El Triunfadore, and a triumphant return

Cigar: El Triunfadore Lancero
Vitola: 7 1/4" x 38
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Made in El Rey de los Habanos in Miami by Pepin Garcia for Pete Johnson (Tatuaje)

I like secrets. The whole mystique behind something hidden and "not for public disclosure" is really enticing to me... which, if im honest with myself, is probably why i started smoking in the first place. Peer pressure is only part of it: theres something about everyone telling me to stay away from something that makes me want to see what all the fuss is about. Thank god for negative advertising, as it led me to the leaf which i now make my passion and profession...

well, Pete Johnson is telling everyone to stop wanting this cigar. It is the only cigar in the line, so it might as well just be called "El Triunfadore" instead of the lancero in that line. The name is that of a Cuban cigar that has long since disappeared, just in case you were wondering.

I heard about it while i was surfing the web looking for information on the tatuaje Monster series, of which i regret to say there is still none. The only tidbit i can share is that the box pete designed makes the Garcia's think he's crazy. Thatll be a fun halloween present.

So, i come across this cigar. It's a lancero, which immediately sold me on it, but even more so it has the La Riqueza monster connecticut wrapper on it, and since i love that wrapper i was popping a chubby thinking about how that would translate in a lancero format, where wrapper is the be-all and end-all. It's always been my thought that if you get a good wrapper leaf, you're crazy not to make a lancero out of it. I mean, come on. Its like creating a beautiful color red and not covering a convertible with it. You'd be stupid not to.

So, i immediately called John at Draper's in DC, where i'm now located (a story for another time) and asked if they got it, to which he said Yup. So, i scooted on down there this afternoon and picked up three of em to smoke and check out.

Now, a disclaimer: i am not only a Pepin whore, and will smoke anything he has ever touched or rolled, but i am a Pete Johnson groupie of the worst sort. I have spoken with him on the phone maybe twice, and each time i have said the following. "I dont know if you get told this a lot, but you make the best cigars on the planet." Not "i think you make the best cigars on the planet", "you make THE BEST cigars on the planet." It's not that he blends directly for my tastes, they're just immaculately well constructed, well blended and well packaged, as well as well taken care of. They're perfecto.

So, when i say i scooted down to drapers, i mean i hightailed my ass down there to get these as fast as i could. You know, like a person who's not addicted. shyeah, thats me.

So, to the review. I smoked this inside with no wind, and with only a bottle of water for whenever my mouth got too dry. This was a tasting as pure as could be. Here's what i think.

I find that sometimes i get suggested flavors by the color or intricacy of the band (Padron's seem chocolatey, opus x seems red cherry or red pepper, etc.) so i was surprised to find a generally nondescript band on this guy. I think this will be a totally impartial review from this perspective, as im not judging on how good it is, but more what it is and how it does.

The cut was easy, and the draw was just a tad tight for my taste. Apparently, this is because, accoridng to John, these guys are wet as hell and need some time to dry out. Thats what the other two are for, if i dont do those within the week. The draw is good enough to smoke, mind you, its just got a tad push against it.

The light is easy and the burn is absolutely stunningly perfect. Its a straight line the whole way down. its rare for it to be that perfect, which is why i get that out of the way early. Construction, with the exception of the newness in the draw, is flawless. I hear Pepin may have rolled these himself, as he does with manyh of the other lanceros in his portfolio. I'm getting goosebumps.

The first third, directly from the light, is all burly. It is full flavored and on the full side of medium-to-full bodied. The spice is really downplayed at first in favor of the rich, caramel sweetness this wrapper exudes. Aso present are a slight coffee bean note, most likely from the Cabaiguan-ish filler, and some cherry wood in the aroma, but mostly its a rich, sweet cigar with a lot of complexity. The sweetness osnt sharp, to the point where it could be annoying or candy-like, but its refined and coupled with earth and a hint of bitter, like a dark chocolate caramel would be. really, really tasty.

The second third brings in the spice, and absolutely perfects this cigar. It just rolls with ascending red pepper spice, like a chocolate covered pepper that takes a moment or two to hit your nasal passages. besides this change, the revolution of the spice throughout the smoke, the cigar stays relatively the same. There's not enough filler room to put in too much development, although the ligero leaf used sat right in the center of the cigar. I was able to smoke this to the last half inch, and the oils bitterd out only once before i had to slow down and adjust.

One sad note: you HAVE to smoke this calmly. Too fast, and this harshness hits that forces you to put it down and let it rest. The Zino rule would suit this cigar well: one drag a minute. It's like training a dog: speed up and get punished, but rewards are in store for good behavior.

overall, with a semi tight draw, this is very well blended and well put together. Unfortunate, as the last three boxes available come to Drapers before the first week in October, and after that El Triunfadore is no more. Find one if you can... just dont tell anyone else. its a secret.