Jose L. Piedra Cremas

[jacksfull]

I smoked another JLP Cremas yesterday and I was duly impressed for a cigar that cost under two bucks.

It had good flavor that intensified as it smoked down. Started out relatively light-medium-ish. Sweet and clean tasting. It retained the same flavor throughout, but became medium-full by the end. Really a decent C&C cigar.

With it's Tripa Corta (short filler) construction, some of them get a little mushy, though this particular one did not. The burn was excellent, as was the draw. I actually find fewer plugged TC's than LF's, though there is more risk of getting underfilled cigars.

The JLP Cremas is certainly not a complex cigar (though I'm not sure I always get the same read on flavor development that some folks do unless it hits me square in the face). It's interesting when I find a cigar that has development that's clearcut, but I don't require complexity to enjoy a smoke, and wouldn't expect it in the cheapie range anyway. One dimension is enough most of the time if it has good flavor, and this cigar does... most of the time.

I bought a 5 x 5 box of these because the price was right and because I was intrigued with having some no-guilt CC's on-hand... something decent tasting I could grab without giving a second thought to cost or whether I should be saving it for some special occasion. So far, I've smoked 11 of these. The first few were good and I felt already that I could declare "mission accomplished". The 4th or 5th was a bad one that almost put me off off these for a while. Once I got the nerve up to go back to the well I've since been rewarded with a pleasurable smoke time after time. This last one was, dare I say, excellent. Especially excellent for a cheap throw-away cigar... and I have to learn to do just that when I get a dud; throw it away and grab another.

Bottom line: A decent smoke for the price. It's not for everyone. True connoisseurs will be disappointed. But, if you like to smoke daily, putting these (and/or other C&C's) in your rotation helps allow room in the budget for some nicer cigars as well.

[MontrealRon]

Excellent review!

You have really captured the nature of these cigars,

and the place they occupy in the universe of Habanos.

[demiurgic]

Totally, I like being able to toss a cigar right off the porch if it's a dud. Easy with cheaper fare!

Thanks for the review!

[ilgatto]

I gave one to a guy on Sunday who is a novice cigar smoker. He was happy as Hell to be receiving a Habano. He was having a hard time cutting with the Palio and lo and behold there was a long piece of string/twine he pulled out of it.

I was a little embarrassed but he thought nothing of it and smoked it happily. He kept looking at it with a satisfied look on his face. I was going to take photos but I did not want to make a big deal of it and possibly ruin his experience. I guess I shouldn't worry, I didn't roll it and I had a nice Hoyo des Dieux if he was put off by the twine.

[axmncg]

You really captured this cigar ... and the short filler experience in general. The Crema is my favorite JLP. I think the thinner ring gauge helps prevent it getting too hot or acrid. I usually get a couple duds per box as well ... none with string, that I've noticed . It's a really enjoyable "you're smoking cuban tobacco" cigar. I gave 3 to guys from work. I had mentioned the new C&C forum to a friend who asked to try one. word spread. their first cuban. We smoked them on a lunch break and all were satisfied. (everyone else said we stunk!) These are at the low end of cheap and a simple pleasure to smoke.

[bleedingshrimp]

I gotta say I thouroughly enjoy these as well for the price. Like you said, a one trick pony....but it's a fairly good trick. I've already gone through my 5x5 pack box. Got some cazadores too but MUCH prefer the cremas.

[jacksfull]

Sorry to say, the next one of these I smoked after posting this review was a major DUD. Had to ditch it at the halfway point and wash my mouth out with soap... both from the taste and the string of expletives I directed toward the un-smoked remnant mocking me from the ashtray.

I guess it's a crap-shoot (no pun intended). So, let me revise my opinion to:

When these are good, they are quite nice. But, when they're bad, they're real stinkers!

[audio1der]

Next to the Petit Cazadore, the Cremas is my fav. JLP.

Wonderful taste for the money.

TIP- remove them from the cardboard boxes and store them in an old cab. You wouldn't beleive you're smoking JLPs after just a short time.