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I’m down for the count this week with an exquisitely sadistic flu bug, so instead of a cigar review I will pass along this bit of nifty news: General Cigar is giving away a Lotus. And that’s not a lighter, folks. That’s a 2010 Lotus Elise sports car, and it could be yours if you’re one of the five winners of a three-day, two-night stay in Las Vegas. Of those five lucky first-prize winners, one will get the key that starts the engine.

From the press release:

Richmond, VA – Serie R cigars invites its loyal legion of fans to celebrate their enjoyment of strength, refinement and performance through an exciting sweepstakes culminating in the giveaway in Las Vegas of a 2010 Lotus Elise sports car valued at more than $52,000.

Consumers of legal smoking age who make an online box purchase of Serie R cigars from Best Cigar Prices, Holt’s Cigar Company, JR Cigars, Mike’s Cigars, or Thompson Cigars between now and May 15, 2010 are automatically entered in to a drawing to win a trip to the Serie R Performance Driving School which will be held on 9/17 to 9/19, 2010 in Las Vegas. No purchase necessary. For complete official rules, visit www.cigarworld.com/lotus.

Strangely enough, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Robusto was one of the first cigars I ever reviewed for this blog. (Long long ago, when I was young and laconic.) And having gone for a week now without a good cigar, a Serie R sounds really really good. This is what I thought of this stick in 2006:

The Serie R maduros I’ve sampled are indeed rich, hearty cigars. I was prepared to be blown away, but was pleasantly surprised by their smoothness. There is a solid woody element with a touch of sweetness on the nose. The construction and burn were perfect, which is not an easy feat with a maduro wrapper as luscious as this one. For some reason Connecticut broadleaf fermented to this hue with all its oils does not want to burn as readily as the rest of the cigar, but in this case that proved to not be true.

Slow down at the midway point to avoid a tarry aftertaste. This one does not want to be rushed. A great 30 to 45 minute smoke, and in my opinion the best LGC yet.

It’s been a while since I fired up a fat Serie R, but as soon as I get the green light from my immune system I have one clipped and ready… unless I find one of the new LGC Artesanos de Tabaqueros first. ( Read the CA blog entry for details. Sounds like a great experiment, and hopefully more than a gimmick.)

~cigarfan