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View Full Version : My Father #4 Lancero Review



Cardinal
02-10-2015, 03:06 PM
Cigar: My Father
Vitola: #4 (lancero) 7.5" x 38
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP: ~$10.50

Initial Impression/Prelight
The My Father #4 sports an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, but even though I smoked this outside in the sunlight I didn't see much if any red hue. Instead, I found a nice, even mocha-colored wrapper with a pigtail cap, well-rolled and symmetrical, with very few veins and no soft spots.

The aroma was a bit milder than I expected from what I know is a fairly strong cigar, but I noticed some leather and spices from the wrapper and foot. I clipped with a guillotine cutter, and the pre-light draw was on the tight side. I picked up some light pepper and a fig or dried fruit sweetness from the cold draw.

I hate not being able to go back and verify anymore, but I THINK this cigar came to me from Tobias about 8-10 months ago, and the cello is dated '13 (do I recognize his handwriting? Is that weird?). It's been in my humidor at 65% since I got it.

Oh and...first Bums review!

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w547/temeric79/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/3CC06FCD-5690-4C2F-9702-90DFC2C22B75_zpssm1o2bzo.jpg

1st Third
The #4 starts out with a Pepin-ish pepper blast along with some oakiness. There's a hint of bitterness through the first 1/2", but that dissipates rapidly and I got into earthiness and leather, with more black pepper and some citrus on the retrohale. The flavor is med-full so far, and strength is actually in the medium range, below what I expected.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w547/temeric79/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/1ECD6D41-3D8D-47B2-A198-2E7A6902BBFA_zpsekna2hbw.jpg

2nd Third
The flavors really smoothed and and picked up in this section, with espresso and a more subtle leather as the primaries. I also tasted a lighter pepper and some bitter chocolate, spices and earth here, but still none of the dried fruit flavor from the cold draw. The burn is dead on, and smoke output is terrific for the vitola.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w547/temeric79/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/20FFBE70-047E-4551-A5AD-7197D372BEB3_zps2q8z8g3l.jpg

Final Third
I remember this from my first #4 - the ending is real crescendo. The rich leather and earthiness is still there, along with a big rush of mouth-warming baking spices and an almost creamy finish. The strength picks up a bit, and the cigars ends on a high note.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w547/temeric79/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/ABBEAC9B-0A2F-420F-B8FA-29B8FE7A8321_zpszveuyqbp.jpg

Overall Thoughts
What a great cigar. I love the vitola, I love the flavors, and I love the construction and perfect burn. If you like pepper you get it here, but the pepper is integrated in nicely with the earth, leather, chocolate, spices and espresso. Too many Nicaraguans I had last year just pummeled my mouth, which sounds dirty, and it is. I want rich, full flavor, but I don't need to taste it two days later, scraping my tongue to try to get rid of it. This cigar is the best of both worlds to me - rich but smooth, and minimal or no ashtray mouth.


Granted, this cigar has a couple years of age which may have helped smooth things out. All the more reason to pick some up and get them aging, I say.
Maybe it's because I only smoked one last year, but somehow the #4 got left off my personal "Best of 2014" lists. It's certainly one of if not the best I've smoked so far this year.
Too many lanceros burn poorly, need relights, or don't put off much smoke. This one defied the odds and ran perfectly. Ash piled up nicely and hung on for 3/4"-1" at a time.
The ending is just awesome, and reminds me of what I love about the La Aurora Preferidos line. There's this big, warm spiciness to the flavors, but it's still smooth and borderline-creamy. Love it.
The traditional lancero size is just stately, and this one has the gorgeous My Father band, with the green and pink colors and raised gold lettering and relief. It's one of my favorite bands.
I drank iced coffee with the smoke, and final burn time was about 1 hour and 45 minutes.


I noticed that my scores all clustered together pretty tightly in my reviews before (similar to how they tend to show up for a lot of professional reviewers too, I think), but for some reason I felt obligated to stick with the numbers since that's how I'd started. Now I think I'll just say 'yea' or 'nay' with a single, 5-er, or box recommendation, and otherwise let the flavors do the talking. Or maybe I'll give a 1-5, or 1-10 scale. If anyone has feedback let me know. I may be incorrectly assuming that anyone cares.

I derive a lot of psychological pleasure from "getting deals", but these don't seem to go on sale very often, at least where I shop. Either way, I'll give this a rating of 'box-worthy' and plan to pick up a box this year at some point.

