Por Larranaga Picadores .......5 years on

[El Presidente]

The first of the Por Larranaga Picadores is coming into that 5 year period. 

The question many of us have is......"How are they aging?" 

5 years down for Por larranaga and you are entering that magical "caramel" territory.  Is that holding true for the Picadores?

if you have a 2014 box.....take one for the team and do a review 

[Piligrim]

I have 2015 only

[SOFLO88]

I just smoked a 2016 and I became a fan

[TBird55]

Have a couple boxes of 16, will let you know in a couple of years..

[havanaclub]

Smoked a PSP 2016 in Cuba and it was excellent, coming around for sure. I did not detect any caramel but I am hopeful it’s coming. The construction was outstanding, ash held more than half the cigar.


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[downhiller2010]

Wow, I hope to one day actually have this level of patience!

[Bri Fi]

OTL FEB 17. These are still very young but the last one I had was very sweet. Completely different when it was fresh. They are already turning into something special. These are practically maduro wrappers. 

[BuzzArd]

Finished a 2015 box about 6 months ago.   Never did have a 2014 box.   I recall I didn’t care much for them initially, but they definitely improved with age.   I liked the last ones from the ‘15 box immensely.  Have an ABR 16 box resting now.    

[Akela3rd]

I've got a 16 box that's on the 2.5 year mark. I've had half a dozen over the last few months but only one has hinted at the caramel effect. The others were OK but nothing special - might have to put the remainder in the storage bin for a couple of years now. I wasn't aware that the famous PLPC 5 year blooming occurred with the Picadores too.

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[shrink]

Picadores are one of my favorite "go to" smokes. I just enjoyed the next to last stick in an OCT 15 box, and have two more boxes waiting! Of the many Por Larranaga's I've smoked, I would most compare the Picadores to the PLPC's. Why? Plenty of mongrel when young, resulting in greater depth and complexity when aged. 

[99call]

9 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Por larranaga and you are entering that magical "caramel" territory

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I just don't see the Picadores reading in that same PL caramel sweetness picture.  To me they are like the odd lovechild of Cohiba, Upmann, and Vegueros.  They have a buttery garden pea sweetness to them,  aspects of hay, and Upmann shortbread.   The result, is very pleasant.

I'm not sure what the selling stats are for them, but I feel as if they don't seem to move. I don't see them as bad cigars in anyway, I just thing they are a step outside of the PL blend, and people don't expect it.

Just my two pence worth

[El Presidente]

9 minutes ago, 99call said:

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I just don't see the Picadores reading in that same PL caramel sweetness picture.  T

I am finding them to turn late. 15/16 coming around now with the same development as  4 year PLPC. 

You should be able to pick up 4 year old boxes on the market at very reasonable prices. I certainly would based on what I am seeing. 

Still looking for that 2014 review 

 

[99call]

1 minute ago, El Presidente said:

Still looking for that 2014 review 

I think 15's could be the best I could do.  I have my final blood tests tomorrow, and am free to smoke again, so I may fire one up, if the Uk weather plays ball

[cigaraholic]

I’ve got a box MOE JUL14....haven’t tried one....I’ll torch one in a couple of days for you.......and for breakfast ?

[MrGinger]

I have ULE JUL 14 and PUO AGO 14.  I'll burn one in a few days.

 

[SCgarman]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I am finding them to turn late. 15/16 coming around now with the same development as  4 year PLPC. 

You should be able to pick up 4 year old boxes on the market at very reasonable prices. I certainly would based on what I am seeing. 

Still looking for that 2014 review 

 

Is the Por Larranaga marca made with the same premium leaves that go into the bigger well known brands?

[BellevilleMXZ]

I have a 16 box, but can't stay out of them, about half gone☹️

[Bartolomeo]

Smoked a 2014 OR the other day and it was very good and will have to smoke another soon for a review 

Bart

[Habana Mike]

Burned through my early boxes quickly and still ordering more. It's a smoke I enjoy.

Perhaps time to call home that MOE JUL14 box sitting in the locker?

[jfire]

To me the 15/16s (yes I know they are younger) are no where near the levels of the OR codes(even when they were youthful.) I have a open box of 15/16s and they are fairly rough around the edges still.

[99call]

 

[cigaraholic]

MOE JUL14

Beautiful looking cigar, colorado wrapper with a lovely oily sheen..I picked a well filled one at 13.2 gr...draw is perfect...for me, nice little tug?

From the first puff there’s a buttery sweetness that I love with baking spice that’s heavier than I’m used to with PL and just a hint of coffee and toasted tobacco. 

The first half is toasted tobacco with a pinch of wood, light coffee, almost a cinnamon spice and mouth coating sweetness....medium bodied.

Halfway the sweetness gets richer, into the caramel zone, coffee flavor comes up a little...a little over medium body now.

A little tannic at the very end, showing some youth still.

A delicious cigar, for me a little to powerful for a morning smoke, rather have one in the afternoon....at least right now.

I’ve read the bigger the cigar the longer it takes for the blend to marry...if PC’s take 5 maybe the robusto will take 7? 

It looks like I got a very good box?

1.10 hr smoking time

 

[sparcobulk]

picked up a 2014 picadores from muscat duty free. gorgeous looking sheen. nice smoke.as yo mentioned, a perfectly slight tug on the draw. some burn issues in the beginning. tastes woody and a bit tangy. but there's a nasty burnt paper sort of note mixed in which i hate. otherwise fantastic. i concur the end is a bit tannic.