Lure Cigars has only been in existence since September 2023. Lou Cross really hit the ground running with his core line and L.E cigars. The Jolly Walleye is another example of Lou finding the right blend to enhance your cigar smoking experience while connecting with his smoking family. Lou is all about family, as his his core line are named after family members. This tells me that when he comes out with a L.E. cigar that he makes sure his family name is not tarnished. The Jolly Walleye was released this past Christmas season, as an annual limited release. The Jolly Walleye is packed full of flavor while still being a smooth smoke. Lure Cigars says that it’s a medium-full profile and a Nicaraguan puro.

OVERVIEW

VITOLA: Robusto extra
SIZE: 5-1/2″ x 52

ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua S.A.

WRAPPER: Nicaraguan Habano
BINDER: Nicaraguan Ometepe
FILLER: Nicaraguan Esteli, Jalapa, Ometepe

STRENGTH: Medium-full

SOURCE:
lurecigars.com

ENVIRONMENT

WHERE:
Smoldering Cigar Lounge

WHEN:
February 5th @noon

DRINKS:
Water

WEATHER: Inside the lounge

HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED: 3

PRODUCTION

RELEASE TYPE Annual Limited Release

ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE November, 2024

TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Bundles of 10
Production Totals: 3,000

VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Robusto Extra (5-1/2 x 52)

BAND DESIGN

The band on the Jolly Walleye is right in line with his overall theme. What’s Lou theme you might ask, well let me tell you his story which will connect you to this band. Lou Cross III started this company after his father passed away. In honor of his father’s love for cigars, fishing and family, Lou created Lure Cigars. It evokes fond memories of Lou and his father fishing and smoking cigars together. The Jolly Walleye is double banded and celebrates all three factors of him and his dad enjoying a great cigar and telling tall tales. The bottom band features the name of this holiday edition, “The Jolly Walleye.” The package is silver and the bands are green with white accents; perfect for a holiday themed cigar.

PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS

CONSTRUCTION
The Jolly Walleye is smooth and oily. Some veins may be seen, but they are not raised, which make the feel of this cigar feel smooth and firm in the hand. The cap of this cigar looks to be a flawlessly applied, and seems to promise a cigar that has great construction. The foot of the cigars looks to be packed tight, with no noticeable dents or holes. It is a very attractive cigar.

AROMA

When pulling the cigar out of the cellophane the smell of sweet graham cracker is immediately noticeable.

COLD DRAW

The cold draw reminds me of a warm cinnamon flavor that definitely puts you in the Christmas spirit. The draw has the perfect amount of resistance. Notes of baking spices dance on my tongue. This reminds me of holiday flavors in the best possible way.

SMOKING EXPERIENCE

LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Les Fines Lames Le Petite Cigar Knife
Fire: Torch

The first cut was a flat cut using my Les Fines Lames Le Petite Cigar Knife. The other cuts were v-cut with my Xikar v-cutter. Each cut was crisp and clean with no signs of the cap on raveling, or cracking. the head of the cigar looks firm and pack.

The lighting of the cigar I used my three flame torch to char, and final light of the cigars. The foot of the cigar charred very evenly and with out hardly any effort.

SMOKE
The smoke is very light in color and didn’t produce a heavy cloud when lighting the cigar. The smell of the smoke was inviting and not overwhelming.

FIRST THIRD
>> Cinnamon, Wood, Sweetness

The first third began with warm cinnamon; as it hits my nose, it gave me that sense of winter and the holidays. The spice is joined by notes of sweet graham cracker that seamlessly blend together. The ash is compact and gray. There are no flakes and it looks like a stack of nickels. The burn is even and almost razor sharp. I begin to notice notes of wood and earth. These notes marry together with the cinnamon and graham cracker, coming and going with each draw. The end of the first third I’m struck by how well the Jolly Walleye is constructed. The first chunk of the ash dropped off before getting to the second third.

SECOND THIRD
>> Salted Caramel, Earth, Red Pepper

The second third begins with a sweet and spicy notes on the retrohale The red pepper that hits your palate in the best way. Salted caramel starts to come through, adding depth and complexity to the Jolly Walleye. This is a pleasant change, as it takes away some of the strength in the cigar and gives way to more sweetness. The burn is clean and even. The ash is tight. There is a slight hint of earthy notes that hits my palate, that give a warm fullness to the experience. The draw has tightened up a little, but it is still easy enough for me to pull and enjoy. As I round out this third of the cigar, I’m delighted with the complexity of the cigar and how easy it has been to smoke.

FINAL THIRD
>> Black Pepper, Espresso, Honey Graham Cracker

The final third of the Jolly Walleye begins with one of my favorite flavors in a cigar: espresso. The creamy taste is now lingering on the palate. It gives way to a black pepper on the retrohale. This mixture of creamy and spicy has made me feel very connected to the theme of this cigar. As I round out this cigar, there has been no touch ups and the pull on the cigar has loosen up. A hint graham cracker comes into the fold, bringing the whole cigar together. This profile gives it that Christmas feel that has been consistent with this cigar, The Jolly Walleye has really impressed me with how well it has came together.. The Construction of this cigar was on point.

RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS

FLAVOR PROGRESSION

The flavor progression of the Jolly Walleye was subtle, requiring me to focus on the three main flavors I identified in the first third of the cigar. The transition from the first to the second third of the cigar provided the key elements that gave it a holiday feel while smoking. The graham cracker flavor remained consistent, shifting slightly from honey back to graham cracker as the cigar progressed, which I thought blended well with the underlying spice. The woody flavors also evolved throughout the smoke, starting with earthy tones, transitioning to cedar, and returning to a more general wood flavor. Toward the end, the cedar and woody notes seemed to merge. Overall, while the cigar wasn’t highly complex, its design suited the holiday theme perfectly, allowing all the flavors to emerge at just the right time and maintain that festive feeling.

BURN EXPERIENCE

The burn was very consistent throughout all three cigars; no touch-ups were needed, and the ash remained light in color and very firm until it was ready to fall off. The draw varied slightly between the cigars, but never to the point where it became difficult or detracted from the overall experience. With the right setting and good company, this cigar is sure to create lasting memories. The construction was solid as well, with no sponginess or issues with the wrapper falling apart. I never had to relight any of the cigars, which was a nice touch. Overall, this cigar offers great value for the money.

RATING BREAKDOWN
0.70 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
6.70 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.50 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment

COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES

THE HOLIDAYS YEAR ‘ROUND.

If you haven’t tried Lure Cigars, I feel you’re missing out. With Lou Cross’s captivating backstories, his down-to-earth attitude, and his love for cigars—especially not just his own—you can really feel the heart he puts into each cigar. I believe he pours his family and memories into every one of them. This cigar is an annual release, with only 3,000 made this year. Whenever I smoke it, it brings back great holiday memories spent with family and friends, sharing tall tales and enjoying fine cigars. At a price point of $16.00, I believe you get every penny’s worth. Overall, I feel Lou really nailed it with this cigar, and his passion for cigars truly shines through.

SIMPLY STOGIES RATING: 9.2 / 10.0

Cigar Review: Jolly Walleye by Lure Cigars