Rafael Gonzalez Perlas GOS MAY 18 (L&SRW1)

[RDB]

There are only three perlas left in the catalogue I think: this version from Rafael Gonzalez, the Monte 5 and Siglo 1. It’s a very short format cigar, and I sort of imagine people who really like these smoking multiples through the day. Seems like much less cigar than a minuto, which often takes me as long as a robusto.

Open draw on this, and it smokes fast. Chocolate - medium dark with an earthy note to it, different to Monte chocolate. Maybe a touch fruitier but certainly less creamy. Not a perfect roll: a bit loose despite the small size, so needed a few touch ups. Plenty of smoke and flavour, under medium body but you can feel the nicotine strength all the same. Got a bit hot at the end, but still I think no need to wait on these.

Score: 1 on the binary scale. Come to think of it, I would say there are fewer fails among the small format cigars - expectations are not so high and of course they are cheaper.

Btw if you’re ever in Germany, 5th Avenue do a neat 50 cab repack of these where they are laid sideways in an SLB.