Casa Cuevas Flaco Habano Limited Edition – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

The original Casa Cuevas Flaco came out in December 2018, but only a handful made it to market as all of the individually numbered boxes were among those stolen in the burglary of the Casa Cuevas warehouse. Nearly three years have passed since the entire inventory of Casa Cuevas Cigars was stolen. Earlier this year, the company decided that enough time had passed and brought the Flaco cigar back in both its Maduro and Habano blends to the 2022 TPE Trade Show. The company plans to release the cigar every three years.

The Lancero size is a favorite of the Cuevas family and also known to be one of the harder vitolas to produce consistently. In 2018 with the Limited Edition Flaco, the Cuevas family felt it was able to roll premium brand available in only a lancero size. Master Blender Luis Cuevas Sr. landed on two blends, Habano and Maduro, and handpicked his best rollers to execute it. The name “Flaco” means “skinny” in Spanish and is named after Luis Sr.'s son, Alec Cuevas, Casa Cuevas's Director of Operations.

Both blends will come in one size, a 7 x 43 that the company calls a lancero, but is traditionally more of a lonsdale. It comes in 10-count boxes, of which only 750 individually numbered ones were made for each blend. The cigars are of course rolled at the Cuevas Family-owned Las Lavas Cigar Factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

The Casa Cuevas Flaco Maduro uses a Maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler with tobaccos from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and USA Pennsylvania. The Casa Cuevas Flaco Habano uses a Habano wrapper Nicaraguan binder, and filler with tobaccos from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and USA Pennsylvania.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Lonsdale
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 43
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and USA Pennsylvania
Factory: Tabacalera Las Lavas S.R.L.
Blender: Luis Cuevas Sr.
Number of reviewers: 4 – Alan (Eulogy) Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Sean F. (fullermaine) Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
Price: $9.50
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: January 2022
Contributed by: Casa Cuevas Cigars

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“I really like the look of this lancero. It isn't perfect with some slightly raised seams and a couple of green blemishes on the wrapper. The overall look is very pleasing with a man bun cap, solid body, and symmetrical shape.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Aroma: 93

“The smells can only be described as being in the country around open farms and fields of different cuts of hay and grasses alp alpha, clover, alsike clover, red clover with some barnyard.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

First Third

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

“The flavors are starting out very bold and the draw only a little snug compared to the pre-light. There is a lot of red pepper on the initial draw and it coats the mouth with the creamy texture of the smoke. After the pepper starts to back off a little, I get some bell pepper, as a mixture of green and mineral notes. I'm finding a bit of mustiness from the draw with a cedar and leather finish but none of the notes are particularly clean.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“Cedar, leather, hay, mineral.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Second Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The second third remains pretty much the same, but with the absences of the chalky note which does really bring things together and is a great improvement. White pepper does calm a little as well. Honey transforms to a more earthy sweetness as well. Burn is very good.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“The red pepper isn't as bold this third but still has a lot of presence. A little less heat is letting some of the other flavors share center stage with leather, bell pepper, cedar, black tea, and honey. The ash is very flaky and the I've had to correct the burn now.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Final Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Coming into the final third the sweetness and oak notes on the front part of this stick return to round out this smoke. Great finish to this cigar.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“Last third is very similar to the previous with some Cedar, mild black pepper, and a mineral note.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 88

“The draw was a little tight, but not bad.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Burn: 90

“Burn was very good not needing any touch-ups. Being very straight the whole way through.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Construction: 91

“The finish was outstanding with the man bun cap, solid body, and perfect roll were all very impressive. The seams were a little loose and the green blemishes on the wrapper sort of hurt the overall look.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 91

“It began really interesting and got better in the second third but the finish left a little to be desired. I would give it another shot but the draw, relights, and wildly uneven burn made it a little hard to smoke.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“Appearance of a cigar doesn't make a cigar great. Some instances of appearance can affect the way a cigar performs. I didn't have any problems with the way this cigar performed except for draw was a little underperforming. I still believe this cigar is very worthy of a box purchase and one great plus it is in lancero.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“Great pleasure to smoke this lancero cigar. Notes of sugar, floral, peanut, and licorice. Perfection throughout this stick. Minor unraveling doesn't interfere with smoke. Pairs well with coffee. A cigar that I'd seek out and smoke again.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“A fine mild smoke, good flavor profile. The draw was a little tight, but overall, really enjoyable.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 100

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Casa Cuevas Flaco Habano Limited Edition – Blind Cigar Review