Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we termed “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for a first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the El Güegüense in the Lancero size. This is a cigar line we have previously assessed in the Churchill size back in March, 2016.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
Binder: Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (TABSA)
Lancero: 7 1/2 x 40

El Güegüense is the debut brand of Nicholas Melillo’s Foundation Cigar Company. Melillo has been best known for his tenure at Drew Estate where he served as Vice President and Director of Tobacco and Production at Drew Estate. It was in 2015 when he launched Foundation Cigar Company and El Güegüense. At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, Melillo showed off a limited edition line extension to El Güegüense in the form of a 7 1/2 x 40 lancero. Prior to this assessment, Foundation announced that 250 boxes of the El Güegüense Lancero would be reaching select retailers.

El Güegüense is the name of a literary work that is very much a part of the fabric of Nicaragua culture. Melillo selected the name to pay homage to Nicaragua as he spent many years living there while at Drew Estate. This is reflected in the cigar itself as it is an all-Nicaraguan puro.

The new Lancero is the sixth frontmark to be offered in the El Güegüense line. The Lancero features different packaging than the five regular production offerings. This packaging is highlighted by a box with a special laser printed image on the box. The Lancero also features 13 count boxes instead of the 25 count boxes found across the rest of the line.

The El Güegüense Lancero delivered a mix of natural tobacco, white pepper, orange ring, cedar, and pepper. There was more in the way of sweetness early on. As the El Güegüense Lancero moved into the last third, the cedar and pepper notes became more prominent. I also detected a slight mesquite note – something that I picked up on the Churchill size.

I found the El Güegüense Lancero had a little more boldness compared to the Churchill. This was a cigar that started out medium strength before progressing to medium to full strength in the second half. At the same time, the flavors of the Lancero started out medium to full-bodied and by the second half, the Lancero was in full-bodied territory.

Overall I found the El Güegüense Lancero to deliver some nice flavors. The slight uptick in strength and body worked well with this blend. It’s a cigar I’d recommend to an experienced cigar enthusiast, and it’s a nice one for the novice to move to something fuller. As for myself, it’s a cigar I’d smoke again – and it’s worthy of a box split.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
Body: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Good
Assessment: 3.5-Box Split
Score: 90

References

News: Foundation Cigar Company Releases El Güegüense Lancero
Price: $11.00
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Stogie Geeks News #30 – November 18, 2016
Stogie Feed: n/a
Brand Reference: Foundation Cigar Company

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop