Included in the Lancero sampler:

• Tatuaje (Brown Label)
• Tatuaje Havana VI
• Tatuaje Black Label
• Cabaiguan
• Cabaiguan Guapo
• La Riqueza
• El Triunfador Original
• El Triunfador
• La Casita Criolla
• Fausto

Produced at My Father Cigars S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua, the El Triunfador features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Unlike several cigars in the Limited Lancero Collection, the El Triunfador Lancero is sold separately outside of the sampler. Other available vitolas include: No. 1 Lonsdale (6 1/2 by 42), No. 2 Belicoso Fino (5 1/2 by 52), No. 3 Corona Gorda (5 5/8 by 46), No. 4 Robusto (5 by 50), No. 5 Petite Corona (4 3/8 by 42), No. 6 Lancero (7 1/2 by 38), No. 7  Toro Grande (5 7/8 by 54), and the limited Lancer0 (7 by 38).

The Facts

A Gift from My Bride
Price:$95.00 per box of 10 / $9.50 per cigar
Vitola: Lancero
Size: 7 ½ by 38
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

Pre-light

The medium brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is covered in watermarks and dark color imperfections and small and medium veins web across the stick. Running my fingers down the cigar, bumps are felt all over the place with a fair amount of oils. Removing the lancero from the cellophane, barnyard and sweet hay notes are picked up off of the wrapper. The aroma off of the foot is dark and musky, with more barnyard, earth, pepper, and possibly some unsweetened cocoa.

The cigar comes to a close with a small pig-tail style cap that has seen better days. A quick, shallow cut with my Xikar Xi Cutter reveals a firm draw. After a second cut, the draw remains firm. The dry draw is rich with some rich clove and a spice heat is felt in my mouth. There is also a cardboard flavor.

First Third

The cigar opens with a mixture of cinnamon, pepper, and very intriguing pine flavor. The spice heat is considerable in the mouth. The flavors quickly gain from medium to full in the first half inch. The Tatuaje El Triunfador is burning even with a pleasant looking white ash. While the flavors are full and spicy, they come across balanced on the palate.  

Middle Third

The pine is the most dominant flavor in the profile as toasted bread notes join in and pairs nicely alongside the woodsy flavor. The heat has calmed and the cinnamon is only noticeable on the finish of the smoke. Pushing the smoke through the sinuses, the flavor is very meaty and peppery. The draw remains stiff but in no way is it limiting the smoke production. The ash in the second half only held to a half inch before falling in my lap.

Final Third

A peppermint flavor has joined in bringing in some sweetness and a new spice flavor. While the pine is pushed back, it is still discernible. The toasted notes are still hanging on and earth and coffee are now on the finish. I am feeling a slight nicotine hit, not at all overwhelming, but quite relaxing. The profile is rich as I close out the cigar.

Wrap-up

Tatuaje’s El Triunfador in the lancero vitola provided full flavors coupled with a medium strength profile. The pine and cinnamon grabbed my interest and the balance of the flavors held me captive for nearly an hour and a half. The draw, while tighter than preferred, produced a satisfying amount of smoke and never became burdensome. And who cares about the flaky ash when a cigar tastes so dang good! Another exceptional cigar from Tatuaje and another reason to grab yourself a sampler.

The post Tatuaje El Triunfador Lancero appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

#10 – Tatuaje – Tabacos El Triunfador

Recent blends by Pete Johnson and Don Pepin have all been successful. This particular one may have fallen off peoples radars since it was released earlier this year. The cigar offers a sweet and nutty mild-bodied smoke that is accented with some cedar and subtle spices all wrapped in a gorgeous looking package. They do smoke a bit fast but the experience is very enjoyable.

View the full review here

#9 – Padron – Family Reserve 46 Years

Padron is a company who continuously rocks the cigar community with top rated blend, after blend and 2010 was no exception. The Padron Family Reserve 46 years is the newest extension to the Reserve line, and it a flawless addition indeed. From the awesome box-press vitola, to the deep cedar flavors the 46 year will be making the ranks of top cigars of 2010 lists everywhere. Although we loved the hell out of this cigar, the price tag was just a little too steep to put this cigar higher in the list.

