Popular Post Deeg Posted December 28, 2019 Popular Post Posted December 28, 2019 Back to an old reliable for a pre-New Year smoke, giving the Xmas sampler a rest for a bit. Wrapper here is just as I like it for PLMC - not too dark and mottled. Prelight draw is perfect, with notes of cedar and caramel, surely a hint of what's to come. Perfect burn and draw all the way down the line. There's not much preamble with a good PLMC - immediately you get cedar, toasted malty bread and the legendary caramel. Within a half-inch that caramel note is intensifying - a sort of "liquid" caramel, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. And that's pretty much where this cigar - like most of the others from this box so far - stayed put. A really nice combination of intense sweetness and gentle woody notes, with just a hint of floral and baking spice. Here's the bottom line for me with Montecarlos - no CC (at least that I've smoked recently) punches above its weight like these do, at least when you get those lovely golden wrappers. They're cheap (especially when you hit a good 24:24 deal, like these) but it's not simply a matter of being good value - there's just nothing cheap about PLMCs except the price. They smoke cool and slow (I've yet to nub one in an hour), and offer a refined and satisfying experience. It's wonderful to get a cigar that brings good flavors to the palate, but even better is one that's true to the marca. It's not especially complex but that's not an issue for me when the profile is this pleasant. Rich caramel sweetness you don't see with any other brand, and at a young age too. I've gotten more twang - like a tart lime - out of the very best Montecarlos I've smoked, but apart from that I can't find any quibbles whatsoever. 92/100. 28
dobbs Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 agree completely on the review, i just love these cigars. been smoking through a tos feb 17 box which has been so consistently amazing, it's kinda hard to believe. -dobbs
Deeg Posted December 29, 2019 Author Posted December 29, 2019 5 hours ago, dobbs said: agree completely on the review, i just love these cigars. been smoking through a tos feb 17 box which has been so consistently amazing, it's kinda hard to believe. -dobbs Stupid good for the price. Gotta get the light wrappers though... 1
Jonboy4074 Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 Stupid good for the price. Gotta get the light wrappers though...I think it just takes the darker ones a little longer to get right. 1
dobbs Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 5 hours ago, Jonboy4074 said: I think it just takes the darker ones a little longer to get right. i think i agree, my '17 box is not light-wrappered -dobbs
Deeg Posted December 30, 2019 Author Posted December 30, 2019 2 hours ago, dobbs said: i think i agree, my '17 box is not light-wrappered -dobbs When did they "arrive" at the happy zone?
dobbs Posted December 30, 2019 Posted December 30, 2019 3 hours ago, Deeg said: When did they "arrive" at the happy zone? hmm, i haven't been consistently sampling, but i'd say probably after about 2 years (so early this year). haven't had older ones, and i hear they've got the legs, so i'm going deep to find out for myself. -dobbs 1
joey rockets Posted December 31, 2019 Posted December 31, 2019 At comparable dollars, the Perla competes well with the plmc? But if you can afford it, it's hard to beat Trinny Reyes in this general rg imho. I live in the states and no longer have the luxury of shopping in B&Ms now that I have an idea of what to look for and alas, I end up with what the vendor sends.
Deeg Posted December 31, 2019 Author Posted December 31, 2019 Reyes is on my list to try, for sure. A bit pricey for such a small vitola but sounds like a great cigar.
Deeg Posted December 31, 2019 Author Posted December 31, 2019 On 12/30/2019 at 12:13 PM, dobbs said: hmm, i haven't been consistently sampling, but i'd say probably after about 2 years (so early this year). haven't had older ones, and i hear they've got the legs, so i'm going deep to find out for myself. -dobbs Thanks. My box of dark-wrapped is August 18 (the same date and factory as the sample above, ironically enough - thanks, Cuba!) so maybe in a few months I'll dip a toe back in that pool.
Silverstix Posted December 31, 2019 Posted December 31, 2019 I lucked out last year buying a 2018 box from 24, ended up with a 2015 by some miracle. They are excellent!! The only problem is trying to smoke them slow because they just taste so damn good!! Truly effortless to smoke. I have that ‘15 box, a ‘17 box, and a ‘19 box so hopefully I can keep the rotation going and will always have a box of 5-7 year old sticks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1
JY0 Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 On 12/29/2019 at 10:13 PM, dobbs said: hmm, i haven't been consistently sampling, but i'd say probably after about 2 years (so early this year). haven't had older ones, and i hear they've got the legs, so i'm going deep to find out for myself. -dobbs I'm working on a 10 year old box and they are sublime. Well worth aging these. 2
Deeg Posted January 3, 2020 Author Posted January 3, 2020 On 12/30/2019 at 12:13 PM, dobbs said: hmm, i haven't been consistently sampling, but i'd say probably after about 2 years (so early this year). haven't had older ones, and i hear they've got the legs, so i'm going deep to find out for myself. -dobbs Actually (prompted by your reply) I revisited that box today. You can see by the pic below just how much darker and more mottled they are. Probably been about 3 months since I smoked one and I could detect a difference for sure - still doesn't have that candy-bar caramel creaminess of the goldilocks, but a bit of burnt sugar sweetness starting to emerge. And the generic woodiness is becoming more of an aromatic cedar. 1
Tstew75 Posted January 3, 2020 Posted January 3, 2020 Yep. As with all PLs (& Cohibas), these don't start singing until about year 3. Unbelievable value, along with the PLPs. 1
Sir Diggamus Posted January 3, 2020 Posted January 3, 2020 Great review! Thanks for sharing! PL is one of my favorite brands but I haven’t tried this one yet. I should jump on getting some before they ax these too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1
Deeg Posted January 4, 2020 Author Posted January 4, 2020 10 hours ago, Sir Diggamus said: Great review! Thanks for sharing! PL is one of my favorite brands but I haven’t tried this one yet. I should jump on getting some before they ax these too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Bite your tongue! Not that the thought hasn’t occurred to me, too...
Deeg Posted January 5, 2020 Author Posted January 5, 2020 On 1/3/2020 at 11:03 PM, Tstew75 said: Yep. As with all PLs (& Cohibas), these don't start singing until about year 3. Unbelievable value, along with the PLPs. I do find the Goldilocks wrapped ones are great after only 18 months. Hopefully I can get a few of them to year 3 and find out... 1
Tstew75 Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 8 hours ago, Deeg said: I do find the Goldilocks wrapped ones are great after only 18 months. Hopefully I can get a few of them to year 3 and find out... Problem is the Goldilocks boxs are like unicorns haha
PigFish Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 Thinner cigars just becoming a thing of the past, sadly...! Another review that makes me want to go break one out! Cheers! -Piggy 1
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