So first off, I love Lonsdales. Absolutely love this vitola, quite easily my favorite. I had heard mostly good things about the Fonseca #1, though I never heard the accolades that an 898 or Monte 1 get. I jumped at getting this box in November of last year. I haven't torn into this box because of it's relative youth but I've certainly enjoyed them. My brother also mentioned he really dug them too. So when they were up in 24:24 recently (along with the RyJ Cedros #1 because I must buy lonsdales) I jumped on another box.
Anyways, onto the review.
Prelight
If I'm being honest, these aren't handsome looking cigars. The wrapper is oily and supple, which is a plus, but the cigar feels lumpy. Unfortunately this one is a bit underfilled at the cap so I am expecting it to get warm and mushy earlier in the final third than I'd like. It smells lovely though.
Initial Light/First Third
The draw has just enough resistance. Not too firm, not too loose. Just right. It's a very comfortable draw, The initial few puffs are full of cream and toasted nuts. Initially I think it's a tad bit over medium bodied. Fantastic smoke output too. The smoke itself is very oily and the flavors linger. The pictures don't do the ash justice but it's brilliantly white. As the burn progressed towards the second third one side didn't want to keep up, but it never got more than 1/8" off kilter. Ash holds on for 3/4" to an inch (and yes, the second ash nailed my leg). Right toward the end of the first third I was getting a touch of salted nuts, but it was very faint and fleeting.
Second third.
I am really enjoying this cigar. No hints of youth, not a perfect burn but certainly not bad. Wonderful smoke output and the flavors I'm digging. The salted nut flavor never returned but I did get some salted caramel. It didn't last for long, but it was much more intense than the salted nuts in the first third. That combined with the cream and toasted nuts was just a great combination. But as soon as the caramel came it disappeared, but the saltiness did stick on throughout this third which really made the rest of the flavors pop.
The cream intensified throughout this third with the toasted nuts fading a bit. I started to get some leather to the flavors as well. It made itself known but it wasn't unpleasant and a rather welcome addition to the flavors I was getting.
Final Third.
The cigar was rather lively and experienced some interesting transitions during the first third and second thirds. The flavors I got at the end of the second third, remained through the remainder of the cigar. Part of me would have liked to continue that journey but you know, when it's good it's good. Really enjoyed this cigar. Except for the ashing of myself.
True to my assumption, it got warm and mushy at the end. I did get a hint of youthfulness right at the tail end of the cigar. My gut tells me another 3-4 months and that youthfulness will disappear for good. What I don't know is whether or not it's worth aging this cigar or how it would evolve over time. They are smoking pretty damn well as it is and I'm not exactly a patient person. But it'll take some time to get through this box, so maybe the next box (and probably another if they show up again for sale) will have some more age to it.
Score: 89/100
This isn't a cigar that is going to wow you. It won't punch you in the face mercilessly like a Cazadore will. It's not nearly as refined as a Monte 1. But it's a pretty good value and enjoyable. Overall smoke time was 65 minutes. I think had the cigar not been a bit underfilled it'd have lasted another 10-15 minutes.