I was first made aware of the Lumineer several years ago by Lou Cross, now of Lure Cigars. At the time, Lou was good friends with Nimmer Ahmad of Valacari. Nimmer would allow Lou, and the members of a local Tallahassee based cigar club – “C4” – to sample different test blends to get feedback. The Lumineer was a blend that was whispered about. In an almost hushed tone Lou handed me an early blend of the Lumineer and said, “This is the best cigar I’ve smoked in a decade. (Who says being in cigar media doesn’t have perks?) I usually take these types of comments with a grain of salt…but after smoking it, I knew that Ahmad was onto something.
Here we are, almost four years later, and Nimmer Ahmad has finally perfected the blend. Though, saying he’s just happy with the blend might be more accurate. Nimmer himself referenced how long it has taken to release the Lumineer when we talked to him back in September of ’24. A Nicaraguan puro that features a Nicaraguan Habano 2000 wrapper, draped over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The Lumineer was released at this year’s PCA Trade Show & Convention in New Orleans, LA.Â
OVERVIEW
VITOLA:Â Â Â Toro
SIZE:Â Â 6″ x 52
ORIGIN:Â Â Nicaragua
FACTORY:Â Â Manufactured by La Tabacaria Cigars
WRAPPER:Â Â Nicaraguan Habano 2000
BINDER:Â Â Nicaraguan
FILLER:Â Â Nicaraguan
STRENGTH:Â Â Medium+
SOURCE:Â Â Â
Small Batch Cigar
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:Â Â
Studio/Lounge
WHEN:Â Â
July 1 @1pm
DRINKS:Â Â
Bottled Water
WEATHER:Â Â
Indoors
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:Â Â
3
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Â Regular Production
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE Â April ’25
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size:Â Â Â Bundles of 10
Production Totals:Â Unknown
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o  Toro (6″ x 52)
o Robusto (5″ x 50)
BAND DESIGN
The band could not be more understated. White with gold accents, and “Lumineer” in a wine color. The band, while understated, is elegant and gives a sense of luxury. It keeps the theme of each Valacari line having its own logo. The Lumineer’s logo is a simple gold crown.Â
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
The Nicaraguan Habano 2000 wrapper is a gorgeous shade of milk chocolate. Slightly mottled and slightly rough to the touch. There are several veins and bumps found throughout each cigar smoked for this review, though nothing concerning. There were a few dark spots on one of the wrappers, but nothing concerning. The Lumineer feels firm, but not hard, between my fingers. The right amount of give can be felt when I gently press it between my fingers. It bounces right back. The cap appears to be expertly applied. The Lumineer is not what I’d call “rustic.” The cigar has an elevated look and feel to it.Â
AROMA
The Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper is straight barnyard. There are faint notes of chocolate and fruit, but you really have to search for them. The foot is giving off floral notes along with freshly mowed grass, fig, musky barnyard, and freshly baked bread.
COLD DRAW
The cold draw reveals notes of bread, chocolate, and baking spices. The chocolate note, believe it or not, is very much chocolate pudding. Yes, I know. A bit of fruit is also detectable. As for the draw, it is a bit on the tight side. (Each cigar smoked for this review was like this.) I don’t think it’s anything concerning.
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Le Petit by Les Fines Lames
Fire: Vector Icon II
The initial light brings forth big notes of baking spices, powdered chocolate drink mix, leather, red pepper flake, and black pepper on the retrohale. The spices are clawing at the back of my throat in the best way.
SMOKE
The smoke is creamy and in abundance. Each pull coats my palate and delivers a satisfying amount of creamy smoke. It has a great mouthfeel to it…almost silky in texture.
FIRST THIRD
>>Chocolate, Bread, Caramel, Baking Spices
 As the initial light fades, the Lumineer begins its opening salvo with notes of chocolate, baking spices, wood, and a hint of cayenne pepper. Black pepper on the retrohale. The burn line is slightly wavy, but nothing concerning. The ash looks less than compact, with a few stray flakes. It’s gray with wavy black lines. Leather and spice linger on my palate. Sweet cream, bread, and caramel and lemon zest join the chat. The baking spices set everything off, while the juxtaposition of caramel and red pepper keep the Lumineer interesting.
SECOND THIRD
>> Coffee, Honey, White Pepper, Chocolate
The middle third starts with coffee, avocado oil, citris, honey, and a nice floral note. White pepper and baking spices on the retrohale. There’s a chalky, mineral note now. The smoke is still creamy. The ash seems to be more compact in this midfle third. The burn is still less than razor sharp. Any harshness from the baking spices and pepper notes is rounded out by the sweet and bitter notes. Chocolate is holding everything up, but lurking underneath everything. The profile is decidedly medium+.
FINAL THIRD
>> Salted Nuts, Espresso, Graham Cracker, Black Pepper
The final third begins the salted roasted nuts, espresso, burnt wood, toast, and avocado oil. Graham cracker and baking spices round out the beginning of the end of the Lumineer. Black pepper on the retrohale. High quality dark chocolate replaces the espresso note. Butter, chocolate, and wood dominate the final third. The ash is still not compact, but nothing egregious. The burn is wavy but not concerning or annoyingly uneven.Â
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
The Lumineer’s flavor progression begins with a medium profile of chocolate, wood, and pepper. It quickly moves to medium+ with notes of leather and red pepper, and coffee. The chocolate note follows the progression from light to nub, holding the notes of caramel, honey, and graham cracker up. It allows the sweeter notes to shine through coffee, espresso and wood. The baking spices and pepper notes act as flavor enhancers. The Lumineer is a well balanced flavor explosion.
BURN EXPERIENCE
The burn. The bane of my existence as a reviewer. Was it bad? Absolutely not. It had moments of waviness. It also had moments of being razor sharp. The ash that started so compact, ended up being a little flakey, but not by an egregious amount. The carbon line was thin but there, adding to the elegant look of the Lumineer.
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.79Â / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50Â / 0.50 …Â Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50Â / 0.50 …Â Lighting Process
7.40Â / 7.70 …Â Smoking Experience
0.50Â / 0.50 …Â Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Balanced flavors throughout the cigar
- An elegant, if understated, look and feel to the cigar
- Burn was wavy? What a cop out
THE LUMINEER LIGHTS THE WAY.
So, was Lou Cross’ opinion that the Lumineer “Is the best cigar I’ve smoked in the past decade” accurate? It’s damn close. The Lumineer is certainly has the most balanced flavor profile I’ve had in a long time. The chocolate note that follows you throughout the cigar is sublime. It helps highlight the sweeter notes, while not overpowering the earthy notes of wood an leather. This allows for subtle notes of citrus to shine through. The Lumineer checks every box for me. Complex. Nuanced. Flavorful. Well Constructed. This is box bundle worthy. All day long. Light up the Lumineer and enjoy the experience!
