Tesa Cigar Co. Cabinet 312

2009 Lancero

vs

2014 Petit Lancero

So since a Tesa cigar is CotM for March 2014, I decided to do a comparison review on another Tesa cigar. I managed to get ahold of a 2009 Cabinet 312 Lancero, as well as the brand new 2014 blend Cabinet 312 Petit Lancero. This is a tweaked blend, so I will be comparing the new blend as well as the difference that 4+ years of aging makes. Pictured above is also a Cabinet 312 Robusto. The two lanceros are unbanded, but that is what the Tesa 312 band looks like, for reference.

Statistics

2009 Lancero Shape: Parejo Size: 7″ x 38 Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 Filler: Nicaraguan Esteli & Jalapa Color: Colorado-Maduro Strength: Medium-full Price Paid: Trade Smoke Date: March 12, 2014 Age: 4+ years



2014 Petit Lancero Shape: Parejo Size: 5″ x 38 Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 Filler: Nicaraguan Esteli & Jalapa Color: Colorado Strength: Medium-full Price Paid: Trade Smoke Date: March 13, 2014 Age: 1 week



Accessories Used

Xikar Xi3 STK Titanium Black cutter, Silver & Chrome Vector Stratos single-flame torch lighter, Handmade English walnut ashtray made by wedgewoodrings.

Pairing

Feng Qing “Gold Tips” Pure Bud Autumn 2013 Chinese loose leaf black tea served in a small glass pot and glazed ceramic and cracked celadon “rust and green” tea cup. Though I smoked these two on two separate days, I used the same pairing both times to avoid influence. This was a fruity, malty, and spicy black tea. It’s rather hard to say what would constitute a good pairing here, because the 2009 stick changed profiles every few puffs, and the tea, being an aqueous solution, was the same throughout. The 2014’s strong nutty finish could not be washed away, even by the strong tea. It was good tea though.

Appearance/Nose

These two cigars looked extremely similar (as they should.) The only major difference is that the older full lancero was a bit darker in color. The wrapper was also a bit shinier on the younger petit lancero, and duller and toothier on the older stick.

2009 Lancero

The 2009 was unbanded with a dark colorado-maduro wrapper. It had what appeared to be a single or double cap with a little pigtail. it was slighly uneven and lumpy. The nose was very faint. I didn’t get much of anything besides a bit of hay.

2014 Petit Lancero

Also unbanded, this cigar had a slightly lighter, colorado wrapper with the same single/double cap and pigtail. It was more evenly rolled than the older cigar and did not appear lumpy. Again, the nose was faint, almost indiscernable.

Construction

The wrapper, though slightly different on each, was flawless on both.

2009 Lancero

The older lancero had a large, slightly bulging hard area about an inch and a half long starting about an inch from the foot. The burn was even and sharp, the whole way through. I wish more cigars burned this well. The ash was white and solid, coming off in about one-inch chunks.

2014 Petit Lancero

The younger cigar was soft and springy throughout, without any hard spots. The burn was a little but less even than the 2009, but always evened itself out without a touch up. The ash was bright white, and fell off in inch-long chunks, just like that of its older brother.

Cold Draw

2009 Lancero

The cold draw was rather tight, not unusual for a lancero. Like the nose, there was very little flavor present.

2014 Petit Lancero

Again, the cold draw was quite tight, and with relatively little flavor.

Smoking

First third

2009 Lancero

The draw opened up right away and the first flavors were cinnamon, nuts, and caramel, with a medium body. Caramel and nuts were the big players here. The smoke production was about average.

There was a lot of very sweet, caramel and coffee flavor in the first inch. Shortly after, the caramel and cream gave way to a grassy flavor and a sharp black pepper.

A few puffs later, the pepper vanished, and I was left with floral sweetness and caramel.

Then coffee and cream. This cigar changed profiles every few puffs. Amazing!

Next up was peanuts and cream, then back to floral honey and caramel again.

It kept cycling between those profiles, changing every 2 – 3 puffs.

