Beneath the Band: Por Larranaga Petit Corona

[El Presidente]

 

This series to explore whether a particular cigar is humidor worthy. Cost these days is an issue for many so let's see if we can highlight some absolute standouts.  This should particularly assist those new to the cigar world.  

To be fair, most of the icgars we have featured to date have scored exceptionally well. Surprisingly well! 

Scoring is: 1-3 (Poor)   4-6 (Average to good)   7-10  (very good to excellent)  Use the Poll. 

You are more than free to comment away 

Petit Coronas form a part of most of our humidors. The PLPC is a stalemate for many but it is not for everyone. We was lyrical about aged PLPC and how they transition with that lovely turn of caramel. Has that been your experience? 

Today: Por Larranaga Petit Corona. Let's kick off the discussion 

Outside of the poll, which PC do you prefer and why? Let us know in this thread 

[JohnS]

41 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Outside of the poll, which PC do you prefer and why? Let us know in this thread 

Out of the Petit Coronas in regular production above, I am surprisingly disinclined to pick one over the other, usually. Except perhaps an occasional Montecristo No.4, just in the hope that its sensational, even other-worldly!

As for the Por Larranaga Petit Coronas. I like it, it's fairly consistent for me construction-wise, but I get caramel more often out of a Por Larranaga Montecarlos.

[Gubbins]

Intrigued to see the results as I just bought two cabs! 🤪

Bolivar Petit Coronas are top of the tree for me. Although, whilst not listed, I think the Party Aristocrats and Upmann Majestics are brilliant budget options, even if not appearing to be technically classed as PC’s.

[Ford2112]

Other than a Siglo 2 which I think is the cream of the crop, PLPC is such a killer smoke and a great value. I like 'em young too! Plus they come in 50 cabs!

[Mike Mecklenburg]

Becoming my top go-to that does not need age and are reasonably priced are the current Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations. Other than that I like: Cohiba Sig II, Rafael Gonzales PC, Bolivar PC and Monte 4.

[joeypots]

I haven't smoked a young PLPC in a while but the ones i'm into now are sublime. 

I like the BPC above all, today anyway. I find the Bolivar has a full bodied punch without bitterness.

[gormag38]

I've tried and tried with the PLPC. I've just yet to have one that has really wowed me. Had em young and aged, never could quite pick out that caramel note everyone always talks about. Love the fact that they come in 50 cabs though. For today's market they are priced pretty decently, I think. 

[Duder]

I’ve probably smoked more of these than any other small format cigar. They were so cheap for so long - just a ridiculous value. The only PC I like more is the Siglo II. PLPC is a true classic. 

[Gubbins]

What do people look for at a glance in these? Dark wrappers / light wrappers? Oily / Matt? Mottled, plain? I most often see the lighter, plain, matt wrappers. I'm guessing it's potluck regardless, and more down to year and box code.   

Curious though.

[Chibearsv]

I've never really "got" these. I'm half way through a 2017 cabinet and they are getting better but not special for me. A fellow FOHer graciously sent me a sampler of the 5 PCs that came in Souvenir tins from Hoyo, Upmann, RyJ, Partagas, and Punch. I enjoyed each of those as much as, or more than, PLPC. BPC is the king of PC for me.

[zacca]

Not too much of a fan of the young ones because I don’t get anything except wood and toasted tobacco. Very generic. To me they need a lot of age. So I do enjoy them…eventually. To me they’re on par with Principe and Partagas Shorts (minutos, I know) and Monte 4 in that I don’t strongly prefer one over the other. It’s whatever I’m in the mood for at that time. 

Siglo 2 is above for me along with Reyes and Coloniales (again, slightly different vitola), but they are cost prohibitive to be a part of the regular rotation. 
 

 

[my happy place]

These are humidor worthy to me. I love that they come in a 50 cab, I love it when they hit on the sweet caramel note, which leads me to the blend consistency. It’s always sweet, but sometimes I get a bad one with mostly sweet unpleasant earthy notes or fake leather. I’m not looking for perfection at this price point. Sometimes I just want simple and easy to enjoy and when these hit, I love them.

[Montezüma]

My only regret is to have only discovered them last year! Its now a mainstay in my humidor. They can be strong when fresh, though some seem to prefer them that way.

14 hours ago, JohnS said:

At first I thought this could be a cheat-sheet for the next FOH blind tasting competition, then I realised that there's 20 rows of excel to this thing.

If the next competition is a Petit Corona then it looks like I am gonna be in a world of trouble! Much appreciated @JohnS !!

 

[cnov]

This was the cigar that got me back into cigars after a hiatus and an unfortunate sale of mist is my collection. I got more of a floral honey than the coveted caramel but it made me understand what aging can do. 

As others have said, there's still value here. Buy a box, then another. 

 

 

[Ruggerpgh99]

I absolutely love this smoke, I love the size, the feel, the flavor, all of it. I also love a Partagas MF, and Monte 4/5. PC is my Jam. 

[foursite12]

13 hours ago, El Presidente said:

"...aged PLPC and how they transition with that lovely turn of caramel. Has that been your experience?"

I found this to be absolutely true 10 or more years ago, and it was one of the most magical transitions in the cigar world. I haven't noticed that metamorphosis so much in the vintages since the late 20-teens. Still, a reliable, sound cigar. In recent years, I have enjoyed the Boli PC for their in-your-face presentation. I will add that while it may not be a popular choice, I have always enjoyed the RyJ PCs.

[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, foursite12 said:

 I have always enjoyed the RyJ PCs.

They get no love but I agree with you 

[westg]

I would think the most consistent PC out of all of them. They age just beautifully. In fact a big margin between them and every other PC out there and once there's 5 plus years on them. Bolivar, Upmann, R&J, RG, Sancho for me are great and at there best with 12 to 18 months. A few other PC brands that have long gone that still don't measure up to these. 

[ryre]

Definitely my favorite PC. Though very different, Bolivar PC is my second favorite, and Monte 4 is a not so distant 3rd (price kind of hurts though).

[TheDonTX]

I love 'em. I have a RAT 21 50 cab that is just sooo good already. There's that spacial funk you only find in PLPC. Its my change of pace smoke because it is so unique.

On the forum I find that they are a love/hate cigar. Not many people in the middle area which is very surprising. 

[Fugu]

Best current production Marevas for me are those of Bolívar, Cohiba, Montecristo and Rafael González. In no particular other than alphabetical order. Por Larrañaga follows closely behind (blend consistency is an issue), together with the completely under-the-radar CdL3 of Romeo y Julieta (hard to find now anyway). Cohiba - for me - isn’t necessarily better than the others. Just different. In a good way different. 😅

Best bang for your buck PCs of current production in my book are these (PLPC), the RGPC, Romeo No. 2 and Partagás Mille Fleurs.

[El Presidente]

10 hours ago, Fugu said:

Best bang for your buck PCs of current production in my book are these (PLPC), the RGPC, Romeo No. 2 and Partagás Mille Fleurs.

I emphasise "bang for buck / value"  here. 

PLPC

Bolivar PC

R&J PC 

Daylight

 

[zeedubbya]

A true gem. A legend to those who know. I think it’s possible the PLPC is the one cigar which likely defines who someone is as a cigar smoker. If you tell me you’re a huge Cuban cigar lover/collector and I look in your humidor and there’s not a cab or partial of PLPC in there, you probably aren’t telling the truth. We can still be friends and all, but I’ll probably be trying to trade you double banded dollar gobblers for your good stuff. 

**this is really meant as a joke of sorts so please don’t get bent out of shape if you don’t have any… 🤣