Czar Petit Corona Sampler Review

[nikesupremedunk]

There is nothing like coming home to find a brown box waiting for you, it carries a similar sensation as opening Christmas presents as a kid. Even though I knew my order from czar came in, I couldn't hold myself back to tear open the box. The smell from all these cigars was simply intoxicating and I couldn't stop inhaling the empty bags I was planning on making a review of each cigar when my order came in, so I picked out 1 of each kind to smoke. I will try to post a different review every day, and in the end see which one stood out the most to me.

The Czar PC Sampler pack includes: Bolivar PC, Cohiba Sig II, Por Larranaga PC, Monte No.4, and Trini Coloniales, however, mine was substituted for what appeared to be H. Upmann PC's. This is my first time smoking this vitola, and as soon as I held one, I knew immediately this was going to be one of my favorites, especially as an everyday smoke.

I ended up picking the H. Upmann first, because it was in the worst shape out of the bunch. Wasn't sure if it was smokeable or not since the crack went down almost to the band and the first inch or so it was as deep as to the filler leaves, but decided to try it anyway.

As I said before, the Petit Corona just felt perfect in my hand and mouth. I can see why so many people like this vitola. The H. Upmann had a nice draw, although I don't remember what the pre-lit draw tasted like. The first few puffs had a nice, mellow, and creamy taste on the palate. Not very complex, yet very enjoyable. The best I can describe it is probably milk coffee. Despite the huge gash, the cigar burned decently, and I gave it a few touch ups here and there when the burn was getting wonky.

The beginning of second third was again, more milk coffee but picked up more on the body. Still a pretty mellow cigar but tastes great. Still had to give a few touch ups to let it burn evenly, but I'm sure if the crack wasn't there it would have been more stable.

The last third, I'm going to say it's more of toasty coffee bean flavor now, but a few times I felt a jolt of sweetness on the tip of my tongue. Even though it's quite thinner than a robusto, I'm surprised how long PC's smoke. Almost to the end soon.

At about an inch or so left, the smoke was getting pretty hot, but never really harsh. But it was getting hard to smoke at this point so it was time to snap a last picture and say good bye. Overall impression of this cigar, starts off nice and easy with a milky coffee flavor that reminds me of the Monte No. 2, and then develops more body towards the end, but not more than medium. Hints of sweetness throughout the cigar as well. A good cigar after lunch or for the night when you don't want something too heavy. More reviews will follow soon!

[Charltonc]

Excellent job. I still have not tried an H. Upmann pc, but I had a fantastic H. Upmann no. 2 last night from 01.

[Jason55555]

Nice review cant wait for the BPC review and Siglo reviews there my 2 favs in this size what codes are these i'm assuming 11's?

[cottierm]

Thanks for the review. I love the Upmann PC. I got a SUB JUL11 box from Czar. I smoked one of them three weeks after receiving it and it was delicious. The second one which I smoked a few weeks after the first one less one; the box has entered the sick period. Will try another one in the fall.

Best,

Michel

[nikesupremedunk]

Hmm not sure what the box code is since I didn't get a box with them..still good tho

[nikesupremedunk]

Tonight, I had the Monte No. 4's while watching the NBA finals. Unlike the game, the Monte 4 didn't disappoint!

Construction was good, pre-lit draw was very chocolatey, and tobacco. It lit well, and in the first third, burned smoothly and evenly. Mild bodied, milk coffee, sweetness, and creaminess, everything I loved about the Monte No. 2's were present. Such a smooth smoke, and very delicious. Compared to the H. Upmann from last night, I enjoyed the Monte's a bit more.

So far until the midpoint, the cigar remained pretty much the same. Creaminess and milkiness thoughout, and just very enjoyable. No harshness and no bitterness anywhere. The burn was still good, but needed a bit of touching up once or twice.

The last third was also pretty consistent with the first 2 thirds of the cigar. I've felt a hint of nuttiness once in a while and maybe a richer coffee flavor but still very mild-medium bodied. Past the band, the smoke got too hot and the taste started becoming a bit harsh so it was time to put it out. I must say the opening of the cigar was my favorite, as with the Monte No 2's I've had. I love that milky chocolate/coffee flavor that the Monte's have, but I also enjoy as it shifts into gear maybe after the midpoint and the flavors become a bit toasty. The endings aren't as good as the opening, but I guess it's a cigar you don't really smoke til the very end. I honestly didn't have great expectations for the Monte 4's, but it definitely surprised me and convinced me of how much I'm loving PC's in general. Tomorrow, I'll try to review the BPC's as I have it warming up the bench in the box right now.

[nikesupremedunk]

Here is the rest of the review of the PC sampler that I was too lazy to post over the weekend!

Starting here with the Bolivar:

Nice construction, good draw, but it does have that hint of ammonia smell although not as bad as "cat piss".

Right off the bat this little PC attacked my palate unlike the mild H Upmann and Montecristo. Started off Medium-full body from the first puff, which kind of shocked me because it was completely different than the Monte's. Very woody yet still tasty. Luckily no taste of ammonia.

