Por Larranaga Encantos URG NOV 10 (49SRW)

[Sir Diggamus]

This cigar was one I have been waiting a while to smoke and review.

The cigar has a sweet honey aroma prior to lighting and and a squeeze lets me know it is not rolled too tight. After I light the cigar the flavors I get immediately are a bouquet of spice with just a tad of sweet cream, just below medium in body. The rest of the first third sees the cream flavors fill out more and get really sweet, almost like the cream from a doughnut mixed with some baking spices. Not the most appealing from the sound, but enjoyable in the smoke. 

 

 

The second third sees the cream notes calm down and honey and caramel start in. These notes grow in flavor throughout the second third but don't really change much. Plenty of smoke production. 

 

 

The last third the sweetness becomes really rich and the body becomes more a medium-full. The flavor is more like a burnt sugar and lasts on the long finish. Powerful is not a word I use with PL much, but as I am finishing the last third I continue to note the growing intensity of the cigar. 

This was a great cigar that exhibited really good classic PL flavors. I have to say I was expecting more based on earlier samples I had from the same box. While there was a definite transition in flavors throughout the cigar, it lacked a depth and complexity I thought would be there in a 10 year old cigar. 

 

88 points 

[Wailbait]

I felt EXACTLY the same way.  I had one recently - less than a week ago.  I liked it but it had faded a lot from previous examples.  Could be an anomaly but my brother felt the same.  I also gave it an 87 knowing that the last one I had was a 94. 

[Sir Diggamus]

9 minutes ago, Wailbait said:

I felt EXACTLY the same way.  I had one recently - less than a week ago.  I liked it but it had faded a lot from previous examples.  Could be an anomaly but my brother felt the same.  I also gave it an 87 knowing that the last one I had was a 94. 

Hopefully they haven't gone around the bend. Earlier examples I tried had floral and lavender notes, as well as the caramel notes being sweeter and richer, all were absent in this one. 

[Connoisseur Kim]

Sorry to hear that this ER didn't deliver flavor to you @Sir Diggamus. Had the exact same experience with Partagas EL17 Series No. 1 and it was one of the worst CC I've ever had! ?