Por Larranaga Magnificos Regional Release

[El Presidente]

Coming in at 6 3/4" by 50 ring gauge it was rolled to reproduce the size and flavour of the 1970s Por Larranaga Magnum.

1400 limited edition numbered boxes were made with 1000 tens and 400 boxes of twenty-five.

Mel Lyons sent me this cigar for which I am eternally gratefull I dry boxed it since Christmas and fired it up last Sunday as I sat by the pool enjoying a fine bottle of Pol. Thankfully, the kids and wife were inside so it was really only me and Cohiba.

This is a very well rolled cigar. The band is magnificent in its clean detail, very much a work of art. Aroma at cold is sweet tobacco and black tea. Clipped the cap and the draw was on the firm side (which I like) but the cigar still feels wet in the hand and this will ease over time. Lingering taste of Camomile tea on the lips.

I used a box of cigar matches to gently light the foot. The thick white smoke hung heavy in the humid air and in the distance I could hear the rumbling of thunder.

This cigar had a delightful medium bodied start...actually just shy of medium bodied. From the opening there is no doubt that this is a Por Larranaga. There is a restrained caramel sweetness trying to explode but failing due to infancy. The sweetness lingers in the background. Plenty of Russian Caravan tea in this cigar ad some clove like spices. Such an interesting cigar with so much promise but its youth sucks at its confidence. It continues to deliver consistent tight flavours in a light/medium profile. The quality of the tobacco is unquestioned.

The storm rolled in

Into the last third the storm finally passed and I took Cohiba for a walk around the Ponderosa. Nothing better than walking around the property after a thunderstorm....everything is fresh and vibrant. The parrots are flying out of their safe roosts and the sky is a clatter of Cockatoos, Rosella's and Galahs.

The Por larranaga was fine company for the walk. Up until the final third it kept its opening flavour profile as if afraid to stray from a regimented format. Into the last third however the body of the cigar increased to medium and later, medium full. A whack of charred wood enters the fray and the outskirting sweetness hangs on by a fingernail.

Cohiba is a great Retriever ......"not now boy"

The Por Larranaga became quite intense in the final few inches. Medium full bodied and throwing a tantrum. Charred woodiness, black coffee and the first showing of bitterness.

The bitterness continued to grow and I finally said goodbye to a good cigar which will be great in the years to come. I think it is important to sacrifice a young cigar to the altar of inquisition. The Por larranaga Magnificos passed the examination with flying colours. It was not perfect by any means but it has the essential ingredients, budding complexity and breeding to be a classic.

We passed a great afternoon together. Thanks Mel!