JFR Lunatic El Grande
Something I like to do every now and then is to try something wildly unusual, either in shape, size, both, or whatever. So when I stopped in the cigar shop in my hometown this morning and saw this monster, I knew immediately what I would be reviewing today.
I recently received a smaller one of these in a sampler, and it was pretty decent. I’m excited to see how this massive one does, and how long it takes to smoke through! At a ring gauge of 80, it’s a heckin’ girthy boi.
Cigar: JFR Lunatic El Grande
Vitola: Gordo (5.5” x 80)
Price: $11.00
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Medium to Full
Rating (out of 10): 9.5
Appearance:
Obviously, the first thing that’s going to jump out at anyone is the size of this thing. It’s chonky. It features a dual band in a navy blue, white, and silver motif, displaying the name of the cigar and its size. The lower half of the stick is wrapped in a silver foil, lending it a certain elegance.
The wrapper is a slightly reddened brown, with some dark veins, light toothiness, and a hint of oil. It is a fat belicoso, coming to a tapered point that is flattened at the top, and features a closed foot at the bottom.
Construction:
The stick is nice and firm, with just a small amount of give between the fingers when squeezed. The cap is perfectly placed and cuts cleanly.
Aroma:
The stick smells of coffee, leather, and a hint of pepper, with notes of cocoa, pepper, and baking spices at the foot.
First Third:
Not much on the cold draw due to the closed foot blocking airflow, but from the head I get quite an earthy flavor, with faint hits of cocoa underneath.
Lighting a cigar this size is a bit of a challenge, especially on a breezy day like today, but realistically, it doesn’t take all that much longer to get going.
The first few puffs after lighting are enough to remind you that this is most definitely a Nicaraguan cigar. Lots of spice upfront. Black pepper and jalapeño, for sure, but then there’s a soft sweetness underneath, like a sweetened coffee. Something with caramel, I think.
The spice gives way pretty quickly; it was more like an opening salvo than a primary flavor. “Bienvenido a Nicaragua,” it seems to say. Now we are left with that caramel coffee as the profile, with soft hints of vanilla underneath.
There’s that spice on the retrohale, though.
The burn isn’t perfect, but it’s surprisingly even for a cigar this size, with wind like we’re having today.
The ash is a nice light grey in color, mostly firm with some flaking, I keep getting flakes thrown in my face by the wind… probably just going to ash it frequently to avoid getting any in the eye.
Second Third:
Going into the second third, that caramel sweetness has faded somewhat, replaced by more of a hazelnut flavor.
This is the kind of cigar that would go really nicely with a Dr Pepper or a Sam Adams. I’m tempted right now, but I don’t want to throw off the flavor as I’m reviewing it. Maybe I’ll have to start doing pairing reviews at some point.
The smoke is real nice. Smooth, definitely a little more than a medium body.
Had to give the burn a quick touchup around the half. Again, not surprising, in this wind.
About an hour to get to the half. Definitely a time-killer, this one.
Still some pepper on the retrohale here, but it’s not nearly as aggressive.
Final Third:
Caramel coming back in slowly at the last third, but it doesn’t replace the hazelnut, it kind of blends with it instead.
This smoke is for sure a medium to full body, but the way it opens up with its own bit of “shock and awe” and then mellows out, maybe I ought to call it more of a “full to medium.”
A bit more of that pepper peeking back in again to round out the smoke toward the back end.
Two hours down, and still more to go. This is looking like a two and a half to three hour smoke. It’s great, but definitely one you’ll want to have time for. On the plus side, the extra width makes it a cool, smooth smoke.
Closing Thoughts:
This one went for just shy of three hours, so be ready for that if you ever smoke one! Very well-made cigar, one I will definitely want to smoke again when time allows!