Flor de las Antillas Lancero (2018)

In June 2013, My Father Cigars, Inc. introduced the first extension to its relatively new Flor de las Antillas line. Little did anyone know, it would be the first of a half-dozen new vitolas the company would introduce for the line over the next year-and-a-half, all exclusives to either specific retailers or distributors.

That first cigar was the Flor de las Antillas Lancero, a proper 7 1/2 x 38 version of the line, an exclusive to Dallas-based Up In Smoke.

Here’s what I said when I reviewed the cigar right around its release in June 2013:

This is an enjoyable cigar, but it’s neither challenging, nor particularly complex. It’s an easy cigar, particularly after the first third, and there’s something to be said for that. I don’t think it has much of a wow factor, but if you like the Flor de las Antillas, I think it’s worth trying to get your hands on a few. In many ways, particularly the first third its different, in other ways, it’s similar—and I think better. I’m happy to have a quite a few more, there’s a time and a place for these.

While the 15-month period that began in June 2013 gave cigar smokers a lot of options in regard to different sizes of Flor de las Antillas, the line’s expansion slowed down quite a bit. Since then, there have only been two additional vitolas added to the regular version of the Flor de las Antillas line.

Earlier this year, My Father offered the Flor de las Antillas Lancero again, though this time to the 80 or so retailers that are members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA).

The TAA is a fairly small group of some of the country’s top tobacconists, about 80 retailers as well as 40 or so manufacturers. The association gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

In recent years, the TAA has secured a growing number of exclusive cigars for its retailers, something that hit a record number this year as the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Of note, the TAA version carries a red ribbon at the foot that reads TAA, an obvious difference from the Up In Smoke release.

• Cigar Reviewed: Flor de las Antillas Lancero (2018)
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua (Sun Grown)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 7 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 38
• Vitola: Lancero
• MSRP: $8.99 (Boxes of 20, $179.99)
• Release Date: June 2018
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 1

It’s been a while since I smoked a Flor de las Antillas but the wrapper color is remarkably consistent to the original version from five years ago. To the touch, it feels like the buttery soft leather that I hear described in ads for a certain home electronics store’s furniture, though there’s a lot of veins running every which way. Aroma off the wrapper has some cocoa, raspberry and acidity. The foot is much stronger with sherry on top of some almonds and a sweetness that reminds me of opening a package of cinnamon rolls I used to enjoy as a child. The cold draw isn’t great with way too much acidity over dry nuts and some leather. It’s detailed, but the acidity is just way too much.

Fortunately, the Flor de las Antillas starts without the acidity;  instead, there’s a lot of rich nuttiness and some woody flavors. The first third largely retains that profile, adding some creaminess and sunflower seeds. Through the nose there’s a bit of creaminess, orange juice and a touch of a harshness. Those flavors are all quite separated, avoiding tasing like an orange creamsicle. Flavor is full, body is nearly full and the strength is medium-plus. A familiar sherry adds to the profile in the second third, which is similar though neither as sweet nor as vibrant as the first third. There are some dry leaves and a bit of a harshness, but overall the profile remains quite good.

While the first two thirds are rather similar, the final third is quite different. The Flor de las Antillas Lancero becomes much more acidic in the mouth with earthiness and mustard standing out. In addition, for the first time, there’s a defined pepper flavor in the form of a black pepper. The retrohales provide a bit of relief with some berry sweetness, but it’s quickly taken over the acidity in the mouth, which is less than ideal. Construction is ideal from start to finish: a nicely stacked ash, a great draw for the size and a fair amount of smoke production. As with many lanceros, the draw tightens just a bit with around two inches left, which helps to keep the cigar burning at a predictable rate.

Editor’s Note: While most of our redux reviews are based on cigars that we have been aging since the original review, this is based on a new cigar. We’ve expanded the redux category so that we can review and score new versions of cigars we’ve previously reviewed.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.