L’Atelier Selection Speciale LAT38 Review

Selection Speciale LAT38
Made by: L’Atelier
Country: Ecuador, Nicaragua
Vitola: 7 1/2 by 38

The LAT38 is a wonderful creation by L’Atelier, the Selection Speciale series by the company is really a work of art in my opinion. The Ecuadorian wrapper balances the blend to perfection. In terms of lancero’s this ranks pretty high on my personal list. I have never done a formal review on the cigar so I am interested to see if it actually can hold to my perception. Let’s see what this has to offer with a L’Atelier Selection Speciale LAT38 Review.

Prelight

A beautiful toothy dark thick wrapper, it really adds to the aesthetics  of the cigar. The cap is does very well, in a nice little pigtail. The foot is giving off floral jasmine, sweet honey, and leather. The prelight shows more sweet honey and leather. The cut went well with just a bit of loose tobacco. Fairly consistent firm pack with just a couple softer spots. There is s bit of resistance on the draw but this is not an issue at all. Medium sized veins and the secondary band gives the cigar the extra prestige it deserves when compared to the normal L’Atelier line.

1/3

Easy to light, there is a balanced mix of sweet honey and jasmine on the front. Just like the foot suggested, the finish is leather and the jasmine does carry through the profile in the background. As I get into the first third there is a bit of red pepper that comes up on the finish. Overall, this cigar is extremely balanced. The sweetness compliments the more traditional leather flavor and the jasmine adds the perfect amount of complexity. Even the red pepper plays a role in the balance. Medium to full body and low to medium strength, the burn line is a bit off. High smoke thickness and medium smoke production, this is a good start but lets see where it goes.

2/3

Slightly flaky ash, I wouldn’t recommend letting it grow out to long. Oak has come in on the front as the honey and jasmine fall, the finish shows leather and jasmine at even levels still. The red pepper end note has come up a bit and is showing more tongue bite then the first third. The body has actually fallen to a medium plus and the strength is at a low now. The smoke thickness has fallen to a medium and the production has held at a medium. The burn line is shifting around but there have been no touch-ups.

3/3

Smoke thickness came back up a bit the production has held at a medium. The body is back up to a medium full and the strength has returned to a low to medium. The flavors have gotten bolder but they are not present at the same complexity as the first third. There is a good mix of oak and leather on the front. I am still picking up a floral undertone, but the sweetness has diminished. The finish is a stronger leather note with red pepper meshed in now. The tongue bite is a good addition to the profile and has rounded out this cigar very well.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Conclusion: 89

Delicious cigar, between this and the L40 its a tough race. The first third of this cigar is my personal favorite, but the balance really holds throughout the profile. No touch-ups but not a perfect but, the smoke thickness shifted around a bit. That thickness most likely can be attributed to the changes in the pack. It was shifting with the firmer and softer spots. The flavors is this cigars best characteristic, and that really makes it worth keeping around the humidor. This is one cigar that I consistently restock and keep about 5 around. Of course try it before you start to stock it regularly, but this cigar won’t disappoint.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com