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Came via a few of these sticks that I wouldn?t normally have got around to trying, thanks to a recent box split organised by bnelly over on Club Havana, many thanks Neill! 
Appearance: 15/15 - Dimensions are 6 1/8" length and 52 ring gauge Pir?mide and it looks mighty impressive; as all PL?s do in my opinion with their grand gold bands on! The Wrapper was not flawless, a few leaf veins and minor lumps and bumps, but the wrapper colour was even and a good silky sheen to it, ?rustic? sums it up. Good cap construction that cut cleanly without any unravelling, I exposed about 8 ? 9mm of the cap with my cutter as I am a lazy and slow puffer and don?t like a firm draw.
Draw and Burn: 18/20 ? The pre-lit draw had a bit more resistance than I was expecting, but not plugged by any means, hoped the draw would easy as the stick warmed up. Toasted the foot and set to with a couple of beers to hand. The burn was spot on, even and steady, with no canoeing etc. The ash was firm and held on for over an inch at a time before I tapped it off (so as not to end up wearing it! ? a knack of mine when I get too cocky with keeping ash on)
Flavour and complexity: 20/30 ? I?m not scoring this as highly as maybe you might expect for a rather expensive ?RE? but the flavour just did not develop, there was nothing wrong with it, just it was not in any way more special than standard Por Larranaga?s ? hardly a criticism as I adore PL?s, the odd caramel / freshly cracked black pepper profile was there, in buckets, but that was just down to the size of the cigar I think, quantity of familiar PL flavours rather than quality enhancements. As the smoke progressed, harsher cedar notes came to the fore and I lay the cigar down with a couple of inches left; rarely to I ?nub? a cigar as I don?t like the ?buzz? of the accumulated tars and nicotine, usually leaves me nauseous.
Overall: 28/35 ? A good cigar, a solid cigar, good quality, fine construction and appearance, but nothing special that lifts it above the rest of the offerings by Por Larranaga, despite the extra band and the ?RE? hype. My tip is buy the PC?s and Montecarlo?s instead as they are just as good and pocket the price difference for your next purchase!
Total: 81/100
Appearance: 15/15 - Dimensions are 6 1/8" length and 52 ring gauge Pir?mide and it looks mighty impressive; as all PL?s do in my opinion with their grand gold bands on! The Wrapper was not flawless, a few leaf veins and minor lumps and bumps, but the wrapper colour was even and a good silky sheen to it, ?rustic? sums it up. Good cap construction that cut cleanly without any unravelling, I exposed about 8 ? 9mm of the cap with my cutter as I am a lazy and slow puffer and don?t like a firm draw.
Draw and Burn: 18/20 ? The pre-lit draw had a bit more resistance than I was expecting, but not plugged by any means, hoped the draw would easy as the stick warmed up. Toasted the foot and set to with a couple of beers to hand. The burn was spot on, even and steady, with no canoeing etc. The ash was firm and held on for over an inch at a time before I tapped it off (so as not to end up wearing it! ? a knack of mine when I get too cocky with keeping ash on)
Flavour and complexity: 20/30 ? I?m not scoring this as highly as maybe you might expect for a rather expensive ?RE? but the flavour just did not develop, there was nothing wrong with it, just it was not in any way more special than standard Por Larranaga?s ? hardly a criticism as I adore PL?s, the odd caramel / freshly cracked black pepper profile was there, in buckets, but that was just down to the size of the cigar I think, quantity of familiar PL flavours rather than quality enhancements. As the smoke progressed, harsher cedar notes came to the fore and I lay the cigar down with a couple of inches left; rarely to I ?nub? a cigar as I don?t like the ?buzz? of the accumulated tars and nicotine, usually leaves me nauseous.
Overall: 28/35 ? A good cigar, a solid cigar, good quality, fine construction and appearance, but nothing special that lifts it above the rest of the offerings by Por Larranaga, despite the extra band and the ?RE? hype. My tip is buy the PC?s and Montecarlo?s instead as they are just as good and pocket the price difference for your next purchase!
Total: 81/100
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