Smoked: Rocky Patel Dark Dominion Maduro

The Lancero. What a cool vitola! Some believe that 35% (or more) of the overall flavor of a robusto or toro cigar comes from the wrapper. With a lancero, given its wrapper/binder & filler ratio, I would imagine that perhaps 65% (?) of its flavor comes from the wrapper. I found that to be true with the Espinosa Wasabi Lancero I smoked a while back, having smoked it in the robusto vitola numerous times.

Since I have not smoked a Rocky Patel Dark Dominion in any other vitola other than this 7.5 x 38 lancero, I have nothing to which I can compare it. (Boy, do I ever wish Rocky would make a Sun Grown lancero!) But I can compare the flavor notes of its Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper with other RP sticks, including the Sun Grown, that I’ve smoked. I get the impression that the wrapper of this lancero was not aged nearly as long as the Sun Grown’s, which sports a wrapper that’s been aged for 5 years.

Underneath the wrapper is a Costa Rican binder, and filler leaves from Nicaragua and Honduras. The oily oscuro wrapper is slightly veiny, and is terminated in a pigtail. I had no problem carefully cutting the cap just below the pigtail without causing any unraveling of the wrapper. Upon spark-up, my palate was greeted by strong, but not overpowering, notes of spice, wood, and pungent tobacco. Those notes remained throughout the cigar, with the addition of a hint of leather and earth beginning in the middle third and lasting until the end. However, the smoke was kind of brash and harsh, although it was abundant with an excellent burn and draw. Halfway through, I had a shot of Evan Williams Bourbon followed by a Lagunitas Maximus IPA. Both paired very nicely with this medium-strength cigar.

Overall, despite its sometimes brash harshness, it was an enjoyable smoke. I think I’m going to rest the remaining 9 sticks for at least 6-months before smoking another one. Maybe they will smooth out a bit. Stay tuned.

Cheers! 🥂😊