Cornelius & Anthony release the Cornelius in 2016 with much success, making #6 on our Top 25 and scoring 92 points. Last year, in 2017 at the IPCPR trade show, they announced a new vitola in the line, the Cornelius & Anthony | Cornelius Lonsdale. It measures 6 1/2 x 42 and cost $13.50.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Like the rest of the line, it is wrapped in an Ecuadorian wrapper and binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua and is rolled at El Titan de Bronze. Cornelius & Anthony is the premium cigar side of S & M Brands owned and run by Steven Bailey. The Bailey family has over 150 years in the tobacco industry. The name Cornelius honors Steven Bailey‘s great-grandfather, Cornelius Bailey who ran the family’s tobacco business when it was established back in 1866.
“Enjoyable start to this cigar. Very mild to start with just a tiny bit of pepper in the retro hale. Detecting light hints of sweetness in the beginning but the predominate flavor to me is grass and hay. Very light and mild body and strength throughout the first 1/3. Good start but looking for more as the smoke continues. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
“Its very light very little spice fairly complex flavors remind me of sweet hay or alph alpha. Has a little earth you only get through the nose, definatly a morning smoke but it does have a good flavor” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Burn has been wonderful and ash is very strong. Flavors are consistant. Strength has increase a little. The cigar leaves no after taste and is very smooth.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“While the flavor profile of grass and hay hasn’t changed much in the second 1/3. The overall strength and body has increased. More black pepper spice has entered both the body and retro hale. The wrapper is starting to break in a few small places but not impacting the smoke so far. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The final third returned to the creamy sweet caramel of the opening notes. The pepper has faded almost entirely and the citrus notes still linger on occasion. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“The final 1/3 is the best part of this cigar to me. Strength continues to increase a bit and settles in the medium category. A bit more sweetness also appears. I’m enjoying the slightly sweet graham cracker flavors, a mildly salty peanut, and toasted bread, complement each other very well. The last several puffs of the cigar were great and I wish this flavor profile started at the beginning. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“Great open draw. Sometimes skinner lanceros sized cigars can have a very tight draw but this one smoked fantastically the entire time. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Burn: 94
“Clean. The ash fell away fairly easy but it was a good burn.” –Eric (smalls29)
Construction: 91
“This one was solid. No problems at all.” –Eric (smalls29)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 93
“Even though the cigar was not that interesting it had a good flavor and phenominal burn draw and construction. Just a few little tweks and this could be a 93-94 stick.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“The start was promising. The flavors were nicely balanced with a nice burnt toast, charbroiled meat flavor. The aroma was that of cherry wood fire that was pleasing to the nose. However, it wasn’t long before everything went south. The flavors grew very bitter and strong. It was a challenge to try and smoke it to the end. Overall, not one I would choose again.” –Eric (smalls29)
“This was a nice way to start my cigar smoking day. The flavor changes were interesting but never over powering and enjoyable. I’d recommend this to any smoker to start their day.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“The cigar was really great during the last inch or so. Up until this point I don’t think I would have recommended the cigar but having finished it, the cigar provided good flavors throughout that built in strength and complexity and I did really enjoy it. Mild construction issues but nothing that impacted the ability to smoke and enjoy the cigar. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Blind Cigar Review: Cornelius & Anthony | Cornelius Lonsdale
Summary
"This was a nice way to start my cigar smoking day. The flavor changes were interesting but never over powering and enjoyable. I'd recommend this to any smoker to start their day." -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
