CAO LX2

Today’s post comes courtesy of a new sponsor, CAO Cigars. Originially released as a limited edition the LX2 Lancero came as part of a package that consisted of a limited edition humidor along with 28 lancero smokes. With the lancero growing in popularity CAO will now release the LX2 lancero in March as a regular vitola in the line.

Cigar: CAO LX2
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 7 x 39 (Lancero)
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Pueblo Nueva)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican

Appearance & Construction (18/20): The cigar features a flawless grade A wrapper and this lancero has a slightly toothy look to it. The cigar features a nicely done pigtail cap, and is slightly spongy to the touch. The bands on the cigar are a little bit over sized for a cigar of this size, but overall this is a nice looking lancero.

Flavor & Notes (27/30): The prelight draw offers some notes of chocolate which for me was different then the other sizes I have smoked. So I lit this baby up and dug into the 1st third of the smoke which revealed notes of pepper and earth with faint notes of chocolate in the background. As the second third is smoked, the pepper remains on the tongue and through the nose with some earth and nuttiness joining the party.  As we conclude our smoke notes of pepper and chocolate close it out with a touch of nuts mixed in for good measure.

Burn/Ash/Draw (21/25): Like many lancero cigars the prelight draw is perfect, the trick is keeping a lancero perfect all the way through. The draw might be slightly tough for some around the halfway point but I find if you sip a lancero the draw is much easier and more enjoyable. The crisp white ash held on strong which is a nice change from most lancero smokes I have experienced and the burn line is so crisp and straight it is visually pleasing.

Overall (23/25): The LX2 lancero is a very different experience compared to the other sizes offered. It is however a very enjoyable one, and despite the sipping action needed to enjoy the tight draw it is enjoyable and for me it makes me long for my pipe.

Rating: 89
Price: $6.00