Second third

2009 Lancero

Coming into the second third, the flowers and caramel were big for the moment. The flavor actually settled down and stayed there for a while.

The smoke production was still about medium, as was the body. For about an inch, the floral/caramel flavors continued, and then they shifted again to coffee and cream.

The burn had been perfect up to this point and continued to be.

The coffee and cream stayed for another inch, making this a less transformative third than the first one.

Final third

2009 Lancero

The coffee and cream continued into the last third. Shortly after, the floral notes returned, and the coffee developed a slight bitter note. The draw grew a bit tighter as well.

And coffee and cream again! The cigar seems to have settled into these two flavor sets, oscillating back and forth between them for the remainder of the stick.

Between the shifts, there was an occasional puff that had a very bitter, unpleasant taste to it. The bitterness grew more prevalent as I approached the end, and I stopped with about an inch and a half of stick left.

First third

2014 Petit Lancero

Again, the draw opened up nicely as soon as the stick was lit. This time, the coffee, caramel, and red pepperflavors present at the start were richer,maybe medium-full. There was a nutty, leather taste with a bittersweet chocolate finish.

The spiciness was definitely a step higher than the older stick. In fact, everything was dialed up from medium to medium-full.

So far, this stick wasn’t cycling through flavors like the 2009. It sat at a mix of coffee/caramel/red pepper, which was delicious.

The pepper did subside after the first ashing, but the coffee and caramel remained the dominant flavors.

Second third

2014 Petit Lancero

The second third brought some pepper back, with the coffee and a strong, nutty flavor that really coated the palate between puffs. The nut finish was extremely thick and almost greasy in the way it refused to leave the palate. I could tell this was a cigar I would still be tasting tomorrow–or next week.

This stick wasn’t quite as sweet as the 2009 lancero, with stronger coffee and nut flavor and less cream as well. The flavor had gradually shifted a bit, but so far, there had been no shocking flavor twists like the 2009 lancero.

Smoke production was maybe a bit higher than the lancero, but not much.

Final third

2014 Petit Lancero

Still no major shifts. Coffee, red pepper, and peanuts remained the dominant flavors. Finally, a bit of cream emerged.

Instead of growing bitter, this younger cigar grew a bit milder, creamier, and sweeter in the final stretch.

Caramel came back into play. It stayed a bit smoother, creamier, and sweeter with a hint of floral flavor emerging until the nub.

Notes

2009 Lancero Draw: Medium-tight Body: Medium Primary Flavors: Floral, caramel, coffee, cream Smoke Output: Medium Smoke Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes



2014 Petit Lancero Draw: Medium Body: Medium Primary Flavors: Coffee, red pepper Smoke Output: Medium Smoke Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes



Overall

I mention it every time I review an unbanded cigar, but I do kind of wish these had a band on them. The 312 band is quite nice looking, and I like having it as a reference point, and I think it makes a cigar look prettier.

2009 Lancero

This was a crazy transformative stick, especially in the first third. I really loved it up until the final third, where a bitterness developed that dampened my enjoyment quite a bit. The construction and burn were impeccable, and the flavors up until that last third were excellent. Each of the many shifts presented a great set of flavors, though it was a bit disconcerting that the first third shifted so much, because just when I would start to really get into it, it would change on me.

Rating

2014 Petit Lancero

No major transformations here, which was surprising, given the twists and turns of the older stick. The flavors were stronger, with more spice, but lacked the sweet creaminess of the 2009. I definitely enjoyed the older stick more, except in the final third. The 2014 never grew bitter on me. The flavors on this one were a bit in-your-face and unrefined, probably due to its youth.

Rating

Bottom Line

I liked both of these cigars. Without question, if the 2009 hadn’t gotten bitter in the final third, it would have been the strong winner. The flavors were more refined, had that crazy transformation going on (which I’ll admit caught me a bit off-balance, but was certainly unique and more interesting than the petit lancero). However, the petit lancero had bolder flavors, and never gave me any sort of sour or bitter note. The lingering finish on it was a bit thick for my tastes though. Given the choice between these two, I’d take the older lancero again, and stop before the last third.