokers seeking a medium strength experience,” said Antonio Lam, owner of REINADO Cigars. “After nearly a year in development, we believe this aged Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper combined with the Grand Empire Reserve blend offers a perfect balance for sophisticated palates.”

“We are excited to carry REINADO’s new Petit Lancero and are confident this premium cigar will be highly appreciated by a wide range of discerning smokers,” said Tom Sullivan, Founder of Alliance Cigar.

The new Petit Lancero will be released on July 20, 2014 at the 82nd Annual IPCPR Convention & International Trade Show in Las Vegas. REINADO will be in Booth #2014.

Packaged in boxes of 10, the Petit Lancero will retail for $8.99 each from Alliance Cigar, REINADO, and fine tobacconists in the United States. Additional sizes beyond the 6X38 will be released at a later date.

One thing I have always loved about Antonio and Reinado is that you can order directly from them. If you are looking for these once they or released or any other Reinado cigar hit them up directly here. Thanks goes out to Antonio for hooking me up with samples to bring this review to you.

Size: 6 x 38
Wrapper: Aged Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Medium/Full
Strength: Medium
Price: $8.99
Pairing: Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Saison (7.5% Saison/Farmhouse Ale)

Prelight: Reinado’s Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition starts off with the obvious, the very thin, light Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The wrapper is very smooth and fragile and this sporting a light brown/orangish color with a few dark grey markings here and there. The wrapper leaf is seamless, carrying only a few small veins as you head up the thin, slender body to an amazing little coiled pigtail style cap. I love that accent. The Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition feels very light-weight in the hand. While the binder and filler tobaccos feel dense and hard, I didn’t put too much pressure on the cigar for fear of breaking the wrapper. Ecuadorian Connecticut is always extremely delicate. The Ecuador Edition is polished off with the signature maroon, white, and gold Reinado crest as well as a secondary “Grand Empire Reserve” gold band which you can find on the other blends in the GER portfolio.

The wrapper of the Ecuador Edition gives off some light cedar aroma while the foot of the cigar carries nothing more than some strong, natural tobacco aromas. The cap cut like butter using my Palio double bladed cutter. The cold draw produced some strong honey and citrus notes along with a ton of cedar and natural tobacco.

First Smoke: Lighting up Reinado’s Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition I was greeted with some very soft black pepper, soft spice, a ton of citrus and honey over cedar and natural earthy/tobacco/oat flavors. The draw on this cigar is incredible. Each, tiny, little puff kicks out huge clouds of thick white smoke. I’m glad too as often I tend to smoke too quickly on Lancero format cigars and end up charring the experience all to hell. The burnline is crazy wild as huge waves form all over the place. I didn’t whip out my lighter quite yet so we will see how the burn fares into the second third. The ash left behind is a dark gray and decently compacted only holding on a little over half an inch before falling off.

Halfway There: My stubbornness paid off as into the second third of the Reinado Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition the burnline has completely corrected itself and is now burning razor thin, and dead even. The flavors began to ramp up a bit and a really strong nutmeg has taken over with some soft spice, cedar, honey, citrus and earthiness underneath. The beer I paired this cigar with is really bringing out the citrus and spice elements of the experience. The retrohale is brilliant, coating my nasal passage with a very strong spice and some nice cedar. The draw is still perfect and I am feeling nothing at all in terms of nicotine.

Finish: The Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition really starts to shine in the final third. The spice has really ramped up and brought the cedar and citrus along with it. Some more pepper has crept back into the mix as it hangs out with the natural earthiness and honey. There is also some interesting leather in the aftertaste that I didn’t start to pick up until the last inch and a half. The Ecuador Edition took me a little over an hour to take back and it outside the first inch it burned flawlessly. I never once had to reach for my lighter. The finish was very smooth and very creamy and resembled the body at the start of the cigar with no harshness at all and absolutely no signs of a nicotine kick.

