Ashes & Ink | Paul Stulac – Red Screaming Sun (2017)

Lancero · Reviewed 25 May 2020

It was a bank holiday Monday in the middle of the pandemic — the kind of quiet afternoon where time slows down. I was sitting in a park with my wife, a view stretched out in front of us, and a cigar in hand: my first Lancero.

The Red Screaming Sun from Paul Stulac. Rolled in 2017. A Privada selection.

I paired it with The Uncommon, an English sparkling wine — another first for me, and notably, my first canned one. Perhaps a touch too sweet for the cigar, but still a pairing worth the experiment.

The cigar opened beautifully — phenomenal draw, the scent of manure on the body, and a smooth peppermint note on the cold draw. Right from the start, strong cedar and leathery flavours, the wrapper leaving a pleasant taste on the lips.

The first third was excellent — full, clean, not dry. That same barnyard aroma carried through, reminding me of my godfather’s ranch kitchen: a mix of warm earth and wood. On the retrohale, dry grass and hay, with a faint trace of burnt sourdough.

By the end of the second third, the nicotine started to make itself known — not overpowering, just that light-headed calm that comes with a good smoke (or perhaps the wine lending a hand). The flavour turned creamy, round, and balanced, making me crave something sweet — a cronut, maybe.

As the cigar neared its end, spice took the lead. What began as cedar and leather closed with a gentle intensity — creamy smoke giving way to pepper and warmth.

A first Lancero, a first canned sparkling wine, and a reminder that the best discoveries often come quietly, on ordinary days.