Cigar Review: Grand Empire Reserve by Reinado

Vitola: Petite Lancero
Size: 6” x 38 ring gauge
Price $9.49
Purchased from Burns Tobacconist

Background

I was looking around the net for some background info on the Grand Empire Reserve when I found a site dedicated to New Jersey entrepreneurs and a story there about the introduction of the GER. The opening line is killer:

Three years ago, Antonio Lam hopped a plane to Nicaragua on a mission, to become a master cigar maker, to put New Jersey on the premium cigar map. Reinado was born. The meaning of Reinado is “reign” and that is exactly what Antonio plans to do, as the Grand Empire Reserve is making its debut.

Which makes me just want to buy a plane ticket to Nicaragua with a similar goal, then stay as long as it takes to make it happen. Unfortunately, the bills won’t pay themselves until I get back and my wife would hunt me down for leaving on an open-ended trip like that…so this is one of those things that will just have to remain a dream for me. Antonio did it, though. The Reinado core line came out out in 2010, growing enough to allow for the creation of the Grand Empire Reserve in 2012. The GER was released in one size at first, a box-pressed, wide Robusto. In 2013, Lam followed up with a Corona Gorda, a Toro, a Gordo, and a limited edition Petite Lancero. I scored a couple of the last a few weeks back when I noticed that Burns had finally gotten them in stock.

The Reinado Grand Empire Reserve is a Nicaraguan puro, featuring a Habano Maduro wrapper leaf. I reviewed the original size about a year and a half ago on the Tiki Bar. This review is based on my second smoking of the Petite Lancero vitola.

Prelight

All Reinados have a classic design with bolder, more modern colors, with the GER adding a secondary band with black type on a dull gold foil background. The color of the wrapper seemed lighter than I remember from previous samples of the original vitola, and much lighter than the pictures I posted with my old review. I tried to maintain correct color in those photos, but in some cases it was difficult…still, the newer cigar has a much, much lighter shade of brown that I would call milk chocolate….wait…STOP…

I don’t often call a full stop to a review, but I was surprised and dismayed when this one took a sudden downturn after I lit the stogie up. To be completely open and honest (something we always strive to do), I had serious problems with the construction and burn, large hollow spots and self-extinquishment. I ended up giving the cigar a 7.5/10 after smoking two Petite Lanceros. So there’s your honesty…but I love this blend…I thoroughly enjoyed the Robusto original release so I figured that this batch of Lanceros was just problematic…or something. I decided to re-review with a slightly larger ring gauge…one not so difficult to roll excellently: the Corona Gorda. Background and most of the Prelight paragraphs will remain the same…and let’s pick it up from there…

Vitola: Corona Gorda
Size: 5.625” x 46 ring gauge
Price: $10.49
Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Prelight…continued…

The milk chocolate hued wrapper leaf had a very earthy smell, with just a touch of natural tobacco aroma, too. The foot was more sweet earth and unsweetened cocoa powder. The cold draw was excellent and tasted of semi-sweet chocolate, dark coffee and earth.

Flavor

Firing up, I got a strong earthiness right off the bat, with unsweetened cocoa and espresso following close behind. There was a bit of pepper spice on the palate, but a larger amount on the retrohale, though even that was tame for a Nicaraguan puro. After 10 minutes or so, I noticed the level of sweetness increase a bit, making for a more bittersweet chocolate flavor that was very pleasant.

In the second third I continued to get those dark chocolate notes along with an increase in the espresso bean and a continued earthiness. The final third saw an increase in both sweetness and pepper spice, making for a great last act.

Construction

I found a small hollow in the bunch during the first third, but it passed without incident. Other than that both of the Corona Gordas I smoked had a very good draw, even burn line and solid ash.

Value

This cigar is a bit pricey at $10.50, but it is so good that it’s worth the price.

Conclusions

After having smoked a couple of each size (Petite Lancero and Corona Gorda), I have to definitely give the nod to the Corona Gorda simply because of my very bad luck with the construction of the Petite Lanceros. I won’t go so far as to say they are all like that–your mileage definitely may vary–but after two bum sticks in the row, I’ll be spending my money on the Corona Gorda instead. It provided a great medium-to-full bodied smoking experience with consistently wonderful flavor and enough complexity to keep my interest level high.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10