Rafael Gonzalez Pantelas Extra

[Partyshrts]

Thoughts on these? I've never had a short filler Habano. From what I've read there can be construction issues but it sounds like the flavors are great for a cheap cuban cigar.

[NSXCIGAR]

I've never been impressed with them. I'd put them in the cheap & cheerful category. In that sense they're not a bad value.

The PL Panetelas on the other hand were quite good. Shame they discontinued them. 

[Ford2112]

Perlas blow them out of the water for not much more.

[cnov]

I'm always usually pleasantly surprised if I keep my expectations low.

I really enjoyed one this week.

[RDB]

I’ve only had one box and it is pretty good, in fact very good for the money. Perlas are a lot better, but about twice the price. So for a ‘no regrets’ quick smoke they seem a fine option.

[MagicalBikeRide]

I’ve a young box of these and for me, they are what they are - cheap and quick smokes for the morning or when I’m having a beer with the lads. If I keep expectations low, they do the job just fine. 

[Tunkat92]

When they are not plugged they are not bad, but I seem to have 50%+ plug rate on them. Never had a box of Perlas but I’ve heard they are better.

[Lt4-396]

Excellent for short filler and the price. I scooped these up anytime I could for $35-$75 a box. You can still find them for sub $100 occasionally.

Draw is a hit or miss but the flavor always delivered.

If it's these for $100/$150 or the Perlas for $150/$200. It's the Perlas every time.

[NeoGeo]

9 hours ago, Tunkat92 said:

When they are not plugged they are not bad, but I seem to have 50%+ plug rate on them. Never had a box of Perlas but I’ve heard they are better.

Funny, it's been the opposite for me. Not quite 50%, but seem to have bad luck with the Perlas. Even dry boxing doesn't seem to help much.

[NSXCIGAR]

4 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Perlas blow them out of the water for not much more.

Same comparison as Party Shorts to Aristocrats or Mille Fleur. Totally different tier of quality. 

The Perlas are still a good 50% more than the Panetelas but would I pay the premium? Yes. 

[Fugu]

I quite like them.

[GVan]

Cuba being Cuba and cigar smokers having different palates remains consistent! I like them better than the Perlas.

I can't comment on the current crop, but back in 2020 I first discovered RG. Bought some RGPC's and fell in love with the flavor profile. Hoping that the RGP's would just be the cuttings left over on the floor from the RGPC's - I bought 2 boxes of LMB-OCT-19's. To me, these short fillers tasted just like my beloved JL2's; so, I immediately went searching for more of that box code and was lucky enough to find 9 Spanish sourced boxes at ridiculously low prices. Of course this was well before the first "Cigar Armageddon" and back when having a relationship with a provider meant you could make special requests - a time long gone now. Anyway, I've now smoked through 5 of these boxes and can report that they are incredible cigars with 5 years of age on them.

I always describe them as the best $2 dollar cigar in my whole collection and truth be told they are one of my favorites in my smoking rotation. Yes, they are a "Cheap and Cheerful" but one of the best in my collection along with as @NSXCIGAR says above my 10 boxes of discontinued PLP's that are now caramel bombs that were acquired for about $3 / cigar. Man do I miss the good old days!

[Chitmo]

For what my opinion is worth I’ll put them in the buy column, value is good. 

[Partyshrts]

Just had my first one ROTT from our host. Wow. This one really surprised me. Cream and nuttiness followed by cocoa notes. With all the price hikes this will always be in my Humidor as you can pick these up for $6.

[SUP8333]

I was gifted one last month, tried it last night...PLUGGGGGEDD!

[Jaks93]

I find them quite enjoyable, predominantly chocolate and coffee notes, pairs perfectly with a morning coffee. Don't expect the world and you will be pleasantly surprised. I have had a fair share of them being plugged so dry box/draw poke them where needed. 

[Partyshrts]

For anyone that has had both the Perla and PE, is the flavor profile similar?

[Habanoschris]

In my personal experience so far, I would say the perlas have more sweet & savory notes. Now I have had several boxes/smoked many more perlas and they were probably aged well etc. However, with PE I have smoked enough singles to make this determination, but I do have a full box of these as well resting and now a new box on the way so will see if my mind changes at any point but not expecting it to. 

P.S. I just realized I had smoked a PE yesterday morning lol and it reflected the above. Perlas make me feel like I'm getting away w/ something. PE make me feel like I'm getting what I bargained for 👌

😚💨

[Slayer]

One dimensional smoke for me, but I quite like the dimension it offers. Coffee notes with some twang. A background cigar I regularly reach for when I need to concentrate on something other than the cigar itself.