Review: Desnudos N1 Lancero (colorado wrapper)

[Puros Y Vino]

Pre-amble.

This review is solely my opinion based on a purchase of a Nudie N1 Lancero (Colorado). It is NOT endorsed, nor has it been requested by anyone associated with the Desnudo line. I review this solely as a cigar enthusiast. Yes. I am a mod on FOH but that has nothing to do with this review.  I've followed this offering with some interest. Now that I have some in my hands, I figured a few reviews might be fun.  I have the Colorado and Maduro versions.  I'll aim to review the Maduro version in a week or so.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this review.

Please note: Whenever you see a "//" that is a visual cue that another draw has been taken or I've jotted down a thought at the time.

 

Review: Nudie N1 Lancero Colorado

• Length 7.5inches

• RG:38

• Date: Jun 2 2022

• Time: 7:50PM EST

• Pairing:water

Pre-light notes

Light, milk chocolate Colorado wrapper. Good sponginess throughout.  Triple capped pigtail. Small green spot blemish on it.  Nice thin veins on the wrapper. Quality roll, smooth with a slight toothiness to it. 

Aroma at cold

Similar to farm rolls. Barnyard.   Foot has a bit of NC aroma to it.

Initial draw is firm

1^st Third

Earthy // good smoke amount // good draw // chalky mouth feel // slightly NC taste to it.  Good burn and ash // flavor still earthy, not too much going on // rich woodsy draw // dry finish // very slight hint of cocoa // has a bit of Montecristo in it , MPE by my accounts // dark bread notes like pumpernickel // bit of a sharp finish on most draws, like biting a cinnamon toothpick, but not that sharp // bitter chocolate notes // tap off crooked ash // cigar body is medium, has a malty demeanor to it // tangy // great burn, smooth draw // overall flavour profile remains static, still early though // bit of black pepper on the finish now // sharp, cedar, pepper notes // 1^st third ends with an uptick in body

 

2^nd Third

Continues to be malty, almost the equivalent of drinking a Stout // definitely a lot of cedar notes on the finish // still a great burn and solid b/w ash // manage to drop the ash // cedar notes have me thinking more pine than cedar // a bit of pepper lingers on every draw // still very much malty, which I do enjoy // I’m not a big NC smoker, but this one really take me back to when I started with NC’s in terms of finish, this is not a smooth as a CC, though it does have some finesse // I do get a bit of Partagas 898 at this point // bitter chocolate // earthy draw // very sharp , woody hit, overwhelms the palate a bit // need some water // next draw is a bit calmer, softer // smoke output is impressive for a Lancero // water // bitter chocolate // cedary notes // still chalky mouthfeel (as opposed to oily if anyone is wondering what I’m getting at) // sharp woodiness // woody, still great draw  and lots of smoke // touchup on the burn // cedar again // I will say, this a quality roll.  Very nice construction // 2^nd third ends

Final Third

A bit of ammonia opens the final third, might try a retroburn if it persists, sign of youth perhaps? // water // woody, no ammonia this time // cocoa, bit of ammonia at the tail end // tap off ash // do a retroburn not too much gas // smoother flavour of chocolate // chalky, woodsy notes // cedar // I feel the cigar is waning a bit at this point // cedar turned to pine on this draw // water // chalky, woodsy draw // hints of chocolate // bitter chocolate // pepper finish seems to have stopped in this third // water // pine with a nice cocoa finish // strong earthy notes, pepper on the finish // maltiness has dissipated at this point // water // woody and chalky // burn is perfect again since that touchup // cocoa and a big puff of smoke nearly blinds me // dirty, earthiness // water // a bite of cedar on this draw // tap off ash // a retroburn burns off more gas than the fist attempt // lots of smoke and more sharp cedar notes // chalky, woodsy aftertaste // earthy, chalky // feeling a slight nicotine buzz // cocoa, sharp cedar finish // earthy notes, charry finish // retroburn  followed by strong cedar notes // cocoa // woody, lots of smoke // water // woody // ash off, cigar cherry is going strong, no touch up needed // sharp cedar // very strong charry draw // cigar is showing its’ strength in this final stretch // tangy cedar notes // woody notes again // strong earthy draw // strong earth followed by pine // water // charry // strong earth // very strong draw, can feel it // final draw strong as well.  // OOF