Cardinal
02-10-2015, 03:07 PM
Max 4 images per post.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w547/temeric79/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/09BD2CC2-D9BD-4D70-A470-EB3BC25E2B65_zpsxroqfpm9.jpg

AlanS
02-10-2015, 03:16 PM
Thanks for sharing. I still haven't found one MF I didn't like. Enjoy

TreySC
02-10-2015, 03:36 PM
Very nice, I always enjoyed your reviews. I like the new rating scale as well, never really understood the number thing when nothing ever really went below the mid 80's

Jolly_WhiteGiant
02-10-2015, 04:32 PM
Cant go wrong with this lance. Even without all the age!

Jordan23
02-10-2015, 04:46 PM
Excellent review! I have one of these buried in one of my coolers that I need to get out.

Jordan23
02-10-2015, 04:50 PM
I forgot to add that I dont think your review is lacking due to a "scale" ( I have nothing against them and use them with my personal reviews), but I got plenty of your words.

steelman
02-10-2015, 05:05 PM
Thank you for sharing your in-depth review with us. I will be on the lookout for one of these lanceros.

Laynard
02-10-2015, 05:51 PM
Well, I may have to smoke mine tonight then. I felt underwhelmed by the Le Bijou I had recently, so I'll be heading into this one with high hopes. Thanks for breaking the ice and posting the first review!

Mr Jones
02-10-2015, 06:14 PM
Sounds like a good cigar, and this is the best review on the whole site imo!

Cardinal
02-10-2015, 06:27 PM
Very nice, I always enjoyed your reviews. I like the new rating scale as well, never really understood the number thing when nothing ever really went below the mid 80's


I forgot to add that I dont think your review is lacking due to a "scale" ( I have nothing against them and use them with my personal reviews), but I got plenty of your words.


Thanks for saying, this feels better to me too.

Cardinal
02-10-2015, 06:32 PM
Well, I may have to smoke mine tonight then. I felt underwhelmed by the Le Bijou I had recently, so I'll be heading into this one with high hopes. Thanks for breaking the ice and posting the first review!

I don't think this one will disappoint you.

Now, the Le Bijou didn't blow me away the first time either, but now I've smoked a couple more and they've grown on me a lot.


Sounds like a good cigar, and this is the best review on the whole site imo!

Haha, it didn't last long though. Second best review now :(

Laynard
02-10-2015, 08:29 PM
I don't think this one will disappoint you.

Now, the Le Bijou didn't blow me away the first time either, but now I've smoked a couple more and they've grown on me a lot.



Haha, it didn't last long though. Second best review now :(

Just got in from smoking the one I had and I must say your review is spot on. Great cigar!

Cardinal
02-10-2015, 08:49 PM
Just got in from smoking the one I had and I must say your review is spot on. Great cigar!

Cool, glad you liked it. I just spent about 10 minutes price shopping a box :D

Mulley
02-11-2015, 09:07 AM
Great review and great pictures!

I agree with Jordan, a scale is not needed but I don't think it takes away from a review. For a new guy like me I enjoy reading the descriptions of flavors more than a number. I am more likely to pick up a stick someone describes that fits a flavor profile I enjoy, than arbitrarily trying a 100/100 rated candela because of the score it got. Maybe a number rating on something more objective like construction/burn quality?

Just my :2cents:

DataJockey
02-11-2015, 01:17 PM
Thanks for the review. You could go with

1) Pass
2) Single,
3) 5-Pack,
4) 10 Box
5) 25 Box

as your rating system. Most reviews I read just leave the flavors do the talking which is ok with me.

Cardinal
02-11-2015, 09:05 PM
Great review and great pictures!

I agree with Jordan, a scale is not needed but I don't think it takes away from a review. For a new guy like me I enjoy reading the descriptions of flavors more than a number. I am more likely to pick up a stick someone describes that fits a flavor profile I enjoy, than arbitrarily trying a 100/100 rated candela because of the score it got. Maybe a number rating on something more objective like construction/burn quality?

Just my :2cents:


Thanks for the review. You could go with

1) Pass
2) Single,
3) 5-Pack,
4) 10 Box
5) 25 Box

as your rating system. Most reviews I read just leave the flavors do the talking which is ok with me.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I'll go with that pass, single, 5-er, box idea, and try to make note of construction/burn/etc every time.