Por Larraenga Petit Panatenella

Por Larraenga Petit Panatenella

5 × 36
Made in Cuba
Paid: $4

I've smoked quite a few of these since I started smoking cigars.  With a price tag that can usually be found for less then $5, they are a great value.  My understanding is they used to be machine made cigars untill 2002, and are now hand rolled.

I find a slightly different experience every time I smoke one, but I've never had a bad one.

This cigar had a nice floral flavour, mixed with wood, and some mild earth.  I find these three flavours are always common to this cigars profile, and it's just a matter of which combination and strength you see the flavours that will vary.

Smoking time is usually about 30-45 minutes, and the last inch will get acidic due to heat.  They do have some strength to them also, probably in the medium range for the size.

I highly recommend these cigars.  In my opinion you can't go wrong.  I keep them around for an everyday smoke, and their so cheap you don't feel guilty turfing it if you have to.

Montecristo Edmundo

Montecristo Edmundo

5 3/8 × 52 Robusto

Made in Cuba

Drink: Diet Pepsi

Box date: Sept 09

In continuation of my great run at the Montecirsto line, I'm smoking a Edmundo.  I split a box of these with a co-worker, so it better be good.  I wasn't to worried.  I smoked the Petit Edmundo yesterday, and was expecting an identical experience, just a half hour longer.

I found the draw on this thing a little tight, and it opened up to a normal draw by the half way point.  The smoke is thick, and creamy, coating my mouth with flavour.

The flavours were the same as the PE, but far more mellow, and spread out.  You get the woodiness, and the earth kicks in after an inch or so.  By the half way point I then get the chocolate/cocoa flavour on the back my tongue.

This is not a powerful stick.  I usually can't take a robusto to the nub, but did it with ease here.  I loved the Bolivar Royal Corona, which is a little shorter then this, and couldn't finish it due to the strength.

Overall a really great smoke, and I'm happy I have a dozen of these waiting.  If I had to choose based on now smoking one of each, the PE would get the nod. The PE had a stronger flavour, which I got from start to finish.    Perhaps the PE would get equally as mellow with a year and half of age.

Another great Monte, I highly recommend. 

Montecristo Petit Edmundo

Montecristo Petit Edmundo

4 1/3 × 52 

Made in Cuba

Paid:  $19

Drink: Diet Pepsi

I'm quickly becoming Monte fan boy.  I have a half box of Edmundo's that I splt with a co-worker, and planned on lighting that up today.  I reached for this instead, as it's been sitting in the humidor alone for awhile.

Like with all Monte's, I find the construction, and feel of the cigar to be perfect.  It lights nicely, and burns even start to finish, without ever getting to hot.

Right off the bat I'm hit with strong wood cedar flavour, that can't be mistaken.  About an inch in, the wood softens, and lets a slight earth in, if I exhale a little out the nose.  It's very creamy, and coats the entire mouth.  There is a definite cocoa or chocolate in there, but I don't get it every draw.   The smoke is nice and thick. 

By the last third all the flavours mellow out, and I get a slight fruity taste added in.

Now a lot of reviews also describe pepper, and spice.  I don't really ever taste those in a cigar, other then the tingling sensation similar to pepper in the nose, if I exhale out the nose.  If that is indeed what people are talking about, then there is a slight pepper in the nose, that gets stronger in the last third.  The spice thing I still don't get.

I would consider this a mild cigar.  I've smoked a Hoyo Petit Robusto, and Bolivar Royal Corona.  The Royal Corona was very strong, and I feel that this was more mild then the Hoyo.

Another great Monte, I highly recommend.  Having not smoked the Edmundo yet, my thinking right now is to try and see if I can get someone to split a box with me.  

Partagas Mille Fleurs

Partagas Mille Fleurs 
Petite Corona 5 1/8 x 42
Made in Cuba
Paid: $10 CDN from Cigar Studio (February Special)
Drink: Diet Pepsi


Lit this one up today, on a whim.  Wasn't planning on smoking but found myself with some down time so I grabbed this Partagas, as I have yet to try anything from the brand yet.

