La Palina is a company that came out of nowhere several years ago and now is a very respected manufacturer whose output seems to have surpassed the somewhat arbitrary numbers we call “boutique” but they still are not what anyone could call “big”…at least not big in the way that General, Altadis or Davidoff are big. Overall, I would say they are in a good place right now, producing a varied lineup that appeals to a wide variety of smokers with different levels of money to spend on the habit.
They have also been very responsive and appreciative of new media, as evidenced by their continual offering of new blends and vitolas for our reviews. Thus was the case with a couple packages I received in the mail late last year. I had trouble fitting them into the schedule as full reviews, but thought some brief comments on these slim sticks might be appropriate…
La Palina Maduro 40
The La Palina Maduro is a blend that I initially didn’t like, then came around to appreciating, although part of my initial dislike had to do with the plugged stick I got first time around. LP Maduro came in four vitolas and late last year La Palina announced a fifth, a Petite Lancero called “40” and measuring 6” x 40 ring gauge, incidentally the same size as the “Kill Bill II” (KBII) from the non-maduro El Diario line. According to the letter sent, the LP Maduro features Nicaraguan fillers, dual Honduran binders, and a Mexican Maduro wrapper, and the suggested retail price is $8.25 each.
Starting off with the appearance, the LP Maduro 40 has a gorgeous and oily Maduro wrapper the color of French Roast coffee beans. The wrapper possessed a strongly earthy, manure-y aroma, while the foot had earth and hay both. The prelight draw was just right and tasted of earth and anise. I got more of the same once the cigar was fired up, as well as additional notes of cedar and cocoa powder on the palate and red pepper on the nose.
As the cigar was reduced to ash I got more flavors of earth and anise, as well as a espresso roast coffee bean note, but just hints of dried fruit sweetness in the mix. The LP Maduro 40 was full-bodied, moreso than I remember the other LP Maduro vitolas being, and satisfying. Lovers of small ring gauge sticks would do well to get their hands on these.
La Palina Classic Lancero
The first time I had a La Palina Classic, I thought, “They saved their best blend for their lowest price point.” That was before the Kill Bill came out and showed off how good El Diario could be (while never a “bad” blend, for me it didn’t stand out in the larger ring gauge vitolas). I was surprised to see the Classic show up in Lancero and Corona vitolas shortly after the trade show last year. If they were announced, it slipped by me. I smoked both and enjoyed them. At some point in the fall, the company sent me a couple samples of these as well.
The Classic has Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuadorian binder and a Brazilian wrapper. The wrapper was oily and smelled of earth with a touch of molasses. The prelight draw was very good and tasted of sweet hay and mild earthiness. Toasted and burning, the Classic Lancero had notes of cedar, hay and creamy coffee on the palate, with a nutty and slightly pepper retrohale.
In the second third, I started to get some tightening of the draw, brining to mind the one problem with Lanceros: they’re just hard to get consistently perfect in that regard. The flavor was still very good, though, a creamy mix of coffee, hay, and earth with a touch of molasses sweetness. The body was on the milder side of medium and it was a thoroughly enjoyable smoke, although I end up opting for the Corona on a regular basis because this isn’t the first Classic Lancero that I’ve had draw issues with. Still, with a very wallet-friendly price, this is a stick you should probably keep on hand for mornings and early afternoons, especially with a nice cup o’ joe.
Most of us here at the Tiki Bar are proponents of small ring gauge cigars. Yes, we’ll smoke a Robusto, a Toro, a Double Corona, even the occasional Gordo…but we mostly agree that staying below the 50 ring gauge mark is the way to get the most flavor from a cigar. These sticks from La Palina are both great examples of that belief and a great way to get into the small ring gauge pool if you haven’t done so yet.
This review originally appeared on Tiki Bar Online.
