Rafael Gonzalez Perla GOS MAY 18 (XNYRC)

[RDB]

This is often a great little cigar, and it comes from a box that has smoked well: all rich, tasty and satisfying so far. Alas not tonight.

The loose draw was the tell, and basically it was just underfilled. Nice wrapper, quite dark and oily, and the tobacco that burned was obviously good. Burnt molasses sugar, vegetal earthy richness. But it didn’t want to stay lit, and the centre was pretty much empty. In perfect indoor conditions maybe it would have survived, but not outside in the damp cold. Constant relights and hurried puffing made the taste charred and the experience fussy, rather than a relaxing late night pleasure.

Can’t win them all. 0 on the 1/0 binary scale.

[Derboesekoenig]

I have had hundreds of these and they are one of my favorite daily cigars, but I think I've only had a one or two which didn't cooperate like your experience. I'm surprised you found a 2018 box. I've only seen 2011-2015 in the last 2 years, and a 2016 box within the last year. I've been smoking through 2013s which have been absolutely phenomenal 

[joey rockets]

I have also burned through several boxes of Perlas in the last 15 months or so with the first box ordered being a 2013.  I just looked and working my way through a 15 and recently finished a 16 so older boxes are out and about however, our host just sent me 2 boxes of 19 so this animal does exist.  Everyone loves a Perla!