Say what? Another Raíces Cubanas Lancero. It’s the final one that will be featured as part of Lancero50, and perhaps the champion of the overlooked banner. While I’ve had my fair share of AGANORSA leaf, most of it has not been in the form of Casa Fernandez. Raíces is better known for its long list of clients, notably: Alec Bradley, Illusione, Padilla and Viaje. However, there’s a lot more than just four brands. Notably is Casa Fernandez, the brand named after Eduardo Fernandez, the head of both AGANORSA (Agricola Norteña S.A.) and Tabacalera Tropical.

• Name: Casa Fernandez Lancero
• Vitola: Lancero
• Size: 7 1/2 x 40
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’98
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Country: Honduras
• Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L. (Raíces Cubanas)
• MSRP: $7.90 (Box of 20, $158.00)
• Source: Havana Jim’s ($8.70)
• Time in Humidor: 8 Months
• Cut: Xikar MTX
• Light: Colibri Boss II
• Beverage: Coke
• Smoking Time: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

The Story
Eduardo Fernandez has always remained sort of in the background. While he is the head of a lot of companies and a known personality in Central America, he really doesn’t make many appearances in the U.S. In fact, I’d wager that if it wasn’t for his current litigation with Pepín García, most would have no clue who Fernandez was. Casa Fernandez bares his name, a far cry from AGANORSA, Tropical or Raíces Cubanas. The brand was introduced at the 2007 RTDA, shortly after Tropical had moved from Nicaragua to their current location (Raíces Cubanas) in Danlí, Honduras. Tabacalera Tropical was rebranded as Casa Fernandez, although the name is still widely used in the industry, as well as on the Casa Fernandez logo. (Oddly, it’s not on the band.) It was until the next year, when the trade show took on a new name, that the Lancero was released, making if the fifth format for the cigar. Over the past few years, both Raíces, as well as AGANORSA have become more common names amongst cigar smokers; yet, it seems the signature cigar of the factory is relatively unheard of, and I’m not sure why.

AGANORSA’s Corojo 06 is one of the best wrappers in existence today. It has graced a long list of cigars for a variety of brands and in various formats, and those who have smoked it will be happy to know that it makes an appearance on the Casa Fernandez Lancero. It’s a medium brown coffee like hue with great reds. Veins are above average in quantity, but extremely pronounced. Aroma from the AGANORSA leaf is the signature sweet cocoa note (although not as pronounced as on Andre Farkas’ product) with some red pepper accompanying the medium-full profile. Packing is an interesting creation, a rather diverse looking image, but most importantly it produces a good amount of firmness. From the bottom, it’s rather similar: sweet AGANORSA cocoa (think peculiar brownie sweetness) with lots of pepper.

Lighting
I V-Cut all of the Casa Fernandez Lanceros I’ve had, except for this one. From the head of the Raíces’ product, it’s the sweet cocoa and red pepper combination, a bit of herbs adds some depth to the full profile. Lighting brings a toasty pepper scent to the Winston-Salem air, expected as always. Initial draw consists of sweet cocoa transitioning into an average cedar with a bit of pepper, medium-full, but a bit underwhelming.

First Third
Sweet cedar, red pepper and cocoa. That’s the core, herbs and vanilla also show themselves, but it’s mainly the main three flavors. The fullness carries over to the finish of the Casa Fernandez Lancero, which is mainly cedar and red pepper. Length is a bit above average, but there’s still some room for improvement. Body is full, strength is full, and construction is quite good; welcome to the signature of Raíces Cubanas and master blender Arsenio Ramos.

Second Third
It becomes sweeter, and spicier. Confusing, but easy to understand. The cedar takes a backset to the battling pepper and cocoa, which sees a medium toastiness underneath help tie everything together. Finish still could be longer, but there are new flavors: cedar up front, caramel, toastiness and herbs. Draw is quite good with an above average amount of spicy aroma coming out. Strength is still full, although getting closer and closer to medium-full. Lightish ash holds for close to two inches, absolutely beautiful thanks to the amazingly consistent burn, which begins to become crooked towards the end of the second third.

Final Third
There’s a sweetening, but it’s not from the cocoa, more of a molasses flavor. In addition, harshness picks up, the red pepper is gone, replaced by nuts, which join cedar and cocoa. While there’s a lot of changes, it’s mainly a calming of the Casa Fernandez. The finish has some increased toastiness, but it’s mainly the core, and much shorter. One of the amazing features of the Casa Fernandez is the lack of warming of the smoke. Not a whole changes, construction is about as consistent as Raíces Cubanas gets, which is saying something. At about an inch and a half, I set the remainder of the Casa Fernandez Lancero down.

For the Novice
No, nope, don’t try it. This is full, full, full. See below…

In the End The best way to describe this?
What you get when you combine a Illusione ~hl~ (Natural) and a Viaje Platino Lancero. The Casa Fernandez is in its own place, but there are hints of the Illusione and the Viaje, which is a great place to start. Simply put, this is the most overlooked full Lancero on the market, no questions asked. There’s really nothing else to say, it’s good and you need to try it.

88. It’s that good.

Lancero50/42