Cigar Weekly

Mad Dawg · 08-20-2009, 10:57 AM

I first stumbled across the La Luna brand years ago, when my cigar passion was just beginning to blossom. The Maduro Fuerte line was an early favorite, and I became something of a "La Lunatic," so naturally I was kind of saddened when the brand seemed to fall off the face of the planet.

A few months ago, I was intrigued to learn that Cigar King (Scottsdale, AZ) was marketing a La Luna Selection line. Blended exclusively for Cigar King by Gael de Courtivron, founder of the original La Luna brand, the line consists of six sizes. The lancero (being a favorite size of mine) caught my eye, so I ordered a fiver to try out. I smoked one right off the truck, but found it to be a little too wet for my tastes. I put the rest away to rest and dry out. Well, today I decided to revisit them.

The sample I pulled was flawlessly constructed, smooth and silky in its nearly vein-free Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper; firm and uniform in bunch, and topped off by a flawless triple cap with a pigtail. The understated double bands are Columbian blue, harking back to the very early La Luna blends.

Pre-light draw was just a touch on the firm side, which I definitely prefer to being too loose. The initial flavors were faintly floral, and a definite medium body immediately asserted itself.

Toasty tobacco flavors suggestive of Nicaraguan and Honduran origin were at the forefront throughout, with nuanced hints of cedar, leather, earth and perhaps a touch of vanilla coming and going as the smoke progressed. The burn was absolutely perfect; laser-straight from start to finish with never a touch-up required.

A slight tannic edginess was always at the background of the flavors, never reaching the point of bitterness, but rather a suggestion that these cigars have a good potential to improve with age. The finish is clean and pleasant.

In all, these are (to my tastes) greatly improved by a few months of rest and by drying down to 65% RH.

I can't really say how these compare to the original La Luna blue bands because it's been years since I had one of those that was fresh, but it was certainly a very pleasant cigar from start to finish. Recommended!

TommyBB · 08-20-2009, 11:05 AM

Cigar Weekly Interview with Gael de Courtivron January 1, 2001 at the height of £unacy.

Castanza · 08-20-2009, 04:53 PM

Those early la luna's were some of the best cigars.
Especially when he came out with the naturals.

gumby · 08-20-2009, 06:34 PM

I thought that there was another owner before Gael who made the original line before the Fuertes. Anyway, glad to see Gael still out there because I always liked his cigars. Nice review Doug and thx for the heads up.

MountChuck · 08-21-2009, 05:18 AM

Very nice review.

Master Gates · 08-21-2009, 12:31 PM

gumby - i think you have mentioned this before and nobody knew what the history of la luna was prior to gael. My boxes of 1996 reservas have an inserted card that says something about la luna producing cigars for the previous 30 years...

08-20-2009, 10:57 AM	#1
Mad Dawg Administrator Herf Dog Herf God Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 34,199	La Luna Cigar King Selection Lancero I first stumbled across the La Luna brand years ago, when my cigar passion was just beginning to blossom. The Maduro Fuerte line was an early favorite, and I became something of a "La Lunatic," so naturally I was kind of saddened when the brand seemed to fall off the face of the planet. A few months ago, I was intrigued to learn that Cigar King (Scottsdale, AZ) was marketing a La Luna Selection line. Blended exclusively for Cigar King by Gael de Courtivron, founder of the original La Luna brand, the line consists of six sizes. The lancero (being a favorite size of mine) caught my eye, so I ordered a fiver to try out. I smoked one right off the truck, but found it to be a little too wet for my tastes. I put the rest away to rest and dry out. Well, today I decided to revisit them. The sample I pulled was flawlessly constructed, smooth and silky in its nearly vein-free Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper; firm and uniform in bunch, and topped off by a flawless triple cap with a pigtail. The understated double bands are Columbian blue, harking back to the very early La Luna blends. Pre-light draw was just a touch on the firm side, which I definitely prefer to being too loose. The initial flavors were faintly floral, and a definite medium body immediately asserted itself. Toasty tobacco flavors suggestive of Nicaraguan and Honduran origin were at the forefront throughout, with nuanced hints of cedar, leather, earth and perhaps a touch of vanilla coming and going as the smoke progressed. The burn was absolutely perfect; laser-straight from start to finish with never a touch-up required. A slight tannic edginess was always at the background of the flavors, never reaching the point of bitterness, but rather a suggestion that these cigars have a good potential to improve with age. The finish is clean and pleasant. In all, these are (to my tastes) greatly improved by a few months of rest and by drying down to 65% RH. I can't really say how these compare to the original La Luna blue bands because it's been years since I had one of those that was fresh, but it was certainly a very pleasant cigar from start to finish. Recommended! __________________ Gone, But Never Forgotten. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ That which does not kill me....has made a grave tactical error.

08-20-2009, 11:05 AM	#2
TommyBB Editor-in-Chief Herf God Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 86,658	Cigar Weekly Interview with Gael de Courtivron January 1, 2001 at the height of £unacy. __________________ +In Memory of E.Guevara(Cubano67)W.Orlando(Shadow) A.Morris (Knife) D.Odom (dodom) D.Revermann (dgr) S.Bouchard (sb1396) M.Cole (Matt76) S.Faccenda (TOJE) R.Smith(IBMer) V.Vandermeer (van55)M.Davis(boxdoctor)S.Singer(bassman)K.Doetze l (drillrk1)D.Hart(garme1962)J.Coleman(John C 81)T.Gossett(Dartplayer1)J.Bolt (jb)E.J.Ferralles(CaballoPinto)M.Cataldo(FVFanMC)K Payne(SanchoPanza)F.Seltzer(Mowee)+LB+Connor Olson+Micah Kercheval+Maggie Bonefas+Karen Last edited by TommyBB; 08-24-2009 at 06:46 AM.

08-20-2009, 04:53 PM	#3
Castanza Club Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mobile, al Posts: 3,740	Those early la luna's were some of the best cigars. Especially when he came out with the naturals. __________________ "The way to be safe is never to be secure".

08-20-2009, 06:34 PM	#4
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,291	I thought that there was another owner before Gael who made the original line before the Fuertes. Anyway, glad to see Gael still out there because I always liked his cigars. Nice review Doug and thx for the heads up. __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

08-21-2009, 05:18 AM	#5
MountChuck Club Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 2,154	Very nice review. __________________ Charlie Please visit our cigar blog, Nice Tight Ash Full Flavor Federation (FFF)

08-21-2009, 12:31 PM	#6
Master Gates Club Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Between the Darkness and the L Posts: 2,527	gumby - i think you have mentioned this before and nobody knew what the history of la luna was prior to gael. My boxes of 1996 reservas have an inserted card that says something about la luna producing cigars for the previous 30 years...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
La Luna Cigars - Cigar King	mannish	Cigar Talk	27	05-04-2012 07:03 PM
Romeo y Julieta Lancero - $1.99 net per cigar	CJ3	Cigar Reviews	6	10-04-2006 04:44 PM