Blackbird's Flamingo Lancero is back for 2026, and this time it's spent a year resting in Blackbird's aging room. I sat down with Alan Britt, Kane Coles, and Miyagi Montes, National Sales Manager of Blackbird Cigars, to smoke through the second edition and look back on how this Smokingpipes exclusive came to be. Limited to only 250 boxes, Flamingo is available now, only at Smokingpipes.

[Tyler Caldwell]: We're here talking about something very special: the second edition of Flamingo for Smokingpipes by Blackbird. And we have someone special with us: Mr. Miyagi Montes himself, National Sales Manager of Blackbird Cigars and one of the people who helped create what we're smoking today.

[Alan Britt]: Some of us not only have a history with Blackbird, but with Miyagi. Tyler, Miyagi, and I were all part of the cigar scene here in Myrtle Beach, just customers at Low Country Pipe & Cigar and Smokingpipes before Miyagi and I were ever involved on the business side of cigars. On a personal level, it's super rewarding to see our little backstory come to such a cool fruition.

[Miyagi Montes]: One of our first conversations about Blackbird years ago was, "Man, it would be nice if we had some Lanceros." And one of our first real projects started with a sit-down in the office right upstairs: "What if we do some Lanceros for something special?" I never expected it to grow into this.

[TC]: It started as a what-if, then turned into, "What if we actually do this?" It became the most successful exclusive for Smokingpipes: the first to sell out, and the first to make a return.

A Year Older, Bolder, and Richer

[AB]: For this second iteration, we wanted to do something a little special. This is a version that's been aged for a year post-roll. What are you guys thinking flavor-wise?

[TC]: Before recording, I smoked an original-release Flamingo, which is now two years old. The difference between the original fresh, at one year, and at two years is night and day. It's almost a completely new experience. If you liked the heftiness of the original, that full-bodied, full-flavored profile with spice on the retrohale, you're really going to like this with a year of age on it.

[AB]: I'm with you. I also revisited the two-year-old examples, and it's drastically changed. We talk about aging cigars and pipe tobacco a lot, but it still surprises me how much difference time can make. This is one of those cigars where it's made a ton of difference.

[Kane Coles]: The first Flamingo I ever smoked was the original release Tyler gave me, so this is only my second. Right off the bat, it's very unique. If you missed the first release, you definitely don't want to miss this one.

[AB]: This is Flamingo with a suit jacket on. He's grown up a little bit.

[TC]: It's not the delinquent it once was.

[AB]: It's not so in your face. This is a subdued Flamingo.

Making a Different Kind of Statement

[MM]: Early on, we said that if we were going to make a Lancero, we wanted to make a statement, not just your average Lancero. We've shared a lot of cigars and ideas over the years, so this one was really dear to the heart. I wanted something that would impress not just customers, but the guys at the shop.

It was meaningful to make sure everybody was happy with it, from sparking the idea and having a conversation to getting samples back from the factory. It was exciting to watch that history happen.

[TC]: You and I went back and forth on the blend, and we sat down with Jonas to talk about it. I wasn't physically part of the blending, but I told Jonas what my ideal flavor would be. I wanted something outside the norm for Blackbird, and for Lancero smokers. Most Lanceros fall into particular profiles, and I wanted to go outside that box with something for the full-bodied smoker. Cigars are usually paired with coffee, whiskey, or bourbon, but I wanted something for the Scotch drinker or the añejo tequila drinker. We hit the nail on the head the first run, and we've done it again.

[KC]: A lot of what you're touching on is the attention to detail from everyone involved. Some exclusives don't feel like anyone's heart was in them. Everyone's heart was in this one, and I think that's why it is what it is.

How Flamingo Got Its Name

[AB]: Even down to the name. Blackbird is known for its packaging and bird names, so it had to fit that mold. It was on my lunch break, back when I was a customer service rep, that the three of us floated Flamingo for a Lancero. It only makes sense: Flamingos have skinny legs. I'm super stoked it's making a second run.

[MM]: Believe it or not, it almost didn't become Flamingo. We were considering the Carolina Wren, the state bird of South Carolina.

[TC]: The wren ended up becoming another exclusive, which also had a short run with other retailers. It was a killer cigar.

[MM]: About 30 minutes before a conference call, we realized we needed a name. If we were going for a Lancero, what bird would we use? I said, "Let's just go with Flamingo." The first thing Jonas said was that it's not a black bird. I told him, "I know, but the beak is black. It has to count."

I thought it fit not just Blackbird, but Smokingpipes. It's a disruptor. Pink isn't a typical color for a cigar band, and this isn't a typical Lancero profile. People asked, "What guy is going to smoke a cigar with a pink band?" I said, "When we give them a good product, they're going to go for it."

When you all were deciding between samples, I'd already made up my mind. I'm a Habano fiend, but I didn't want to influence anybody. I was so happy when you called and said, "Dude, we're going with Habano." Otherwise, I would have asked for one made just for me.

Putting Blackbird on the Map

[TC]: Jonas was so easy to work with and so good with detail. I gave him a list of flavor profiles I wanted to see, keeping in mind what consumers would want, too. It came down to this blend and another very similar one, but this one ticked the box a little stronger. I've always been happy with what we came up with, and customers have been excited about it, too.

Flamingo has helped Blackbird as well. I've heard from you, consumers, and other retailers who say, "If Blackbird can do this for you, imagine what they could do for us." It helped put all of us on the map.

[MM]: It's been a great gateway to conversations about what we do. I was concerned because it's a Lancero, which isn't necessarily what the market seeks out, but we've seen that shift over the last year or two, especially after the first release.

Honestly, I never saved any of the originals. I smoked through every box I bought. Bringing it back brings those memories back. After the very first light, it was like, "Oh my God, I know why I missed it."

Broadleaf in a Lancero

[AB]: Along with the Habano wrapper, it has a USA Connecticut Broadleaf binder, with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and more Broadleaf in the filler. That Broadleaf comes through heavily. You get the signature Habano profile, plus rich, dark tones from the Broadleaf, and you don't see Broadleaf in Lanceros very often. It's killer with morning coffee, and stout enough to hold up if you add a little something Irish to it.

[KC]: I'm such a lover of Broadleaf, so getting it in a Lancero makes me happy. You get a rich, dark, earthy fruitiness, some cacao and espresso, and a little spice. It's a treat.

[TC]: The message with this release is maturity, and the age brings out even more of that Broadleaf. I get cacao, and the Habano adds a bit of charred meat. All together, it's fantastic.

[MM]: I get graham cracker, like that first bite of a s'more on the first light.

[AB]: It's a warm and toasty cigar, which is appropriate on what's probably the coldest day of the year so far here in South Carolina.

[TC]: I'm very excited to have Flamingo back, and to see whether it holds up for customers who bought the original. Thanks to Jonas and the whole Blackbird crew for bringing this back. It's a limited release, with only 250 boxes made.

[MM]: And don't forget: Can't Clip My Wings.