To be honest I wasn't expecting great things. A thin elegant cigar (159x33) with a dark veiny and almost oil-less wrapper. Slightly spongy to the touch but the draw was perfect.

Not as rich as its more prestigious brother the petit corona. It showed almost no bitterness despite its youth (feb 07). Throughout there was a light cedar and spiced wood taste at times becoming herbal and flowery. The first 2/3 also showed some of the caramel/honey sweetness that the PC is reknowned for, but not to such a great extent. A beautiful sipping cigar, and excellent for the price.

74/100
(when I score cigars the points bear no resemblance to the CA system. 74 is actually a very good score for me.)

I wonder if these once machine-made cigars are still considered to be slightly inferior to the CCs that has always been handmade? I remember reading from MRN's book that he considered the Por Larranaga MMs to be the best Cuban MMs. I wonder if that still stands with almost all MMs being handmade these days?

quote:

Originally posted by Boknows:
I remember reading from MRN's book that he considered the Por Larranaga MMs to be the best Cuban MMs.

I totally agree with that.. they are by far some of the best MM CC's coming out of Cuba. they always have, and probably always will !!

montecarlo are long filler hand made cigars now. nice review

Ushshay on the ontecarlosmay! Don't want everyone knowing about the good cheap stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by frankluke:
montecarlo are long filler hand made cigars now. nice review

Yes and no. They are still machine-bunched and hand-finished but, nowadays, those have the mention "Totalmente a mano". The Cubans decided to eliminate the mention "A mano" (with no "Totalmente") those type of cigars used to hace.