Overview: I don’t often grab Connecticut shade cigars from my humidor. And when I do, there are only a few that really do it for me. One of those, has to be the greatest Connecticut shade cigar I ever had, E.P. Carrillo’s New Wave Connecticut. Reason being is it delivered greatly in the flavor category, the category in which I feel most Connecticut cigars fail in. How did Reinado’s Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition do? Let’s just say I can’t decide which one I like better. Yes, its THAT good. The Ecuador Edition leads off with some creamy, complex flavors which continue to dance with each other for a majority of the experience making sure that I am always entertained. Then, a little more than halfway in the Ecuador Edition opens up and showcases it’s potential by intensifying it’s flavor and ramping up in body before finishing just as smooth as it started. I know some of you may want to know how it measures up to the standard Grand Empire Reserve and quite frankly, you just can’t compare the two. Let’s just say if it was 10am and I was headed out back to enjoy coffee and a smoke, the Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition and E.P. Carrillo’s New Wave Connecticut would have to fight to their death. Winner get’s smoked.

Pairing: I decided to pair the Grand Empire Reserve Ecuador Edition with a bottle of Sierra Nevada’s Ovila Abbey Saison which is brewed with Mandarin oranges and peppercorns. Brewed in California this farmhouse ale comes in at 7.5% ABV and delivers a very bold, citrus and fruit experience. The peppercorns add a really subtle spice that you only really pick up on this finish as they blend in with the citrus and sweetness. As I stated before the spice and citrus really helped pair up and bring out the flavors in the Ecuador Edition while adding a bit of sweetness which resulted in a flawless pairing.

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The Good Stuff: Heard of Reinado Cigars? If you are active on social media (check out Reinado on Facebook and Twitter) they are everywhere. I hadn’t heard of the brand until a year or so ago and every since then they have blown up the review sites with high-rated reviews and a ton of buzz. This isn’t brand I could find locally, but lucky for me our good friend Jay over at Cigarphoto.net made the connection between me and Antonio over at Reinado and he was kind enough to hook us up with a few samples of their newest release, the Grand Empire Reserve (GER).

The Grand Empire Reserve was released at last year’s IPCPR show and created a lot of buzz ever since. The Nicaraguan Puro is created in the Condega region, and only comes in one size, the Elegios which is a 5 x 55 box-press format. The cigar will come in boxes of 20 and run $9.95 a stick.

Here is what Reinado had to say about the blend:

Oradell, NJ, July 03, 2012 –(PR.com)– Following the success of the 92 rated Petite Corona known as the Habanito and the 91 rated Torpedo, REINADO will unveil the Grand Empire Reserve at the 80th Annual IPCPR Convention and International Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, in August, 2012.

The Grand Empire Reserve is a box pressed Robusto that incorporates a select Habano maduro wrapper and an additional aged Nicaraguan filler which leverages REINADO’s signature fermentation process to provide even greater depth, richer undertones, and enhanced overall complexity for both the casual and the distinguished cigar smoker.

“The flavor profile of the Grand Empire Reserve was developed after extensive sampling to deliver a truly exceptional blend,” said Antonio Lam, owner of Cubanero Enterprises. “We believe the flavors and balanced strength developed through extending REINADO’s unique fermentation process along with the inclusion of the aged Nicaraguan filler will distinguish the Grand Empire Reserve from all other cigars on the market,” said Lam.

A single size called Elegios meaning “chosen” is scheduled for release in August, 2012 followed by additional sizes.

“As demonstrated through the REINADO core product line and the introduction of the Grand Empire Reserve, we are dedicated to innovation and offering smokers quality choices of highly rated cigars,” said Lam.

The Grand Empire Reserve will be available through select retailers and, on a limited basis, directly through REINADO.

You can find out more about Reinado, their cigars, and retailer locations on their official website.

Size: 5 x 55 box-press
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Select Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Full
Strength: Full
Price: $9.95
Pairing: Sixpoint 3Beans (10% ABV – Baltic Porter)

Prelight: The Grand Empire Reserve starts out with a beautiful, I mean beautiful, oily, toothy, dark brown wrapper. There are a few smaller veins throughout the box-pressed body, but the vast amount of oils and tooth on the wrapper are by far the stand-out Characteristics. The wrapper feels really firm, and thick, while the cigar doesn’t showcase any soft spots at all. The cigar is really firm all the way through. Again, again, again, I LOVE these soft-box pressed cigars. Reinado’s construction on each of the samples have been flawless, capped off with a beautiful, round, triple cap. The cigar is polished off with the simple, elegant Reinado crest and a secondary gold band stating “Grand Empire Reserve”.

The wrapper gives off lots, and lots, of sweet tobacco and spice aromas while the foot of the cigar screams of spice and pepper. The cap on this cigar clipped very easily and very cleanly using my Palio double bladed cutter. The cold draw produced a ton of black pepper, spice, and so much sweetness.