On a side note, this cigar is a corona, don't know why a 42 gauge cigar over 5" is deemed Petite.  Yet they call a 4" x 42 cigar petite as well.  Whatever, its a size I enjoy all the time.

It lit, and burnt great, and the pre-light aroma, like with the majority of Cubans was nice.  The construction felt, and looked good..

The taste is a different with this one.  The dominant flavour was a rich woodiness that I couldn't pin down to a specific wood.  It didn't have a remote hint of earth, that I find almost guaranteed in Cubans.

Now I had read a few reviews before lighting up, and quite a few mentioned a floral taste.  Not sure if the name 'Fleur' influences that, and in turn influenced my own taste; but I actually did get a hint of what I would describe as light floral taste.  If I didn't read that going in, I'm not sure I would have picked up on it, or if I just made it up, as it was in my mind.

I found it to be mild to medium strength.  Nice rich creamy smoke.

This was a decent smoke.  If I could find them by the box for significantly less then the $10 a stick I paid, I would certainly consider getting a box, or splitting with someone.

Cohiba Siglo II

Cohiba Siglo II

5" × 42

Made in Cuba
Paid: $17 CDN from local B&M.  Just cracked open the box for me.

Drink: Diet Pepsi

After trying my first Cohiba last night, the Panetela, I was very excited to get this one lit.

Once again, the construction is perfect.  The draw is great, and smoke is very creamy.  This cigar pretty much gave me the same experience as the Panetela.  The taste is identical, of rich tobacco, leathery flavour, though the Panetela seemed to have a stronger flavour.  The same spice was left on the tip of my tongue when it was finished.  The only addition was that of wood to the profile.  Again, no harshness, or ammonia at all.

Very nice cigar from start to finish, though I expected more in the way of flavour.  That may be due to how young the cigar was.  Definitely a medium strength cigar, that needs to be taken slowly to avoid getting overwhelmed by the tobacco.  I will try, and get my hands on several of these to put away and age.

In my opinion, as a new cigar smoker, I would recommend these to others new to cigars.  You won't be turned off.

Quintero Londres Extra

Quinter Londres Extra

Petite Conona 4 7/8 x 40
Made in Cuba

Paid: $5 CDN
Age: Purchased  about 6 months ago at Holy Smokes (Run out of Loblaws Superstore)
Drink: Ice Water & Diet Pepsi

I'm not going to bother going long on this one.  It's a piece of crap. Move on with your day, if you don't care to read more. 

The guy recommended these, along with the Guantanamera brand as a 'good beginner smoke'.  So I bought two.  I smoked one that day, and I was disgusted.  Had this been my first cigar, I would have never picked up another cigar again.  Anytime I here someone at a cigar shop recommend me these, or the Guantanamera brands, I immediately do not trust their opinion.  I think they are just trying to move a crappy product out on the back of my inexperience.

Six months did nothing to change my opinion, or make this cigar any better. It's really, really bland, and flavourless.  By the end you just taste cigar ash.  It's very mild, and if you told me it was filled with paper, I would not be surprised.  I didn't even taste a hint of tobacco, nor feel the affects. 

I will give it some positive feedback.  The smoke is super thick, and the ash hung on till the half way point, as you can see in my pics.  The smoke left no lingering bad odor (Thank God), and it left no bad after taste in my mouth.  It didn't hurt the pocket book to much either.  

Another positive... it's no longer in my humidor!!!; There will never be another.  I still have two Guantanemera's left, and I'm not looking forward to smoking them. 

In my opinion, if your new to cigars, spend the extra $5 to $10, and go with the respected names, like Bolivar, Montecristo, etc...  The Por Larranga Panetela's, while slightly smaller, are super cheap in this cigar's price range, and far superior, if your looking for an everyday decent cheap cigar.