D’Crossier Lancero Selection 512

Costa Rican brand and manufacturer D’Crossier has long been known for their superior quality and extreme attention to detail, though it has only been recently that the cigar public has taken notice. In 2014, D’Crossier unveiled the Golden Blend Aged 10 Years cigar, the successor (and replacement) to the Golden Blend Aged 7 Years—one of the brand’s earliest releases. With more age and a fuller body/strength, the cigar gained a fair amount of attention and media coverage, scoring an impressive 92 on Cigar Dojo.

Move forward only one year and D’Crossier is in the midst of its most successful year to date. Prominent brand Espinosa Premium Cigars has taken over distribution and the former “best kept secret in cigars” is now receiving wide-spread attention from media and consumers alike. At the 2015 IPCPR, D’Crossier unveiled two new products, including the affordable Flor de D’Crossier Selection No. 512, as well as the premium D’Crossier Lancero Selection 512.

What’s all this 512 speak? It references the original location where D’Crossier cigars were made in Costa Rica in 2008. And though both releases this year bear the 512 name, they are actually unique cigars, both in size and blend.

D’Crossier Lancero 512 Breakdown

Santana-Diaz, owner of D’Crossier, has always been known for creating luxurious smoking experiences—bringing his native Cuban practices to the Costa Rican region. And while the Flor de D’Crossier took an affordable approach, the Lancero picks up where last year’s L’Forte left off—super-premium, extremely detail-oriented. This cigar holds special meaning to Santana, as the cigar was crafted to honor his father, made in his favorite lancero vitola.

His father’s cigar of choice was a Lancero Vitola, which was provided primarily to government officials in those days. The image of this Vitola remained fixed in the mind of Santana-Diaz, awaiting the time and place when he would reinvent it

With the Lancero Selection 512, the packaging deserves half the attention. The box is a made completely of solid Spanish cedar (cedrela odorata timber variety)—this is an accomplishment exclusive to D’Crossier. A pearlescent, high-lacquer piano finish is then applied, as well as the other signature D’Crossier bells & whistles, such as imported golden trim and hinges. Because of the cigar’s length, Santana packaged the Lanceros sideways, making room to accommodate 20 per box, rather than the usual 10 with most lanceros.

SEE ALSO: Santana-Diaz shows off new products at the 2015 IPCPR

The cigars are no less impressive, with invisible seams, very faint veins, and a great-looking pigtail cap. There is a muted oil sheen down the cigar’s length, and the pack feels nice and firm (here’s hoping the draw isn’t tight). It also has a nice aroma of caramel and leather, which is intensified on the cigar’s foot.

Smoking Experience

Lancero 512 starts off with a kick of spice in the retrohale, backed by a familiar leather (pre-light aroma) and a base of barn hay. The draw is medium-firm and surprisingly good for the cigar’s thin size—though slightly tighter than the ideal resistance. The profile is refined, with a decent complexity and added notes of buttered toast and a retro that has transformed to more of a whiskey-like burn.

The retrohale pulls back it’s intensity moving into the second third and the smoke is building in strength, having a cold nicotine on the finish. Up until this point, the cigar has been refined, but lacked any sweetness—this was settled in the form of a delicate sweet cream throughout most of the third.

The next transition shows intermittent notes of salted pork that really keeps things interesting! As expected, the profile is very Cubanesque throughout, but nearing the end, it is a darker Cuban flavor—similar to a Bolívar. The cigar maintains a near-medium body throughout and has a nice, gradual increase in strength—ending with a satisfying medium-plus in the nicotine department. But its most impressive feature was a perfect construction and burn line throughout.

Would I smoke this cigar again?

I certainly will. While not as impressive as the Flor de D’Crossier Selection No. 512 (factoring in price/value), this was definitely a refined and luxurious smoking experience that I’d enjoy given the appropriately classy circumstances. This is a safe bet for a 5-pack, or a 10-20 if you’re a diehard lancero fanatic.

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