The Cavalier Limited Edition (L.E.) cigar is released once a year, and this marks the seventh year the company has introduced an L.E. cigar. The blends and sizes change annually, making each year’s release unique. For 2024, the cigar is a 5 1/2 x 58 Double Figurado, which imparts some interesting flavors to the experience. Adding to the mystery, the company keeps the cigar’s blend a secret. A limited number of these hand-rolled cigars are produced each year, and there is also a gold leaf, which you can smoke through, hidden beneath the blue band. Cavalier now grows and rolls its tobaccos in Honduras, which contributes to the smoothness and medium-bodied profile of the cigar. From its undisclosed blend to the hidden gold leaf, the mystery surrounding this cigar adds an element of intrigue to the smoking experience. Let’s dive in and explore the flavors of this special release.
OVERVIEW
VITOLA: Double Figurado
SIZE: 5-1/2 x 58
ORIGIN: Honduras
FACTORY: Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A.
WRAPPER: Undisclosed
BINDER: Undisclosed
FILLER: Undislosed
STRENGTH: Medium
SOURCE:
Cavalier
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:
Lounge
WHEN:
10-15-24 at noon
DRINKS:
Water
WEATHER:
Indoors
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED: 2
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Limited Edition
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE Aug 2024
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 10
Production Totals: Unknown
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Double Figurado (5-1/2″ x 58)
BAND DESIGN
The construction of the L.E. 2024 is smooth with only slight veins along the foot and up to the pigtail cap. It is less veiny and toothy than some of the previous L.E. cigars, possibly due to the new size. The color is a rich milk chocolate, and the cigar feels firm with tight seams, which are hard to detect. Both cigars smoked for this review have identical construction, so I anticipate no issues with the smoking process.
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
The construction of the L.E. 2024 is more on the smooth side with slight veins at the foot and up on the caps a pigtail. Not as veiny and toothy as previous L.E., which could just be the new size. The color of this cigar is more of a milk chocolate color, the cigar is firm, and the seems look nice and tight so much so I would say there very hard to find. Both cigars I plan to smoke for this review are exactly the same. So we shouldn’t have any construction issue in the smoking process as both cigars feel and look the same. So let’s dive into this and see if we are right.
AROMA
The aroma is subtle, with a slightly buttery, almost buttercream scent, which may indicate a medium-bodied cigar.
COLD DRAW
The cold draw suggests a spicy cigar, with a distinct cinnamon baking spice flavor. There are earthy tones and a faint hint of milk chocolate. The draw is easy and unobstructed, despite the tapered foot..
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Les Fines Lames Cigar Knife
Fire: Palio Single Torch
I used a Les Fines Lames knife cutter, cutting the cap in half to ensure the pigtail was fully removed. This allowed for the best possible draw. The Palio single torch lighter was used to toast the foot of the cigar. Lighting the cigar was quick and even, thanks to the tapered end.
SMOKE
The smoke is light grey at the foot and darker at the cap. It’s smooth and doesn’t overwhelm, allowing the aroma to shine through.
FIRST THIRD
>> Black Pepper, Earthy Tones, Graham Cracker.
The first third of the cigar is dominated by black pepper, earthy tones, and a graham cracker sweetness. The pepper is strong at the start but subsides as the cigar progresses. The medium strength, as noted on Cavalier’s website, holds true. There is a small run on one side of the foot, but the ash remains tight and light grey in color. The draw is easy and smooth, with the graham cracker notes becoming more prominent. Toward the end of the first third, the run continues, but the cigar still feels well-constructed and enjoyable.
SECOND THIRD
>> Cinnamon, Cedar, Toasty Earth Tones, Nutty
The cigar needed a touch-up as mentioned earlier, but the flavors remain unaffected. The cinnamon spice from the first third transitions into more of a cinnamon-like flavor, with the earthy tones continuing to dominate. The ash flakes slightly, but the draw is still smooth. By the end of the second third, the sweetness from the graham cracker notes starts to come through, and hints of cedar and toasted nuts emerge, adding complexity. The construction improves slightly, and the cigar seems to catch up with itself, requiring no further touch-ups.
FINAL THIRD
>> White Pepper, Cedar, Mint
The final third is quite subtle, with flavors of white pepper, cedar, and a mint-like note, which adds a touch of sweetness. The cigar continues to maintain consistency, though the complexity I was hoping for didn’t fully materialize. However, the gold leaf inside the cigar is an interesting feature. It is definitely worth smoking through, as I believe the minty flavor comes from the gold leaf. The cigar finishes with a smooth, enjoyable profile.
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
The flavor progression remained relatively consistent throughout the cigar, with changes in spice and the emergence of cedar and mint in the final third. While I would have liked more sweetness and less earthiness, the overall experience was enjoyable and consistent.
BURN EXPERIENCE
The burn was a bit uneven during the first half of the cigar, requiring a touch-up at the end of the first third. The draw was easy, and I didn’t have to fight to pull the smoke through. Despite some issues with the burn, the ash stayed intact and didn’t fall into my lap.
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80 / 0.60 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
7.70 / 6.50 … Smoking Experience
0.50 / 0.25 … Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Very good flavor transitions.
- The flavors were more on the subtle side.
- Lack of consistent burn.
THE CAVALIER LE 2024 GETS A SILVER STAR.
If you haven’t tried a Cavalier cigar yet, I highly recommend it. Not only can you tell people you’ve smoked real gold, but the experience is one worth having, making it feel just a little bit more bougie.
