2013 La Flor de Cano Regional Comparison

[Ryan]

I did a comparison tasting last night of the two new Flor de Canos.

The Asia Pacific Grandioso and the Gran Bretana Gran Cano.

The Gran Cano at 50 X 141 and the Grandioso at 52 x 135, making the Grandioso very slightly (3.5%) bigger by volume. But really very little difference.

We started with the Gran Cano as we had been hearing that the Grandioso is quite strong and from experience knew that the Gran Cano is mild enough.

From a packaging point of view, the UK one wins. Green ink, green ribbon to pull the first cigar and a papeleta on the box.

The Asian box, by comparison, looks a little "thrown together", but nobody smokes boxes. Anyway, they'll never be side by side on a shop's shelf, or at least "should" never be..

1. Gran Cano

Again (see original http://www.friendsof...howtopic=116357), this started off with a very slight amount of harshness on the nose that went away quickly. Sweetness.

My smoking partner did not enjoy this part of the cigar much, he found paper/cardboard flavours from it, rarely a good thing!

The last one of these I smoked was better, more balanced, than this example.

I still enjoyed it, finding delicate sweet flavours throughout with woodiness towards the finish.

Not as pleasant as the first one I smoked but I have a feeling, if they are given some time to calm down, just a little,it could become an 'ethereal' cigar.

I very much enjoyed my first one and I hope there are more like it.

2. Grandioso

From aroma to inital puffs a much stronger cigar than the Gran Cano.

With this I was getting more harshness on the nose but this is normal for me with a young cigar.

Bigger, bolder flavours in here, sweetness again but with leather. Nice stuff.

Smoking partner was getting white pepper, bold flavours and enjoyed this very much. Certainly, there is more spiciness in this than the UK one.

Very good cigar but still with a couple of edges that could be rounded off.

No burn or draw issues with either cigar.

Result

In this comparison, the Grandioso wins. More pronounced flavours. More importantly, more pleasant ones and more complexity, although oddly, and this is what I took from this "side-by-side", the Grandiso tastes like a younger, bolder version of the Gran Cano.

The flavours from the Grandioso come up and "slap you in the face" but not in a bad way, there's promise.

The Gran Cano is a little more demure.

Who knows what age might do to either, given the strength now of the Grandioso, it's possibly a safer bet.

I think I'll hedge.

[Hiroshiro]

Cool comparison. Can't wait to try it myself

[Larsy]

Awesome comparison.

Plan on trying a Grandi this weekend

[Blakes]

Thanks!! Just waiting for the Grandisos to arrive, I very much enjoyed the Gran Cano single I had a week or two ago.

This review makes me even more excited!

Cheers!

[laficion]

Beutiful review of both cigars Andy, I've haven't had the chance to smoke the U.K. version,but will try to have one .Thanks for

sharing your experience with us. Well done .

[Cohiba Stevie]

Nice one andy!

Looking forward to trying the grandioso one day, given the praise it's had recently.

Well done.

[finecigar]

Great comparison ! Thank you for this. I am trying to decide which one I should pick up later this month

[BonVivant]

Very informative - Thank you!

[Croz71]

Thank you mate...great review!

[ehdg]

Andy thank you very much for the comparison of the two. I have a Grandioso I'm dry boxing and hoping to smoke this saturday evening. I totally agree and about the UK one, Gran Corona being a much nicer presentation. Considering the cost I like that the UK put more thought and detail into the presentation. I know we don't smoke boxes but for the money I wish the Asia Pacific heads had put that much detail into their packaging. It just seems to be that Hunters N Franku really do put a lot of thought, time and energy into the entire package when they do their special release. Between the LFDC's they've done and the Punch Serie D'oro No. 1 which also came in the same type packaging that the cigars where done in the early 60's. Asia should have tried to do the same with the LFDC Grandioso least using the Green ink and stamp for the boxes.

[El Presidente]

Thank you for the excellent review Andy

I have recieved my first Gran Corona and look forward to tasting them once they settle.

I also concur in relation to the packaging. However there are always games within games when it comes to HSA. Don't put the blame on PCC here.

[Jeremy Festa]

Nice one! Good to read your a side by side review. Situation was screaming for it. Cheers

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ryan]

..Don't put the blame on PCC here.

I didn't.

[ehdg]

I didn't.

I also concur in relation to the packaging. However there are always games within games when it comes to HSA. Don't put the blame on PCC here.

He wasn't saying you did Andy. He was responding to me talking about the packaging. I'm very happy PCC did a LFDC Regional, just wishing they'd done a bit more with the packaging. Though Rob what do you mean by HSA? Remind me what HSA stands for pls.

[Ryan]

He wasn't saying you did Andy. He was responding to me talking about the packaging. I'm very happy PCC did a LFDC Regional, just wishing they'd done a bit more with the packaging. Though Rob what do you mean by HSA? Remind me what HSA stands for pls.

Habanos SA

The 'SA' is similar to "Inc." or "plc" used in other countries. Denotes a public company.

[ehdg]

Habanos SA

The 'SA' is similar to "Inc." or "plc" used in other countries. Denotes a public company.

Thanks, I'm familiar with that just never saw the entire thing abbreviated like that before, to HSA.

[melies]

S.A. = Sociedad Anónima

[Laxman]

Well done sir! Have a box in route right now and another behind it.