First Smoke: Reinado’s Grand Empire Reserve starts out with a massive black pepper explosion right off the bat. I was expecting it since the cold-draw. As the pepper faded out slightly I was able to get a real grip of the crazy sweetness this cigar carries with sweet tobacco, raisin, deep oak, and an almost maple syrup flavor. This cigar starts out amazingly bold in both the flavor and the strength department. The Grand Empire Reserve kicks out a perfect amount of thick, white smoke with every puff. As you can tell by the change in the background scenery I had to retreat to my patio due to the high winds out today and even then, the smoke was so thick it stuck around for a while before dissipating.  The burnline is razor sharp, and despite a few early waves I didn’t have to tough it up at all during the first third. The ash is a medium and dark grey and held on for about an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Halfway There: Despite the trend in most smokes, the black pepper is still a dominant flavor in the Grand Empire Reserve’s flavor mix. There has been some nice chocolate notes moving in and colliding with the raisin, deep oak, spice, sweet tobacco, and that syrupy taste I picked up. The retrohale is crazy sharp, and so strong on the black pepper that I couldn’t find it in myself to do it too often. I am feeling a nice bit of nicotine at this point. This cigar isn’t “too” strong, in fact it’s strong but well balanced, just the way I like it. So many times I have been at a herf with a handful of friends and one person lights up a cigar that just smells so rich, so good, that it makes me jealous no matter how good the cigar I am smoking is. This is exactly what Reinado’s Grand Empire Reserve does. My entire porch was filled with strong, sweet, deep oak. It smelled liked a mixture of light incense and firewood.

Finish: Reinado’s Grand Empire Reserve took me a little over an hour to smoke and it was a flavor powerhouse from start to finish. The strength has began to pick up a bit more in the final third of the cigar while the flavors have just been relentless. The black pepper has now completely faded away just in the time create a smooth ending for this cigar while the syrup, sweetness, chocolate and spice are still going strong. The cigar finished slightly wavy but I never had to touch up, or relight the cigar the entire experience. The cigar left me with a nice little nicotine kick. Nothing that knocked me off my ass, but this cigar is very full in strength and body.

Overview: Can you tell how much I liked this cigar? If not, read again. In fact, as I was finishing it up I even messaged the Casas Fumando crew to tell them how much ass this cigar kicked (and it’s quite a bit). I was slightly skeptical about the Grand Empire Reserve for 3 reasons. 1) I was fearful that it was all the reviews had just over hyped it in my eyes. 2) This cigar is limited and Reinado’s cigars aren’t found in too many shops. And 3) the price is a bit steep for such a young cigar company. Now how did it do? 1) I can say that in my opinion the Grand Empire Reserve deserves 100% all the praise it has been getting. 2) despite the availably, if you are willing to purchase outside of your state or city these cigars can easily be found for shipping and 3) the prices is spot on for such a well manufactured, wonderful experience. This is a complex, strong cigar that won’t kick your ass. It’s perfect for the novice smoker looking to try a premium cigar as it serves as a perfect example of how great complex cigars can be. And ideal for any seasoned smoker looking for a cigar that will keep them on their toes the entire experience. This is a box worthy cigar for sure, and I know for a fact that I will be seeking more out.

Pairing: As I stated before, I have been on a huge Sixpoint kick lately. I really enjoy every single brew that I have found by them and I am glad that each week I find it in more and more shops locally. One of their most recent short run releases, the 3Beans has been making its way through said shops as of late. The beer is a Baltic (strong) porter brewed at the Sixpoint Brewery in Brooklyn, clocking in at 10% ABV. The name of the beer comes from 3 different beans that are used in the brewing process of the beer. First, Coffee beans from Stumptown Coffee, Cocoa beans from Mast Brothers chocolate, and Sprouted Roman Beans which are similar to kidney beans. The Sprouted Roman Beans have actually been a documented supplement for barely by ancient brewers during times when barely was running low. Anyways, the beer is great. It gives off a nice chocolate, and coffee aroma with just a tip of alcohol. The aroma describes the flavors almost to a tee. Lots of coffee, chocolate, and malt. The coffee that I speak of is a really natural coffee, not just light notes. As you can tell these flavors pair wonderfully with the Grand Empire Reserve and that coffee just adds this amazing dimension to an already complex cigar. I can totally see why I read so many posts of smokers pairing this cigar with coffee.

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