Blind Cigar Review: Leccia | Luchador El Gringo Frog Splash

Cigar Info

At the 2015 IPCPR trade show Leccia Tobacco will unveiled an extension to the Luchador line called El Gringo. The Luchador El Gringo was the first major release since Leccia Tobacco joined the General Cigar Company family. He has since left General Cigar to go back on his own.

Luchador El Gringo features an all-new blend with a heavier focus on Nicaraguan tobacco. The cigar is available in four sizes. The Luchador line is a tribute to professional wrestling. The vitola names of Luchador El Gringo reflect this. Three of the four sizes feature larger ring gauges. Chin Music: 6 x 48, Pile Driver: 6 x 60, Squared Circle: 6 1/2 x 64, Frog Splash: 4 1/2 x 70.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Double Robusto
Length: 4.5″
Ring Gauge: 70
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan Oscuro
Filler: Pennsylvanian and Nicaraguan Ligero
Factory: American Caribbean Tobacco S.A.
Blender: Sam Leccia
Number of reviewers: 4 —– Ryan (Youngryan216) Sandeep (Djangos) Stefan (Stefan) Emmett (BMP_Emmett)
Price: $8.25
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: July 2015
Contributed by: General Cigar

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 90

“Well the first thing you notice about 406 is that it’s huge. It is a box-pressed double robusto with a fairly dark wrapper that has a nice sheen. The cap is a bit lumpy and there are a few pieces of wrapper missing.” –Emmett (BMP_Emmett)

Aroma: 92

“The aroma is one of leather and spices. There are also some woodsy notes. The dry puff on the other hand is more earthy with hay and grass along with a slight white pepper to the tongue.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

First Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The first third charges out of the gate with a blast of hot peppers and salted peanuts. As the cigar settles in around the one-inch mark, the flavors find their balance and enjoy a creamy roundness on the retrohale. There’s definitely some spice here, buttressed by fresh cedar and deepened by an almond nuttiness. While this is not typically a flavor profile I seek out, I am enjoying this so far — despite its ridiculous size and unique shape.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)

“The cigar starts off with a blast of pepper and some spice. The pepper soon settles down and a more earthy profile takes over. There is a mild leather in the back ground. Fortunately the pepper still persists mildly in every draw adding some complexity. The burn line is quite wavy from the start but did not need any touch ups in this third. The draw was perfect.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Second Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The second third begins by introducing licorice notes, which soon change to aromatic bitters. Then, past the midpoint, the flavor profile moves more into dark tobacco territory.” –Stefan (Stefan)

“The second third hasn’t offered much more than the first so far, some vague spices and generic wood flavor. The burn has improved but is not great. The draw is adequate but not producing a lot of smoke. Towards the end of the third the flavors improve a little with some cedar and the finish is less harsh.” –Emmett (BMP_Emmett)

Final Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The final third has me bored. I don’t dislike this blend, but this vitola is asinine — absolutely too big. There is nothing that begs me back for more here. There is also an astringency coming on in the nostrils that signals the end of the cigar for me.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)

“The final third once again is quite monotonous with the same earthy profile with a slight leather in the back ground for most part. Through the mid point the pepper begins to pick up once again and this is very welcomed at this point. The burn is very problematic in this third and I had to touch up at least twice. Pleasant but a very ordinary flavor profile that is one dimensional.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 91

“Draw was a tad loose through a 9mm hole. It didn’t burn hot, but it was a bit of a pain to smoke at the nub.” –Stefan (Stefan)

Burn: 84

“The burn had a rough start and took a while to get going. Once it got past the first third it burned pretty well.” –Emmett (BMP_Emmett)

Construction: 89

“Very well made and good looking cigar. There were no issues with the wrapper peeling or cracking but there were definite issues with the burn like during the smoke.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 86

“The smoking experience was negatively affected by the size and duration of the cigar’s burn for me. If this had been a more complex blend, the duration would have been no issue. However, this cigar made its point in the first third, and rambled on for an additional 90 minutes. I would not smoke this again based on size and the lack of identity of this blend.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)

“Overall I would say that it is an ordinary cigar that is a pleasant and easy smoke with no real wow factor. I personally like the nubs so I was slightly disappointed in this. I will try this again but may not go looking for one.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“A quite enjoyable smoke that’s too loosely packed for my liking.” –Stefan (Stefan)

“Overall this one just didn’t work for me. The flavors never really went anywhere and weren’t complex at any point. The finish was harsh for a long period and things improved during the last third, but not enough to redeem. I would try this again in a smaller vitola if I had the chance to see if that improved things, but I don’t think I’d reach for this one again as is.” –Emmett (BMP_Emmett)

 

Smoking Time (in minutes): 79

 

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall Experience
Ryan	Youngryan216)	90	95	95	87	80	97	92	90	85
Sandeep	Djangos)	90	90	90	87	88	95	83	92	87
Stefan	Stefan)	90	95	90	87	90	88	85	85	90
Emmett	BMP_Emmett)	85	88	83	85	88	85	85	88	85

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Leccia | Luchador El Gringo Frog Splash