Alex La Puntilla - JUN 18 (S46RW)

[Deeg]

So, continuing my introduction to Cuban custom rolls, this is my second ever - a La Puntilla from Alex and FOH.  Such a great size - perfect feel in the hand and in the mouth.  Lovely colorado wrapper, velvety to the touch with almost no veining, not especially oily but nevertheless quite redolent of chocolate and light spice.

While this stick didn't smoke quite as flawlessly as last week's Monsdale - it needed the occasional touch-up and didn't produce the same volume of smoke - it nevertheless performed admirably as I didn't do it any favors.  Smoked on a terrace in 85% humidity, and my lighter was almost dead.

I'd be hard pressed to say which of the two I preferred based on one cigar, though they were as different as chalk and cheese.  The Puntilla started out with a lot of chocolate and baking spice, with a very pronounced cedar note (which I love) joining in midway through the first third.  Body was medium, perhaps developing to a hair over.  Fresh-baked bread, leather, more chocolate (milk), and soon a caramel note that was reminiscent of Por Laranagga which joined in the second third.  That was the best part of the cigar, really lights-out.  In the final third things got just a bit hot and quite peppery (white), perhaps an indication that even at 2.5 years this cigar hasn't peaked yet.  Also of note - the ash was a gorgeous white I rarely see on Cubans these days, albeit reluctant to hold beyond an inch or so.  The final third also featured a pronounced floral note that only appeared for a puff or two, then was gone.

All in all a really terrific smoke in an ideal size, 80 minutes of enjoyment.  A solid 92 for me. 

[Monocle]

Nice review. I'm trying to forget I've got a bundle for as long as possible. The sourcing of tobacco between the different house rollers must be very diverse as some seems to be ready to go almost immediately (Mondales fell in this category), whereas others definitely need considerable down time (all of Alex's rolls fell in this category), and yet others were in-between as being pretty accessible now but having a lot left in the tank (I'm thinking of Reynaldo and La China here). Perhaps it is the blending that plays into that since the Mondales are certainly the lightest strength-wise of the lot.