The draw was good, the burn was decent and just more of the woodiness. Turned a little toasty towards the middle, and I was able to extract sweetness out of it. Still medium-full body, and surprised how powerful this little cigar is.

Towards the end the cigar kind of got bloated and started cracking. Maybe it's due to storage? I don't know. Still a very powerful smoke and the flavors turned more nutty at this point. I noticed that unlike the previous cigars, the smoke becomes harsh and no longer pleasant once you reach the band. When I finished the cigar I had a headache. So make sure to eat before smoking this one! Still, it was one of my favorite PC's so far...great bold flavors that you don't get from the other PC's!

[nikesupremedunk]

The following day I couldn't wait and decided to light up the Cohiba. This was my first Cohiba and I wanted to know what the hype with them was. It certainly did not disappoint.

Prelit draw and the scent was chocolatey and earthy. Construction was great, draw was good, time to fire this baby up! I wasn't able to thoroughly absorb the first third because I was having a conversation; but I know I was really enjoying it. Notes of honey were definitely present, and I was also getting some floral notes. Combined with the perfect weather, it was just a great, smooth, yet flavorful smoke.

Also this cigar was burning very well and evenly. Great great construction. Not much has changed for the second third, in fact it was very consistent and delightful. More honey and floral notes once again.

Even in the last third, this cigar was burning great. Maybe a touch up once or twice but it was still smoking very well. Such a consistent cigar, it really had me smoking down until the very end. Unlike the Boli, the cohiba never turned harsh in the end and retained the same flavor and body until the very end. The only cigar I was sad to leave behind.

[nikesupremedunk]

Last up is the PLPC. (Getting kind of sleepy.. )

Another cigar I had very high expectations for, since this seemed to be the top PC of choice for many members on here. Solid construction, firm body that was well packed. Sweet, earthy, chocolatey draw to it.

Upon lighting it, I was slightly confused. The smoke was definitely pleasant, but I couldn't really point a finger at any flavor profiles. Kind of just milky, mild, creamy smoke similar to the monte's. Nothing that stands out like the Bolivar and no distinct flavors like the Cohiba. I was disappointed. The only thing that it was better than the other PC's was the burn. It burned so perfectly and evenly, and the ash was beautiful white.

Luckily, the second half kind of turned things around. The mild, uncharacteristic smoke turned more medium, and the flavors became more pronounced, yet it still had the creamy, toasted, caramel taste to it. Now it was becoming more enjoyable! The burn once again, superb.

Even until the end it was a mild-medium body with a good amount of sweetness to it. The ash just didn't want to fall off even until the end. Overall, it was a pleasant smoke but like I said previously, it didn't really stand out too much. This might have been due to the fact that I tried a boli and cohiba before I tried the PLPC. I don't know.

[nikesupremedunk]

**Final thoughts**

I highly recommend getting this sampler to everyone, especially people just starting out. I really enjoyed every single PC in this sampler and it gave me a understanding of how things can be so different between each brands.

My overall favorite was the Cohiba Siglo II. Which kind of sucks because I would love to pick up a box but it's also the most expensive of the bunch. What I loved about it was the honey and floral notes, as well as the construction and burn. Not to mention it's cohiba

Second runner up would be a tie between the Bolivar PC and Montecristo No. 4. To me they were at the 2 different ends of a spectrum. One being so mild and creamy, while the other was so flavorful and in your face. The cohiba I would say is somewhere in the middle of that. It would be awesome to have a Monte in the morning with coffee, Cohiba in the afternoon after lunch, and the Bolivar after dinner.

The Upmann and PLPC were also great great smokes, but I just can't remember too much about them, which kind of tells me that it didn't really leave much first impression. I'm going to cycle through my second set of the sampler PC after this and re-evaluate them, but you really can't go wrong with the Siglo II, BPC, and the Monte's. Writing this review makes me want to smoke the Cohiba Anyway, thanks for reading my review!

[Jason55555]

Nice reviews thanks for sharing your sampler reviews.

As I said before the BPC is my favorite along with the Siglo II. Get a box of Siglo II is worth it, only problem I found with my batch is that if you like that honey flavor taste you have smoke em young the honey dissipates pretty fast with aging and turns into a more nutty sweet flavor which is still amazing.

[Jnaube]

Great reviews! Thank you for posting that! Really interresting!

[ritan]

Thanks for sharing...I've been thinking of pulling the trigger on this sampler so this helps a ton.

[Blakes]

Great review.. I have been thinking about trying this sampler pack out myself, after your review more so..

Thankyou for sharing.

[nikesupremedunk]

Yea, it's a shame I didn't get the Trinis, but I would have never tried the upmann's if I didn't get them. I encourage everyone to try the sampler though, most of these you can't get them unless you devote yourself to a box of 25's so as a newbie like myself, it's a great deal.

[stunod]

Late to read your review but top notch job. Great pics too