View the full review here

#8 – Casa Fernandez – Aganorsa Leaf

This is a well constructed cigar from Casa Fernandez that packs itself with a fair bit of full body. The cigar is well balanced and plays mainly on some peppery spices and cedar notes but mixes in some coffee, nutty, and leather flavors to keep it interesting right down the nub.

View the full review here

#7 – CAO – La Traviata Maduro

CAO had a big hit with its well priced La Traviata and the Maduro wrapped version of that cigar did not disappoint. With the same favorable price range, this blend maintains its tasty flavors of spice and cedar, the full body, it’s perfect balance and consistency while adding a nice chocolate and coffee sweetness that the Maduro wrapper offers up.

View the full review here

#6 – My Father Cigars – Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial

Great blending seems to run in the family, this offering from Don Pepin Gracias’ son, Jaime, is a beautifully constructed cigar. It has an oily dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, kicks off with a typical Pepin spice and pepper and is complimented with nuances of coffee, cocoa and cedar. The smooth and balanced cigar offers a fantastic medium to full smoke, take you time and enjoy it!

View the full review here

#5 – La Aurora – Serie Anniversario 107

Miami Cigar has turned out a lot of great cigars this year and the 107 is a very tasty smoke that generated a lot of buzz in the online community. Although released earlier this year, a lancero vitola was made available later in the year which is another great way to experience this line. It’s sweet and fruity flavors are complimented by a smooth spice that offers a great balance in a medium bodied cigar.

View the full review here of the Corona or here of the Robusto.

#4 – Illusione – Singulare Phantom

One of our favorite manufacturer’s really stepped their game up this year producing his first limited release to date. Dion Giolito of Illusione cigars raised the bar (and my future expectations) when it comes to quality when he released this year’s Singulare series “The Phantom”. The Phantom is a milder blend jam packed with sweet tobacco, honey, and creamy earth flavors resulting in an all around stellar smoking experience.

View the full review here

#3 – AVO – Limited Edition 2010

AVO is known for their milder take on cigar blending, but they really stepped out of their comfort zone when they created the LE10. Knocking it out of the ballpark with a strong mix of Ecuadorian, Mexican, and Nicaraguan tobaccos which, when mixed properly produce a flavor bomb full of just enough body to cure all your cravings. The only con to this cigar is the fact that it’s so limited.

View the full review here

#2 Drew Estate – Liga Privada Unicos Series Dirty Rat

Drew Estate does it again with another remarkable addition to the Liga Privada line. The Dirty Rat satisfies not only the boldest of cigar smoker’s needs, but the complex cedar, earthy, cocoa notes wrapped up into a tiny little corona sized package are enough to make any smoker fall in love at first draw.

View the full review here

#1 Miami Cigars – La Sirena 

Photo Courtesy of Jackie at Bonita Smoke Shop

Miami Cigar’s La Sirena came out of nowhere and blind-sided the cigar community with a late start this year. We can personally say that we didn’t expect the diamond of a cigar that the La Sirena is, but I won’t be surprised to see this cigar at the top of most, if not all the lists this year. Pepin puts forth a fruity, coffee, sweet tobacco, and spicy blend all in a full body package. Who could ask for more?

We know, we know, this is the ONLY cigar in our top 10 that we do not have a review for. But Trust us, as soon as we get my hands on more (we were too busy “enjoying” them)

Honorable Mentions

Cuban Cohiba Behike
Although it didn’t make the top 10, we still think the Cuban Cohiba Behike should be mentioned. This is an absolutely amazing cigar. From the construction, to the flavorful and attention grabbing blend, the Behike stands alone. The only factor keeping it out of the race was the price. At $40 – $80 a stick we just couldn’t justify having this cigar top the list

K.A. Kendall’s 7-20-4 Dogwalker
This cigar would definitely have made this list but unfortunately it is not a new line this year, only a new size. The small size packs the same delicious flavors of cedar, subtle spices and a very interesting sweet dried raison, all in a short smoke that can be easily enjoyed on cold days or your drive home.

View the full review of the 7-20-4 here

Tatuaje Petit Reserva & Verocu No. 5
Another two cigars but Pete Johnson that are short quick smokes but pack the flavors of their full sized brothers. There some sweetness, spice, cedar and coffee notes on both of these cigars. I got a little more sweetness on the Verocu No. 5 and a bit more body and spice from the Petit Reserva but both were very tasty!

The post Casas Fumando’s Best of 2010 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.