To label Lars Tetens as a ‘man of many talents would be quite an understatement. In addition to being a world-famous handbag manufacturer, master chocolatier, artist, furniture maker, chef, and skateboard designer, he is renowned for being one of the creative roars behind the cigar boom of the 1990s.
This was a period where infused cigars gained popularity, although Tetens prefers to describe his cigars as “conditioned”. This rigorous process uses essential oils, botanicals, and tropical spices to create a delicious and exotic flavor-infused smoke.
Much to the dismay of infused stogie enthusiasts, cigars under the Lars Tetens brand abruptly ceased production, citing various factors. For over a decade, his smokes merely drifted in and out of the shadows, without ever entirely vanishing.
Fast forward to 2019 when everything changed. Alec Bradley Cigar Company President Alan Rubin stunned the cigar world when he announced he was acquiring a majority stake of Lars Tetens Brands and would work alongside Tetens to resurrect seven of these vintage lines. Today, we look at one of those lines chosen as part of the revival — Serie D.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Full
- Wrapper: Not Disclosed
- Binder: Not Disclosed
- Filler: Not Disclosed
- Smoke Time: 85 minutes
- Sizes Available:
- Lars Tetens Serie D Robusto (5x50)
How is the Serie D Robusto constructed?
As with most Lars Tetens cigars, the blend of the Serie D is kept a secret. Considered one of Teten’s most powerful (and most important) lines, it primarily uses Ligero leaves that are taken from the very top of a tobacco plant. This results in a rich and robust full-bodied flavor.
Produced in Nicaragua at Jesus Fuego’s prestigious factory, the wrapper had a rich coffee bean color with shades of dark Colorado noticeable. There was a slight shiny oil sheen on the surface of the wrapper along with some thin veins and thin visible wrapper seams.
If you’ve never come across a Lars Tetens cigar before, you will quickly discover that his branding is one of a kind. All of his packagings features bands with four panels and typically four pictures, often of Lars himself. Serie D falls into the latter, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking this is a journey of egocentricity.
The first image is in black and white, giving it a timeless and nostalgic feel. We see Lars sporting a rebellious punk look, with the text ‘since 1979’ in black font representing when Tetens first began crafting cigars. The main picture of the four shows the present-day Lars, with the brand name in gold lettering over the red background.
I was now set to travel back in time to the ancient art of cigar making and see what the pre-light draw of the Serie D had in store for me.
Notes on the cold draw
The cold draw was completely different from any pre-light puff that I’ve ever experienced. Once I’d removed the cap and taken a few draws, there was a unique combination of chocolate licorice with hints of floral notes. To my surprise, it really helped balance the aniseed character of the licorice.
How did it taste?
There was a sweetness throughout the smoke that I really enjoyed. This was channeled by the chocolate licorice flavor that always remained present in some capacity. Given that Serie D is a “Ligero” blend, I expected it to be heavy in pepper and spice, but these notes were ingeniously subtle. This allowed bold earthy flavors and a smooth nutty taste to really stand their ground.
This smoke would match up perfectly with a can of Dr. Pepper and emphasize all that is great about a Lars Tetens cigar: full of flavor, audacious, and enjoyable.
First third
With my curiosity piqued from the cold draw, it was time to set my stick alight. With so many cigars, the initial aroma and dry draw aren’t replicated in the initial smoking stages. However, Serie D was a welcome exception to the rule. The chocolate licorice flavor was the dominant force, although some earthiness and sugary fruit sweetness joined the party intermittently.
There was a very pleasant smoke production throughout the first third, with a sweet, wild blueberry flavor coming through on the retrohale.
Second third
When I got into the second third of the cigar, everything started to get a little bit nutty. The sweetness had somewhat retreated, and instead, it felt like I had just sat down at the movies and placed my head in an XL pouch of nutty caramel popcorn. There were even some toasted notes in the retrohale that were accompanied by a warm creaminess.
The chocolate licorice was now being crowded out by some bitter coffee notes. I also detected some red pepper flakes in the background that raised the flavor profile above the medium mark.
Final third
The coffee notes were given more room to shine in the final third, but the bitterness was superseded by intense hits of leather, earth, and apple sweetness. The subtle traces of chocolate licorice prevailed on the finish, lasting well over a minute after the smoke had left my palate. I expected the pepper notes from the second third to come to the fore, but they delicately staved away from overpowering the rest of the flavors.
Some dry hay is pulled through in the retrohale, while the construction remains unblemished.
How strong is the Serie D Robusto?
The Serie D is billed as a full-bodied flavor-infused cigar, but for the most part, I found it to be hovering around the medium-plus mark. This was because the spice had been dialed back, but that’s not to say it didn’t tickle the hairs on my tastebuds.
The superb construction was also reflected in the perfect draw which had just the right touch of resistance. An abundance of smoke is also rampant thanks to the ease with which I can take in the cigar while it burns.
Closing thoughts
The Serie D certainly made me grateful that the extended hiatus of the Lars Tetens cigar brand is now resigned to history. Lars is a cult figure in stogie circles, and it’s for good reason if the Serie D line is anything to go by.
It blankets the palate with brazen, yet elegant flavors, making it a winner with veteran aficionados or newcomers seeking a little more spice in their smoking life.