Howdy.
We all know how things are “bigger in Texas”. Alec Bradley knows it.
The American cigar company has been producing cigars for 20 years. With over 15 varieties to choose from, Bradley has quite the following. This year they decided to display a tongue-in-cheek attitude and created a cigar called Texas Lancero.
A Lancero is typically long and thin, however with Alec Bradley a Texas-size Lancero is long and thick. This bad boy boasts a ring gauge size of 70.
In layman terms, this cigar is just less than two inches wide.
A 70-ring gauge is rarely seen. Most cigars will make 60, but Alec Bradley couldn’t put “Texas” on the label unless it was bigger. The length is seven inches. Combined with the width, this is one behemoth of a cigar.
I decide to pair it with tequila. I know it’s not made in Texas, but Mexico borders the state, so that’s close enough for me. I am not much of a tequila drinker, but it’s summer, and hot, and tequila on the rocks is looking pretty good right about now. The tequila of choice is Patron Silver Label.
Now that the drink is chosen, I have to figure out how to cut this fat stogie. I happen to have a pair of scissor-style cigar cutters that I think will open wide enough. I then take to my trusty pack of matches to light up.
It takes four matches to light this properly. I inhale a few times. There is a mild spice taste, which is followed by an apricot fl avour. So far, so good.
Now to the tequila. Some say Patron is not authentic tequila since it is now operated by an American outfit. I say who cares? It’s still made in Mexico. Besides, any time I have had a sip from Patron, it’s always been good.
The silver label has a very smooth taste, a tad bit of citrus, but you can also taste the agave plant. I’ve had some tequila in the past that was awful; this one is pristine. On ice, the flavour is very crisp. Paired with the Lancero, the flavours balance nicely.
The second-third of the cigar has some notes of wood and black pepper, but nothing overpowering. Alec Bradley could have gone in a lot of directions with this stogie; I feel the flavour wheel they chose was smart.
Given the size, you know it’s going to take at least two hours to finish. If you are going to spend that amount of time committed to one cigar, you want something that takes its time with fl avours and gradually blends together. They did a good job of creating something that is enjoyable to smoke for a long period of time.
The last third picks up more dried fruit flavour with a bit of leather. Regrettably, this is where I end. I’ve neared the two-hour time frame, and I cannot smoke anymore.
But I have no doubt a true Texas cowboy could get through this smoke and still have room for one more.
