In November of 2011, Viaje released their first-ever limited edition Lancero, the Viaje Exclusivo Atlantic Cigar Co. 15th Anniversary Lancero. Only 150 Boxes of 25 Cigars were released and they were an in-store purchase only, although there were a few boxes sold online about a week after the event. The Atlantic 15th Lancero brought the total number of Exclusivo releases to nine, although more vitolas are expected in 2012.

Here is what I said in my first review:

The first thing I wanted to know when I smoked the Lancero was: Is it as good or better than the other vitolas in the line? The answer is: sort of. While it is a better cigar (both flavor and construction wise) than the Chiquito, Short and Double Edge Sword, (and I enjoyed it about the same as the OR Robusto), it is not as good (nor as complex) as the Corona Gorda or the Tower 45th. Construction was excellent and it was a joy to smoke. While this is a very good edition to the Exclusivo lineup, it is not the best in the line, and if given a choice, I would honestly rather smoke a Tower 45th.

  • Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Exclusivo Atlantic Cigar Co. 15th Anniversary Lancero
  • Country of Origin: Honduras
  • Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L. (Raíces Cubanas)
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 7 1/2 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 40
  • Vitola: Lancero
  • MSRP: $9.20 (Boxes of 25, $230.00)
  • Date Released: November 12, 2011
  • Number of Cigars Released: 150 Boxes of 25 Cigars (3,750 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked for Redux: 1

The Viaje Exclusivo Lancero looks to be extremely well rolled with a gorgeous espresso brown wrapper that almost glistens with oil, even after six months. It is a bit soft in spots when squeezed, but not enough to be overly concerned. The wrapper is silky smooth with very few veins present and smells very strongly of barnyard, dark chocolate and pepper.

The Exclusivo Lancero starts off immediately with strong flavors of bitter espresso beans, dark chocolate, leather, wood and just a tiny amount of black pepper. There’s some spice on the lips, although it is much reduced from what I remember, but is still present a bit on the lips. The second half sees a large increase in sweetness, which really increases the complexity of the profile, but the core flavors stick around as well, albeit in differing amounts, with the chocolate dominant over the espresso.

Viaje Exclusivo Lancero

Construction was excellent, both burn and draw, for the entire cigar. Strength was consistently around the full-medium and never really went over the line, which is a difference from the first time I reviewed it, when it was definitely in the full category.

91 Overall Score

It is said often, and is absolutely correct for the most part, at least in my opinion, that some Viajes really need about six months of sitting and waiting before they really start to shine. That is definitely the case with the Viaje Exclusivo Lancero. While it was a very good cigar out of the gate, the half year of rest that these have on them have really done the blend good. Mellow and strong, but with a core profile of dark espresso, chocolate and black pepper, this cigar reminds me why I love the Exclusivo blend so much and think honestly it is Farkas' best blend. Excellent construction and great smoke production is just icing on the cake. I am glad I have most of a box left, as I think that these can only get better with more time.

Original Score (November 2011)
89
Redux Score (May 2012)
91
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Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.