Vitola: Robusto- 5” x 52 ring gauge
- MSRP $7.99
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
In December 2015, it was announced that Clay Roberts would be joining the La Palina Cigar family. I’ve known Clay for several years, working with him on AJ Fernandez Cigar Company’s participation in the Chattanooga Tweet-Up a few times. It didn’t take long for Clay to bring his past and present companies together…in the second half of 2016, La Palina announced it would be releasing “La Palina Nicaragua” lines of cigars made in the AJF factory in Esteli.
I was given samples of both the Connecticut and Oscuro versions of the LP Nicaragua back in November 2016, and at the time I thought they both deserved a place…at least an audition…in the Burns humidor. Unfortunately, it took a little longer than expected for them to get to the shop, making their actual debut happen in late January. I went ahead and picked up both Conny and Oscuro samples for review purposes. Today I’m starting with a review of the Connecticut.
As stated before, these are made in the AJ Fernandez factory. They use Nicaraguan fillers and binder, along with an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf. Besides the Robusto, it is available in Toro and Gordo vitolas. I have smoked one sample before I fired up this review sample. I purchased the review sample at Burns Tobacconist.
Prelight
I think this is the main new line to be showcasing the new “LP” logo, although it was also used on the previously-reviewed El Año 1896. The difference is that here, it’s just the new LP logo and no image of Goldie anywhere (the El Año 1896 had the Goldie image on the large tissue paper wrapper that extended from the band to the foot of the cigar). Along with the new logo, the band is just an entirely new loop for La Palina. While still keeping the gold foil and cream background of the original motif, this uses a lot more in the way of unusual fonts, dramatic curves and other ornamentation. It separates this line from the more “high end” La Palina offerings, while also looking much better than the old “Classic” line banding does. The secondary band telegraphs the wrapper type…in this case, “Connecticut.”
The wrapper of the cigar was a very good example of Connecticut Shade to be adorning a cigar of this price point. It was dark golden in color with no visible flaws and just a couple minor dark spots. It was not terribly oily, but Shade leaves usually aren’t. It had a lightly sweet grassiness when held to the nose, along with a faint touch of cedar. The foot of the cigar had earth and hay notes in the mix.
Once I cut the head, I found the cold draw to be excellent. There were cold flavors of cedar and hay and honey. Honestly, the cold flavor made me think more of a Dominican cigar than a Nicaraguan one.
Flavor
I lit up the La Palina Nicaragua Connecticut with fairly low expectations. Here’s why…I’ve smoked most of AJ Fernandez’s Connecticut Shade blends over the years and found them to be progressively better, but still not among the best Nicaraguan-based Connys on the market. This offering began with mild, creamy smoke carrying sweet, almost honey-like, flavor up front, followed close behind by dry wood and hay notes, which were in turn followed by just a touch of coffee and earthiness. There was no pepper on the palate, though there was a quick touch of red pepper heat on the nose, among notes of sweet hay and roasted nuts.
The second third continued with notes of sweet hay up front, but with a little added earth in the mix and a touch of pepper finding its way to the palate. While I wasn’t really that impressed with the sample I had last year, this stick was definitely hitting all the right buttons for me.
The last third of the La Palina Nicaragua Connecticut had a diminishing of the sweeter notes, which were replaced by more earthiness. Pepper continued at the same level that it had leveled at during the second third. There was a nice nuttiness in the mix that roadie on a continually creamy and smooth smoke.
Construction
I had a great draw, quite even burn line and solid ash.
Value
The price points for the LP Nicaragua lines are right in the middle of the “sweet spot” of pricing…$8-10. And this one, at least, overperforms for that price.
Conclusions
La Palina is stepping up their game in the lower-priced cigar market place and A.J. Fernandez helped out with the best Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigar that’s come from the factory so far. The LP Nicaragua Connecticut has a great complexity and smokes like a journey from truly mild to a more medium-body by the end, offering up sweet and savory notes all along the way. Very good cigar and a must-try for fans of Connecticut Shade smokes.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
