Nestor Miranda has recreated his Special Selection line of cigars with the help of Don Pepin. With the Don Pepin name behind the blend I was expecting to smoke a strong black pepper (I’m being a little extreme) but was quite surprised to find a complex cigar with a wide range of flavors.

The Nestor Miranda Special Selection line of cigars was said to be Miranda’s “personal” line. Or as it was explained, the cigar he would give out to family and friends.

With these two cigar giants at work together a great cigar was defiantly born.

Random Fact before the cigar review: The lancero cigar size is a very tricky cigar for rollers because it is so thin. If the cigar company doesn’t have high quality, super skilled, rollers the tobacco will end up being twisted (with the small rolling motion). Twisted tobacco is what gives your cigar a “plug“.  This is why you will sometimes hear moan and groans when it comes to someone buying the lancero size. So just make sure you get a lancero from a company with a good reputation.

Construction: The first thing I noticed was that you could clearly see where the leaves of tobacco had been rolled over.Your eyes will then focus on the veins  that run through the oily long stick. In my opinion the lancero looked really rough and tough. Nestor Miranda’s lancero passed the pinch test with flying colors.

Draw: Let me just come out and say that I have never had any plugs or draw issues with this lancero (knock on wood). Each effortless puff produced clouds of thick smoke that coated the pallet.

Burn: Nestor Miranda Special Selection Lancero had a slightly uneven burn. It never required me to touch up, pay attention, or even worry about the burn – but it was slightly uneven. The ash fell off every 1-1.5 inches in single thick chunks.

Taste: I think this is a complex lancero that gives my pallet a challenge when trying to distinguish what flavor profiles are becoming more dominate.

Generally speaking the first third of the cigar starts out very smooth and sweet. The sweetness is very prominent and a nice oak  flavor pairs just as strong. I detect some undertones of leather and spice.

Body increases as you hit the 2/3 portion of the cigar and the sweet taste almost completely faded out of the picture. The taste profiles change as the draw opens up more and the smoke gets thicker. Oak is still a primary flavor but again, equally as strong, the leather comes into play and it takes turn playing with your pallet. The finish is a nice creamy spice. Nestor Miranda Special Selection cigar really put a smile on my face at this point.

In ending the cigar I have to mention that the aroma has really been pleasant through all the smoke sessions. The sweetness still lingers and compliments the oak, leather, and creamy spice all too well. Of course, the body has slightly increased to keep the cigar interesting.

* I would also like to note that I get a lot of earthy and coffee flavors that would fade in and out at different points in the cigar. It sure made this very interesting and fun to smoke.

Final Verdict: Purchase this cigar! At the retail level this cigar is just under $7.00. However, online I was able to buy the Nestor Miranda cigar for about $3.xx a stick. Not only is the price perfect, the blend is fabulous, and well… you can obtain this amazing smoke for just $3. Seriously, price aside, I really love everything about Nestor Miranda lancero and I know, if you can get over the size – you will love this cigar too.

Read what Cigar Command had to say about this great cigar.

Or see what A Cigar Smoker reviewed this stick.

Other Cigars: The only other lancero I have reviewed is the Oliva V. While the Oliva V makes a pretty darn good lancero – the Nestor Miranda Special Selection Lancero is much better.

Bigger is better! To keep up with my true American way of life I have to have the big things. This includes a big million dollar house, next to my big powerful red 69 Camaro, protected by my big Rottweiler, and I need to smoke a big fat cigar: Oliva V. The only problem is I do not have the house, car, dog, and well… to go with the flow I’ll ditch the big cigar too (in terms of ring gauge).

Allow me to introduce you to the Oliva V Lancero. Seven inches in length and with a ring gauge of 38 this tasty Oliva cigar brings a slightly different taste to the “V” series of cigars. The reason is simple: There is more Habano Sun Grown relative to the Jalapa Valley Ligero filler.

Construction: The wrapper is a dark brown in color with a hint of oils on the wrapper (as this should describe any full-bodied cigar).  I would say this cigar is not as firm as other Serie V in larger sizes, but at the same time this was not a “loose” cigar. It was packed just right for the size.

Draw: Many people have expressed concern when I inform them of my intentions to smoke a lancero because sometimes you may get that “dud” that just wont draw. I think this only happens on the lower quality sticks. The V has given me no problems, ever. I have complete confidence in this stick as the draw has always been perfect.

Burn: My favorite quality about the lancero, especially one constructed as well as the Oliva V, has got to be the burn factor. I always have grate luck with this cigar burning even and at just the right rate. Obviously your cigar ash will not be as large/long as the fuller sized brothers – but I don’t care.

Taste: First puffs on the Serie V brings about a nice prominent woody profile with some very enjoyable nutty tones. You will also notice that this stick packs a great spiciness that really ties everything together.

The second third of the Oliva looses much of the spice, nut, and woody profiles.  Coffee and cocoa kick in that make the middle the most enjoyable (in my opinion).  A sweeter type of spice is still in the mix with the woody/nut hints protruding every so often.  Again this happens to be my favorite part of the cigar – and lets be thankful this section is so long.

The final third of the cigar is when the body really becomes “full“. You still have the great cocoa, woody, spice – just kind of hidden.  I want to go out on a limb and say that I was getting leather flavors but I’m not sure that was the case for every cigar. Oliva V is a quality cigar that ends very well and you will have no problem nubbing the smoke all the way down.

Verdict Is: Buy this. As stated in the introduction to this cigar you have more Habano Sun Grown wrapper relative to the Jalapa Valley Ligero filler. This means that the taste is somewhat different than what you might know as the “V” taste, or cigar profile.

So give this a shot and see where it fits with you. You may think it has that same V taste or maybe you will side with me and think of it as a whole new cigar that has its appropriate time to smoke. EITHER WAY: you are going to love this cigar – just get over the “ring gauge” issue . I took the liberty of going down to my local B&M and picking up a whole box to age (just to see how the cigars change).