Lure Cigars added to their portfolio with the release if the Brown-E-Trout (6″x54 box-pressed toro) and the Lil’ Trout (5″x52 box-pressed robusto)in October of 2025. The Brown-E-Trout was first released in the Fall of ’24 as part of Lure Cigars’ limited releases known as “Catch & Release.” This is the first time that Lure Cigars’ has brought back a cigar that was released in their “Catch & Release” series as a core line. The regular release includes a new robusto size;. In a press release, Lou Cross said the new robusto size would give a richer and bolder smoking experience and was “more loco in the cocoa.” Having thoroughly enjoyed the limited “Catch & Release” of the Brown-E-Trout, I am looking forward to finding out what the Lil’ Trout has in store.

OVERVIEW

VITOLA: Robusto
SIZE: [5″ x 52]

ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: Manufactured by La Tabacaria Cigars

WRAPPER: Nicaraguan Maduro
BINDER: Nicaragua (Esteli)
FILLER: Nicaragua (Esteli, Condega, Jalapa)

STRENGTH: Full

SOURCE:
Small Batch Cigar

ENVIRONMENT

WHERE:
Studio/Lounge

WHEN:
December 30 @3pm

DRINKS:
Battled Water

WEATHER:
Indoors

HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:
3

PRODUCTION

RELEASE TYPE Regular Production

ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE October ’25

TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Bundles of 10
Production Totals: Unknown

VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Box-Pressed Robusto (5″ x 52)
o Box-Pressed Toro (6″ x 54)

BAND DESIGN

Colorful and eye-catching bands and packaging have been a hallmark of Lure cigars marketing since its inception. The release of the Lil’ Trout prove no different. This time choosing varying shades of brown for this release. It’s a wonderful tie-in, not only to the Maduro wrapper, but also to the tasting notes that lure says you will get with this cigar: namely chocolate brownie. While varying shades of brown may seem like an odd choice to some, it pops against the Maduro wrapper. The band features Lure Cigars logo prominently displayed on the front, while the left side has the year of release (2025), and the right side lists the type of wrapper and the country of origin.

PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS

CONSTRUCTION

The Maduro wrapper is rough to the touch but not as toothy as I expected. Upon examination, the wrapper has some mottling and a few spots of discoloration. It has an oily sheen that comes alive when held up to the light. Overall though, it’s a beautiful looking presentation. A dark shade of brown that has only a few veins and even fewer visible seams. There are no hard or soft spots to be found. The cap is applied almost seamlessly. The only flaw, besides the occasional spot of discoloration, is that the wrapper does not go all the way to the foot on one of the cigars smoked for this review. It’s a small thing, but very noticeable.

AROMA

The Maduro wrapper gives off notes of Cedar, nuts, earth, and barnyard. It is earth and barnyard forward. The foot is still earthy with notes of nuts, spice, grass, fruit, sweet tobacco, and just a hint of barnyard.

COLD DRAW

Big notes of bread, baking spices, and chocolate jump out at me. It’s delicious. There are also hints of barnyard and fruit, but the chocolate and bread combination lead the charge.

SMOKING EXPERIENCE

LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Le Petit by Les Fines Lames
Fire: Vector SONICPUMP

The initial light has copious amounts of chocolate, coffee, red pepper, baking spices, and nuts. Black pepper on the retrohale. Chocolate and bread linger on my palate. Cayenne pepper claws at the back of my throat. Spicy, sweet, full bodied and full flavor from the light.

SMOKE

The smoke is thick and creamy…it’s almost chewy. It coats my palate with each draw and activates my saliva glands.

FIRST THIRD
>> Chocolate, Baking Spices, Black Pepper

Chocolate goodness is the best way that I can describe it. Is it brownie? Not quite that rich, but there is a bread/yeast note, too. A hint of fruit lingers on my palate. The first third also has notes of earth, nuts, baking spices, and vegetal. Black pepper dominates the retrohale. The burn line is almost razor sharp. The ash is gray with black streaks and compact. Chocolate and coffee dominate, but there are nuances to the Lil’ Trout’s first third: bread, nuts, fruit, green pepper, and black pepper. As the first third comes to a close, a bright note begins to cut through the richness…not quite citrus and not quite floral, but something in-between.

SECOND THIRD
>> Fruit, Chocolate, Star Anise

The middle third begins with fruit and citrus cutting through the rich and earthy notes of chocolate, cedar, bread, and star anise. Baking spices on the retrohale. The green pepper/vegetal note is gone and what is left is a sweet treat that is chocolate forward. Roasted nuts join the chorus. There is a depth of flavor to the Lil’ Trout. Bread morphs into buttered toast, Cedar turns into charred wood. Coffee notes come and go. Chocolate and bread are the constant. Even the fruity citrus begins to play hide-and-seek. The burn wavers ever so slightly. The ash is gorgeous, only losing any cohesion when deposited in the tray. Wood and chocolate fight for supremacy. Baking spices set the whole thing off on the retrohale.

FINAL THIRD
>> Espresso, Leather, Burnt Bread

Black pepper returns to the retrohale. Coffee, nuts, butter, and campfire all meld together. Chocolate sweetness lingers on my palate. Licorice/star anise remains, adding a brightness to the profile. The smoke is still chewy and unctuous. Sweet cream and leather round out this final third. The burn line is still mostly straight. The ash has a few loose flakes, but my black sweatshirt shows no signs of it. Espresso, dark chocolate and wood now dominate the profile. Black pepper and leather with a touch of citrus. Butter, burnt bread, charred wood, mocha, leather, and baking spices are how the Lil’ Trout ends.

RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS

FLAVOR PROGRESSION

The flavors of the Lil’ Trout start strong and remain constant throughout. A bold and full flavored experience from light to nub. It’s a delicious progression, full of nuance but not overly complex. Straightforward notes of earth, chocolate, and coffee that are flanked by baking spices, leather, bread, and leather. Citrus and cream cuts the richness during the smoking experience. Each third is defined, but attention must be given or you could miss the transitions all together.

BURN EXPERIENCE

Razor sharp for two-thirds, with the final third seeing a bit more waviness among the three cigars smoked for this review. I could find little fault with how the Lil’ Trout performed…from the ash to the burn I was impressed.

RATING BREAKDOWN
0.69 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
6.90 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.47 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment

COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES

CHOCOLATE TROUT NEVER TASTED SO GOOD.

The Lil’ Trout is not a cigar that is a pepper or spice bomb. If anything, it’s a chocolate bomb. An explosion of earthy and chocolstey notes that allow room for nuance. What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in flavors: chocolate, bread, spices, leather. Hints of citrus and cream add to the experience and kept me engaged. I continually find myself impressed with what Lou Cross and the folks at La Tabacaria are doing. If you’re a cigar enthusiast or grizzled cigar veteran and have yet to try anything from Lure Cigars, the Lil’ Trout is a solid offering to start with. You won’t be disappointed.

**Lure Cigars is a sponsor of Simply Stogies Podcast and is available at our other sponsor, Small Batch Cigar.

SIMPLY STOGIES RATING: 9.06 / 10.0

Cigar Review: The Lil’ Trout from Lure Cigars