Cigar Geeks - Raymond Pages Antihero Lancero

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Raymond Pages Antihero Lancero
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Neal (ntanner)

93
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member DRuff (Doug). The cigar provided for this round is the Raymond Pages Antihero Lancero.

In the cigar world, Raymond Pages may be the hero you want and the hero you deserve. Antihero is a unique offering from Raymond. More medium or medium-plus than full in body, it's rich and robust but incredibly balanced and smooth, never overwhelming."

Raymond Pages Antihero Lancero

Brand:: Raymond Pages
Name:: Antihero Lancero
Length:: 7
Ring Gauge:: 42
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Nicaragua
Wrapper:: Nicaragua
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Full
Shape:: Panatela
Notes:: Antihero is a unique offering from Raymond Pages. More medium or medium-plus than full in body, it's rich and robust but incredibly balanced and smooth, never overwhelming. The wrapper is a dark Habano leaf - not a maduro but almost maduro looking - brimming with oils, nice tooth and texture.

This cigar was enjoyed with Coffee

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

Nice dark wrapper with only a couple minor vein lines and a nice toothy feel. It doesn't look oily but it looks like a flavorful leaf. Cap is well done and took a punch cut very well. The cannon is solid and the wrapper has a nice sweet tobacco aroma to it pre-light. Overall a nice looking cigar.

Lighting and Burn: 15 Points of 15 Possible

Took a flame well enough and produces a large volume of smoke with each puff right off. The ash is a combination of light gray with dark gray flecks and holds solid to well past an inch before I knocked it off. When I did knock it there was a nice short cone left behind.

Burn was slow and steady, the burn line almost perfect from start to finish taking about an hour and 20 minutes to smoke.

Construction: 28 Points of 30 Possible

After punch cutting the cigar i am rewarded with a good draw with just enough resistance. The wrapper is a good looking one with a couple minor vein lines and a nice dark reddish brown hue. It feels slightly toothy and looks like it should be flavorful. The cap is well done and takes a punch cut without issue. Overall the cigar appears to be well constructed.

Flavor and Aroma: 41 Points of 45 Possible

The initial flavors come across with a dried plum followed by a earthy tobacco and decent spice and finishes dry. I do get some wood in the retro and a bit of spice but nothing to heavy. A really nice start. I like the hint of sweetness through the exhale and the way it just turns off at the end.

The second third arrives with leather leading the way and a charred wood with a hint of sweet in the aftertaste which is medium in duration. Starting to get the anti part of the name as the second third is like the opposite of the first third. One of the biggest flavor changes between thirds I've ever experienced but it's good.

The last third is dominated by the leather, the sweetness disappeared and a wood hint comes in following the leather. More earthy in the last third and strength has moved into full.

Summary

This was a solid smoke. The flavor profile was a good match for my taste and the burn was about as good as you could ask for. Smoke production was high, producing large volumes with each puff and overall I enjoyed the hour and 20 minutes I spent burning it. A big thanks to Doug (DRuff) for letting me in on this one.