Fin 9:16PM EST

Conclusions

I went in with no expectations and to be objective.  Visually, the cigar looks fantastic.  Any cigar with Hamlet behind it, IMO is a must try.  I was surprised by the amount of smoke output on this Lancero.  Most smaller RG cigars don’t put out a lot of smoke.  I pretty much “sipped” the cigar and it still let off a lot of smoke. 

I did find myself enjoying the cigar. At the halfway point, the tobacco’s strength either kicked in suddenly or was building up slowly. Either way, I started to feel this cigar.  I am reminded of my start in this hobby, when I first started smoking NC’s.  This cigar reminded me of an Opus X Corona Gorda I smoked back in 2009/10.  That cigar knocked me off my feet and gave me that “swimming brain” feeling.  The only difference between the N1and that Opus X is that from foot to head, the Opus was a monster.  The N1 only exhibited that strength past the halfway point.  I don’t recall the Opus having as much flavor range compared to the N1. 

From my estimation, this is a pretty young cigar. I believe I ordered a 50/50 bundle of Colorado and Maduro N1’s in Jan 2022 and received them in March 2022. They’ve had time to rest in the humidor.  And perhaps it is that youth that makes the cigar strong. Or, this could be an outlier whose blend was a bit on the strong side.  Only additional sampling can answer that question.  As for this particular cigar, it was full bodied and strong.  In my experience, that lends well to aging.  The youngest and strongest Cubans I’ve smoked have been absolutely delightful over the years after that initial “power” of youth has started to wane. I hope the N1 smooths out like they did.  I wouldn’t mistake this for a Cuban, but it is far more approachable than most NC’s I’ve had.  In future, I’d pair this with a white wine(probably Chardonnay) or white port to balance the body/strength of the cigar.

Overall, in it’s present state, this is a very good cigar.  It does not offer the most dynamic flavor range, but it is more engaging than most NC’s I’ve smoked. I will try another in 6-12 months to see how it’s progressing. And probably try the Maduro N1 shortly as well to benchmark it young. 

Score: 87. 

[JohnS]

Excellent review @Puros Y Vino, thank you!

[Goodfortune]

Very detailed review. Thank you!

[VictorEremita]

Thanks for the review. What's a retroburn?

[Puros Y Vino]

17 hours ago, VictorEremita said:

Thanks for the review. What's a retroburn?

It might not be the correct term for it. I think it's known as "purging". It's when you hold a lit flame to the foot and blow out through the cigar. It helps burn off any ammonia or unpleasant gases in the cigar.  If the cigar lights up like a candle, it was worth doing.  I notice many cigars flavours have improved after doing so or at the very least, unpleasant flavors die down/off.

[Nevrknow]

1 hour ago, Puros Y Vino said:

It might not be the correct term for it. I think it's known as "purging". It's when you hold a lit flame to the foot and blow out through the cigar. It helps burn off any ammonia or unpleasant gases in the cigar.  If the cigar lights up like a candle, it was worth doing.  I notice many cigars flavours have improved after doing so or at the very least, unpleasant flavors die down/off.

I doubted it until I tried it. It can do wonders for a cigar sometimes. 👍🏻

[joeypots]

Great review, thanks very much for the effort. It’s nice to know how these are coming along. 

[VictorEremita]

1 hour ago, Puros Y Vino said:

It might not be the correct term for it. I think it's known as "purging". It's when you hold a lit flame to the foot and blow out through the cigar. It helps burn off any ammonia or unpleasant gases in the cigar.  If the cigar lights up like a candle, it was worth doing.  I notice many cigars flavours have improved after doing so or at the very least, unpleasant flavors die down/off.

Gotcha. I've never tried that!