Por Larranaga Petit Corona RAT FEB 22 (P&PLRW)

[Low]

Ordered these bad boys mid July and they have been resting since arrival. In between finishing my curio cabinet humidor conversion, I decided to crack open the 50 cab. They are my first PLPC, so I was almost giddy to experience the "caramel powerhouse" they are destined to be. 

 

 

Punch cut, torch lighter, paired with room temp water. 

Breaking into a 50 cab almost feels like you've ruined Christmas morning for yourself by sneaking a peak late at night.

Light up / 1st half (too short to do 3rds) - Comes out the gate running toasted sugar across my pallet. A great balance of medium tobacco, hay, and sugar, with a slight hint of saltiness for the first few puffs. While I do enjoy many cigars from the new world, I think they fall flat in the medium body range, always too bold or too mild. Cubans have the ability to blend a truly medium cigar, an almost perfect line between tobacco and flavor. Just a little something I've noticed since I started collecting in the last 6 months, to the detriment of my wallet.

2nd half - The sugar has turned caramel, and I couldn't be happier. But the signs of age, or lack thereof, has appeared in spades. Every other puff is plagued with astringency, and the more welcoming flavors of being young have disappeared. Smoked this to the band and chucked it, she's not ready.

I described the PLPC to my friends as "The bones are strong, but the muscles need work." Flashes of brilliance juxtaposed with the taste of a crack house ashtray. But despite that, this is a must buy for all new Cuban smokers. There's something special here, and I feel like somewhere around July 2025, I'm gonna blast through them all in a single month. 

5/10 perfectly average, but with the potential to get up to a 9+ once it loses the training weights. 

[hrs1]

Nice review!  Just smoked my first PLPC from a new'ish cab yesterday (RAT SEP 21).   Similar experience, but not as astringent and a little lighter on the caramel.   Excited to see how they develop with age.

[Low]

57 minutes ago, hrs1 said:

Nice review!  Just smoked my first PLPC from a new'ish cab yesterday (RAT SEP 21).   Similar experience, but as astringent and a little lighter on the caramel.   Excited to see how they develop with age.

Out of all my young stock, this is probably the one I'm most excited to see how the age helps them evolve. Probably my worst experience with a Cuban, but with the most upside 

[Chucko8]

Great read thanks. Really enjoyed the conclusive descriptors!

[Lamboinee]

I can't wait to try some. got some on the way.

[Low]

16 hours ago, Chucko8 said:

Great read thanks. Really enjoyed the conclusive descriptors!

Thank you very much!

[jakebarnes]

Great review! That really is the most frustrating moment--when you start to feel the wave of astringency fight against the cigar. Glad you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel though. There are few cigars I enjoy more than when a PLPC comes into its own with a few years on it. Hard to beat!

[medzikone]

Just wondering - I have box of PLPC from FEB 2018 and APR 2018. But then I've seen only PLPC with codes (most of them RAT ofc) FEB 2019, FEB 2020 (I've got 3 in my humidor), FEB 2021 and now FEB 2022.

Is it me or they have a roadmap for a whole year and it looks like in February factory named RAT got PLPC on the, nomen omen, table?