Villiger La Flor de Ynclan Lancero Especial
6 3/4 x 43 | Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican
Factory: ABAM Cigars, Dominican Republic
Blender: José Matias Maragoto
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Medium-Full
The Lancero Especial was introduced as a limited-edition vitola, with only 500 boxes of 25 produced annually. It uses the same core blend that made the La Flor de Ynclan famous, but the 6¾ x 43 format puts more emphasis on the wrapper and delivers a somewhat bolder presentation.
Flavor Profile
First Third:
A smooth opening of cream, cedar, earth and sweet bread, with coffee and a touch of black pepper developing through the retrohale. There is a subtle honey-like sweetness underneath the spice.
Second Third:
The cigar becomes more complex. Citrus and orange peel begin to emerge alongside creamy coffee, cedar and earth. Pepper remains present but is better integrated, giving the cigar a nice sweet-and-spicy balance.
Final Third:
The sweetness moves back toward honey and natural tobacco, while black pepper, earth and cedarbecome more pronounced. The cigar gains some additional strength and finishes with a longer, woody, spicy character.
Construction & Burn
Excellent overall construction with a firm ash and generally clean burn. The Lancero format can occasionally develop some draw resistance, but when properly rolled it performs extremely well. Reviews consistently report excellent draw and good-to-excellent burn performance.
Overall Experience
This is one of those cigars that demonstrates why La Flor de Ynclan became such a highly regarded blend. The original Robusto was ranked No. 10 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado in 2017 with a 93 rating, and the Lancero Especial brings a little more spice and intensity while retaining the blend’s signature sweetness and complexity.
The 43 ring gauge is particularly interesting—it isn’t an ultra-thin traditional Lancero, giving the blend enough tobacco to maintain excellent balance while still showcasing the wrapper.
🔥 Burnt Leaf Insight
This is a Lancero for people who normally don’t think they like Lanceros. The Ecuadorian wrapper really gets a chance to shine, delivering cream, citrus, cedar and pepper without becoming harsh. It’s complex enough for an experienced smoker but approachable enough that a newer smoker can appreciate it.
Burnt Leaf Rating: 9.2/10
Strength: ⭐⭐⭐½☆
Body: ⭐⭐⭐½☆
Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Construction: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
