RG PERLAS: LMB-ABR-19 (FRW)

[StogieSteve23]

Opening Remarks: I’ve become a fan of these little sticks over the last several months.  Perfect little smokes for any time of the day.  Far more enjoyable and consistent in flavors than a Monte No. 5 in my opinion.  The price is very right and there’s something about the simplicity of their packaging/bands that seems very “classic Cuba.” I know @ElJavi76 would agree.  I am also a fan of the semi-box pressed shape that these sticks have. 

I’m sitting out on my porch during a nice wind and rainstorm, as we are lashed by the outer bands of Hurricane Isaias.  A small category 1 storm that has made its way up through the Bahamas and now hovers off the south eastern coast of Florida.  It’s really nothing close to a hurricane but more of a gloomy very windy rainy day for us.  Perfect day to smoke cigars and get some work done inside the house!

Cold Draw: Perfect draw after clipping the cap with minimal resistance but nothing like a wind tunnel.  Dried coca powder and roasted nuts. A perfect wrapper with minimal veins and a smooth feel. 

First Half: On first puffs, a nice roasted cocoa sweetness is present and the draw is perfect.  Roasted marshmallows, dried coffee grounds and dried leaver fill the mouth.  The retrohale has a distinct caramel waxiness to it which I quite enjoy. Almost to the halfway point of the stick, I’m getting slight notes of ginger and carrot cake without the icing.  For the most part, the burn remains sharp with only a slight touch up coming near the end of the first half.  The smoke smell is semi-sweet reminding me of a cup of hot chocolate.

Second Half: To begin the second half, the cigar needed a full re-light.  I was too busy not paying attention to the cigar. Still getting a nice dried coffee grounds flavor but now there is a note of roasted pine nuts on the retrohale.  With this smoke being so short, I’ve often worried about how it gets hot easily and could change the flavors but this one seems pretty good. Burn and draw are still excellent as I close in on the 1” mark.  Flavors reminiscent of a Cookies ‘n’ Cream Hershey’s bar now tantalize the taste buds and I’m loving each puff. Now s’mores sans the graham cracker. That waxy sensation is back on the retro for the last few puffs with stale cocoa powder and cedar bringing it all home at the end. Nubbed it.

Closing Remarks: Great little smoke for the morning, or anytime of day for that matter.  I enjoyed the subtle flavor progression throughout the stick and am happy to have a couple boxes of these.  Thank you to @Lrabold89 for turning me onto these. 

Burn: 4/5 (Good burn – slight tough up near end of 1/2 which fixed itself after – relight was my fault)

Construction: 5/5 (Perfect draw/combustion)

Flavor: 4/5 (Satisfying but not overly complex – dried cocoa, cookies n cream, marshmallow)

Smell: 5/5 (Pleasant – fresh cup of hot chocolate)

Wrapper: 5/5 (Dark brown with no large veins – a semi box pressed feel which I love)

Overall Score: 23/25

[prshah25]

Nice review.. got my first shipment of these from our host yesterday.. wonder how it would taste ROTT.. or better to rest 60 days.. it’s tough cause they smell so good.. lol 

[StogieSteve23]

1 hour ago, prshah25 said:

Nice review.. got my first shipment of these from our host yesterday.. wonder how it would taste ROTT.. or better to rest 60 days.. it’s tough cause they smell so good.. lol 

Honestly,  I smoked 1 ROTT last week when I got them and it was great.  I did do my normal fridge, freeze, fridge process with them afterwards with this being only the second I smoked from the box.  What code did you get?  I think you'll enjoy them regardless.  

[StogieSteve23]

31 minutes ago, Psiman said:

It again shows that you can have great cigars at great prices. To me the small sticks of Habanos are the most consistent and best flavor. I am puzzled why so many people smoke so many big bland tasting and diluted tasting Habanos. Give me smaller thin stuff. Less is More !!!

Sometimes less is more! Not always, but certainly sometimes.  I love these little smokes and you're right, it does prove that good things come in small packages.  While I do like certain larger RG sticks, 48 and below is normally far more preferred. 

[nubase]

This was one of my first boxes and I'm nearly through it already in a month and a half. I saw them up for a good sale the other day on a different site and had to go ahead and pull the trigger because I knew once I had dispatched all of these sticks from the current box there would be RGP sized hole in my heart.  Nice review and glad to know there's some other fans out there, I've found that this vitola is not for everyone. 

[Chucko8]

Nice review and pictures. I had one of these this morning from the same box code. Managed to get some slight saltiness in the last 3rd which I enjoyed with my coffee 

[StogieSteve23]

7 hours ago, Chucko8 said:

 Nice review and pictures. 

I don't quite have the beautiful skyline or airport background you do LOL.