Memoirs of a Cigar

The History of the Lancero (while smoking a Davidoff Millennium Blend Lancero):

A Lancero is traditionally 7.5 inches long by a 38 inch ring gauge. The Lancero was invented by the Cohiba brand in Cuba in the 1960′s, and was made exclusively for Fidel Castro. A few years later, Castro comissioned the Trinidad Fundadores (a Lancero), which was bestoed upon dignateries as an official gift of the Cuban Govenment. The third Lancero in history was the Davidoff no. 1, originally made in Cuba, but continued as Davidoff moved it’s operations to the Dominican Republic.

The Lancero offers the cigar smoker a unique opportunity to taste more of the wrapper of a cigar, due to it’s small ring gauge, and thereby to truely compare tobacco leafs from different tobacco farms. In fact many producers will simply roll up a leaf and smoke it whole when tasting and blending their cigars, which a Lancero most closely emulates. For this reason the wrapper of a Lancero must be a strong flavorfull wraper to carry the flavor of the cigar.

Anyone who has smoked a small ring gauge cigar has undoubtably noticed it’s drawbacks. Small cigars frequently burn too hot (from too little tobacco) and become bitter, or simply don’t draw (from too much tobacco). For this reason only the best cigar rollers can make Lancero’s, which require high levels of quality control in the factory.

Every Lancero I have smoked has drawn perfectly, as the production issues of the early 2000′s have now been rectified. Lanceros are currently my favorite cigar size, and in fact my good friend Pablo is bringing me 8 from Miami next week; including the Oliva Serie V Lancero, Don Pepin Garcia Lancero and La Gloria Cubana Lancero, amongst others. My current list of Lanceros I have enjoyed include:
-CAO LX 2
-El Triunfador
-Joya de Nicaragua
-Illusion
-Davidoff Millennium Blend

Although current consumer cigar trends are toward large ring gauge cigars, Lanceros continue to be produced, as cigar manufacturers love the classic size and smoke Lanceros themselves.

When seen lighting a Lancero, typically one of two thoughts come to mind; “there is a feminine cigar smoker” or “there is a true cigar conissuer”. I prefer to think of myself as the latter.

This Sunday, after an early morning bike ride to breakfast and back, I decided I would relax on the front porch, in the shade of the Palm Tree with a book, a drink and a cigar.

The book was The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. The drink was a 2007 Vida Organica Chardonnay Sparkling Wine from Argentina. The cigar was a La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami Torpedo, from El Credito Factory in Miami, which I had selected personally when I visited Florida this past winter.

An absolute joy to smoke, this Torpedo was excellent! A mild cigar which started semi-spicy and mellowed into a creamy, toasty and woody taste with a clean finish. While enjoying this relaxing Sunday Cigar, it’s easy to remember why La Gloria Cubana was, and still is, one of my favorite cigars. The label for the new Artesanos de Miami, is more vintage looking than the typical La Gloria’s, and complements the smooth taste, clean finish and perfect draw. It left a taste of heaven in my mouth, and a huge smile on my face.

Remember that Seinfeld episode about Cuban Cigars where Kramer asks Jerry “Real Cubans Jerry”?

Kramer asks Jerry pick up a few Cubans for him on the way home. A guy was gonna drop them off at Jerry’s parents house. Little did he know they were Real Cubans, as in actual human beings from Cuba!

Later Kramer finds out they are actually Dominicans, as in real human beings from the Dominican Republic, so he dresses them up in Cuban Wrappers (army uniforms) and tries to sell them off as real Cubans.

Well we just received a box of these bad boys right here. Kramer would be so proud.

On a recent trip to La Bodeguita del Medio I decided I would try something new. I have been seeing more and more of the Graycliff brand lately, so when I saw they had a Graycliff Gran Cru in a Salomon size, I figured I would give it a whirl. It was a bit pricey at $35.00 a pop, but compared to the little pinky sized (seriously, the smallest cigars I have ever seen) Pre-Embargo Cubans sitting in the shelf next to it for $50.00 each, that Salomon was a deal!

Graycliff cigars are made at the Graycliff Resort in the Bahamas by 12 master rollers working under Avelino Lara, who was responsible for the original Cuban Cohibas!  In a word these cigars are ‘Luxurious’, as they were made with the intention of pairing with the world class cusine served at the Graycliff Resort. An excellent cigar, with a cuban heritage and quality.  Their beauty stems from the gorgous Costa Rican Wrapper used in their creation, and their production is flawless.  I will definately be trying all the Graycliffs in the future.

Smoking a Bahaman Born Cigar in a Cuban Born Bar, you cant get more Island Style than that…at least not in Palo Alto, California.  They also provided a much needed ‘Taste of the Bahamas’.