The Tobacconist Association of America releases continue to be issues. This week it’s the Flor de las Antillas Lancero. This 2018 TAA Exclusive comes from My Father Cigars and is a Nicaraguan Puro. It’s limited to the retailers of the TAA, although this isn’t the first time it has been released. The cigar was originally released in 2013 as a one-time store exclusive for a shop in Texas.
Cigar Review: Flor de las Antillas
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 7.5″
Ring Gauge: 38
Size: Lancero
The Look: Packaged in 20 count boxes the cigar are packaged horizontally instead of the typical vertical placement. Laid out in two rows of 10, they feature the classic Flor de las Antillas band with a garnet foot ribbon denoting TAA in golden lettering. The Garnett & Gold is reminiscent of the Florida State Seminoles. The Sun Grown wrapper has some subtle oils and is exquisitely rolled right down to its fantail cap. In the hand the cigar is firm with no voids of tobacco and a hefty weight for a lancero.
The Notes: The cold draw reminds of me Christmas cookies. Theres some subtle cookie dough, sugar, cinnamon and a hint of vanilla. The aroma off the wrapper has a touch of cocoa and a hint of brown sugar. For such a thin ring gauge the cold draw has a lot going on. After we torch the foot of the cigar the first note is brown sugar.
Moving into the first third I expected more pepper, which seems to be the signature start to most cigar from My Father. It took sometime to develop but as the first third came to a close the pepper made its way to the palate. However, before we get there the Lancero from My Father serves up hints of lemon zest, brown sugar and cedar. Through the nose the cigar has some hits of wasabi encrusted nuts.
The second third sees some of the sweetness from the cold draw being to appear. There are notes of baking spices, cocoa and the faintest hints of vanilla. The finish has an abundance of cedar notes with a touch of nuts. The retrohale has hints of black pepper that lingers on the finish.
The last third sees cedar notes become dominant with nuances of cedar and mocha. Through the nose the pepper remains though it isn’t as strong as the first two thirds of the stick. It’s joined by some peppermint nuances and a touch of licorice which creates a unique finish.
The Finish: The Flor de las Antillas Lancero is hands down my favorite size of the line as it’s easily to most complex. While it stars out fairly straight forward the flavors continue to grow throughout the experience. It’s definitely a cigar worth picking up especially if your a fan or the line or the size.
Score: 92
Price: $9.99 / $179.99
Flor de las Antillas Lancero 2018 TAA Exclusive
Flor de las Antillas Lancero 2018 TAA Exclusive Foot
Flor de las Antillas Lancero 2018 TAA Exclusive Burn
