Somewhere deep in the Dominican Republic, in a factory that shall remain nameless, the Lectin—The Cigar Authority’s 15th Anniversary Cigar was born. Because what better way to celebrate 15 years of The Cigar Authority than with a cigar named after an obscure dietary villain? This 6 x 54 features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, San Andrés binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers.
The wrapper presents a tan sandy color with a slight reddish hue. It’s firmly and evenly packed with a very rustic look. Very prominent veins and noticeable seams give it an old-school charm, yet the construction feels solid and well-packed.
On the light, there’s an immediate explosion of pepper followed by salted nuts. The flavor quickly turns earthy and leafy with a musty basement note, pepper zest, cinnamon, and clove. Underneath it all, a subtle cedar undertone and a burst of citrus appear, rounded out by the taste of salted peanuts.
The profile transitions to something reminiscent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A salty nuttiness takes over while cedar, citrus rind, and warm baking spices weave in and out without overpowering the experience. A hint of sweet coffee cake and tart espresso adds depth, alongside slight zest and a pleasant hay-like barnyard aroma.
Cedar and dried fruit open the final stretch, followed by a ramp-up in spice and zest. Cayenne heat emerges while the oak fades away. The finish delivers an intriguing mix of over-steeped black tea and white pepper. Buttered popcorn becomes dominant, with layers of cedar, citrus, hay, bread, leather, earth, and cocoa rounding things out.
The overall experience was very enjoyable, with the flavor, smoke output, and ash quality outshining the cigar’s rustic appearance. The draw was slightly stiff but still satisfying, the burn line stayed thin and manageable, and smoke production was abundant. It’s a spicy, zesty smoke with a near-perfect draw throughout despite a wavy combustion line. The flavors were balanced and well-blended, though not overly complex. A great morning coffee cigar with a slow burn and enjoyable flavor profile. Once we know more about the blend, it might even make an excellent pairing with mezcal.
Overall Score: 88.80 out of 100
Overall Strength Score: 4.39 out of 10
This Blind Review (Cigar #28-A) was conducted by the Cigar Review Team comprising of: Paul Nabs, Scott Treptow, Joe Hallett, Chris Safranski Brett Y., The Scuse, Chris Leblanc, Dan Johnson, Rob Smith, My Cigar Pilgrimage, BonerTom, Tripp, Rodney Mikell, and Blake Epling
Price: $15.00 per single, $189.99 per box of 15/2x Boxes for $149.99 each
