Lure Cigars is a brand that originally sold me on their band. While I am not a fan of 10 count bundles wrapped in paper and you can’t smoke the band its font, colors and logo had me wanting to try them and I don’t even fish.
I came across Lure Cigars while browsing the new products over at Small Batch Cigar which I have book marked. When I first saw them I was hesitant to pull the trigger then I noticed certain sizes out of stock before i bit on a sampler the store had made.
Lou Cross III created Lure Cigars in honor of his father Lou Cross Jr. who died at 90 years of age in 2023. Growing up, he was blessed to have a small pond behind the house, and a 14′ john boat with an underpowered trolling motor. Weather permitting, the two would often head out at dawn, tackle boxes full of colorful gear, and several rods rigged and ready to go. After a bit his dad would cut the motor, and the boat would drift with the wind for a few casts. As the sun rose, they settled in the shade along the shoreline and the ritual of sipping & smoking would commence. Upon his passing,
According to a press release, ““Friends that I’ve smoked with are aware that I frequently like to smoke bold-flavored, stronger cigars. It was no surprise that they expected the first cigars I released back in late 2023 to be powerhouses. Over the past year, it’s been humbling to receive the amount of positive feedback from fellow cigar enthusiasts sharing their experiences of enjoying the complexity and nuances offered in our previous releases. But lately, I’ve been craving an even bolder cigar that can be enjoyed with a really strong cup of black coffee, one that will also resonate on a fatigued palate, winding down after a heavy savory meal, or hold up to a dram of high-proof spirit. When sampling this Oscuro blend, I knew that this would be the cigar that met those expectations. It is a strong cigar, yet balanced.”
The Lure Cigars Oscuro is offered in two size the Little Joe (5 x 52) and the Big Joe (6 x 52).
Cigar Review: Lure Cigars Oscuro
Size: 6 x 52 (The Big Joe / Toro)
Wrapper: Nicaragua Oscuro Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua (Esteli)
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli & Ometepe)
Factory: Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua S.A.
Release Date: February 2025
Production: Regular Production
Bundle Size: 10
The Cigar: Packaged in 10 count paper bundles the cigars need to go to boxes to make them more retailer friendly or the company needs to create a tackle box style display. The band utilizing colors of orange, yello, blue, black, and white showcase Lure Cigars in a vibrant clean font with a fishing lure logo. On the side of the band denotes the release year 2025 which I would get rid of because there are way to many consumers that think this would serve as an explanation day (I am not kidding, having worked in retail the level of stupidity out there is real). The Oscuro wrapper isn’t anywhere as dark as you would expect with some brindling of the wrapper and some noticeable veins. In the hand the cigsr is firm with a heft weight to it.
The Taste: The cold draw offers up a chicory with additional floral and vegetal notes. The aroma off the wrapper sees grass, cabbage and cloves. Before we light the cigar I am hesitant about what this blend will bring but I am committed to trust the process as I toast the cigar. Once we are lit the initial notes of are a rich mocha.
As we smoke the first third the perceived strength is a bit misleading to start based on the press release but around a half-inch the strength is noticeable. I’ve never smoked a cigar that has chicory as part of the flavor profile but it is there front and center. For those who have never had chicory before I can describe it as nutty, burnt sugar and slightly bitter. Also present is notes of turkish coffee, dark cacao and earth. The retrohale adds a touch of saltiness to the palate and is remarkably smooth.
Moving into the second third notes of walnuts and turkish coffee are the dominant profile with a nice amount of smoke production creating an enjoyable resting aroma. As we move past the halfway point some chicory remains but it serves as more of an afterthought at this point. There is a growing amount of black pepper that also appears on the smoking aroma.
The final third continues to see notes of turkish coffee which for those of you who haven’t experience it can be a bit sandy and is fairly strong. The cigar also sees earth, cinnamon and a touch of mocha lingering in the background. The resting aroma has a nice amount of red and black pepper which is enhanced on the retrolhale with a touch of paprika. The finish of the cigar is long, but clean and I find myself wishing I didn’t have to get ready for work so I could enjoy another.
Conclusion: Made at Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua S.A. a largely unknown factory to me it wasn’t until I began to research it did I noticed it was owned by Raymond Pages Raffo who made his way from Pinar del Rio, Cuba to Esteli. At the age of 17 he would learn from his then brother-in-law AJ Fernandez before opening his own factory.
I’ve said a few times on the podcast I host with Frank Herrera that the industy is ready for a new factory or a new brand to step out. It’s been a while since we’ve had a RoMaCraft, Tatuaje or Dunbarton go from small boutique cigar to a full on on legacy type brand. Is Lure Cigars that brand, I don’t know enough about the company in terms of finances, backing or what have you but I like the cigars and I love that they come from a factory that we don’t know a lot about. I do know what I have smoked from Lure Cigars I like so far and it’s a company I plan to pay attention it.
Score: 93
Price: $13.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
You can find these at site sponsor Small Batch Cigar and if you use the coupon code BARRELBURNER you can save 10% off your purchase.
