Cigar Geeks - Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Lancero

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Lancero
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Brlesq

87
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member Beegerply (Byron). The cigar provided for this round is the Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Lancero.

First unveiled in 2016, the limited edition Bishops Blend is an annual release known for its robust flavor profile, which James Brown believes showcases his growth as a blender. Never a shortage of skulls in the Black Label Trading Company's branding, the band showcases a red skull adorning a ceremonial bishop's headdress (or miter for all the Catholic school survivors out there). This band is rock and roll through and through, but even more impressive is the somewhat pointed cap mirroring the miter shape. At the heart of the Black Label Trading Company Bishop's Blend are Pennsylvanian, Nicaraguan, and Connecticut broadleaf filler tobaccos. This blend moves the broadleaf to the forefront without overwhelming the Nicaraguan portion. The binder is Ecuadorian Habano, and the wrapper is an Ecuadorian Maduro. Production is usually limited to around 400-600 boxes of Bishops Blend in each size in the United States. The Lancero size was released in 2020 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of this blend.

Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Lancero

Brand:: Black Label Trading Company
Name:: Bishops Blend Lancero
Length:: 7
Ring Gauge:: 42
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Connecticut Broadleaf
Nicaragua
Pennsylvania
Binder:: Ecuador
Habano
Wrapper:: Ecuador
Habano
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Lonsdale
Notes:: https://cigarsandleisure.com/black-label-trading-co-to-ship-bishops-blend-in-may-2021/

This cigar was enjoyed with Piggyback Rye

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

This is a beautifully rolled cigar with a dark, oily wrapper with minimal veins. It has a pointed torpedo cap with a little nub on top, which is unusual for a lancero, but it matches the Bishop's cap on the band, and it cut very cleanly. I loved this shape and size. The band is an attractive black and red foil band with a similar foot band. Prelight aroma was sweet tobacco.

Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible

It lit easliy, and never required a touch up or relight. The burn was mostly level, and corrected itself on the few times it wavered. Ash held up to about 2" before dropping each time. Adequate amount of smoke.

Construction: 25 Points of 30 Possible

The cigar was solidly rolled with no soft spots. The cap was unusual as noted above. A good looking dark wrapper with minimal veins. Draw was a bit snug once or twice, but easily remedied with a poker. (You can expect this from lanceros occasionally.)

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

Upon lighting, I picked up a dark roasted, almost burnt, coffee flavor, followed by some tannins, chalkiness and earth. Medium in strength and body.

The second third had less of the burnt coffee note, but developed something salty (like smoked meat), more earthiness and some small hits of black pepper. Hard really to describe at this point, but it was just good tobacco. Still medium.

Final third was not much of a transition, but even more earthy, and without pepper.

Summary

This is a great, medium-bodied cigar with some unique and enjoyable flavors. And it looks cool! Enough complexity to keep things interesting. Total burn time was 1hr, 20min. I'm glad that Byron twisted my arm to join this one!