Cohiba Panetela PLM March 06

[SmokinAl]

Many thanks Pres,

I'm not at all surprised we ended up with such different results. I smoked this one more as a novelty than anything else. I can't say if the one I smoked could attribute its excellence to good/bad storage; good/bad company in the divider in which it sat; a low expectation on my part; a good age or just plain good luck.

[El Presidente]

Cohiba Panetela PLM March 06

Alains great review of the 2000 vintage aside…..I normally haven’t taken to this cigar. Certainly elegant in its look and perhaps the ideal cigar to have with an espresso coffee at the Café when meeting with someone for that quick 25 meeting. That is a rareity these days with smoking laws all around.

Construction has always been an issue with this Panetela. It really must be a pain in the arse to roll perfectly. A little too much pressure and filler and the cigar will draw like a brick. Go too easy on the touch and the filler and the cigar is a straw.

Thankfully this example is rolled properly. Wrapper is rich and slightly moist to the touch. Deep coffee aroma at cold.

Serrated the cap and the draw was spot on. Surprisingly deep tobacco flavour on the lips.

Fired up the foot ….STRONG. Much stronger than I have previously experienced. Black charred tobacco and bitter roasted coffee beans hit you immediately and make a nice heart started for the morning. The panatela ever so slowly mellows from its full bodied opening and by the first inch it is medium full with a classic three quarte flat white profile (Full shot Espresso with ¾ milk in a small cup). They have nailed this cigar. The profile is exactly what it should be in order for it to be satisfying.

There is little flavour change to this cigar. To my surprise I does not become stronger towards the back but delivers 25 minutes of consistent flavour outside of the opening full bodied burst.

You would really want or need a short Panetela to reach for one of these. If you have a little more time then a Siglo I, Ramon Allones Small Club or Trini Reyes would be my pick. Yet…there are occasions where a short Panetela hits the spot. I would still reach for a Por Larranaga Panetela in a heartbeat over this Cohiba and that is not to be unkind.

87/100