Cigar Review #3: La Palina Goldie Robusto Extra for 2015 Ltd Edition

by Ramona Brown | Dec 3, 2015

Background: This smooth, sultry cigar is produced by Bill Paley, Jr.
in Little Havana, Miami at the El Titan de Bronze factory.

 

Mr. Paley came from a wealthy background and over the years has been involved in a wide variety of career interests, but like his father and grandfather, he returned to the incredible industry of tobacco. The La Palina brand was founded by his grandfather and building upon his family’s legacy, he created The La Palina Goldie collection, an amazing boutique cigar.

 

Although La Palina Cigars releases a new size in the Goldie Series each year, the unique blend remains consistent.
Like the familiar caress of a good woman, you can enjoy it again and again.
2015’s size is the 6 1/10” x 50 Robusto Extra. Since it is a limited edition, some retailers are already sold out of their inventory.

Only 20,000 cigars have been released (2,000 boxes of 10).

I am fortunate enough to have found this rare cigar at my favorite shop, and I am even now taking long, sensual puffs on this wonderful cigar.
It has a smoking time of 1 ½ to 2 hours and I am savoring every moment.

 

Each release features the unique fan-pigtail cap, which is the signature of Maria Sierra, who is considered one of the best rollers in the world and works exclusively forLa Palina.  It is amazing that each individual cigar in this exclusive line is rolled by one woman.

They are carefully shipped in a custom-formed box that cradles the cigar and protects the cap from damage.

Remember, a beautiful cigar touches all of my senses…
In order for this reviewer to select a cigar more than once it must have one attribute that is more important than any other:
IT MUST BE SMOOTH. I don’t like it harsh or abrasive; I like it smooth……

–Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano. This wrapper is beautiful, a medium golden-brown color. The wrapper produces a scent of fresh cream. It’s not dark or oily; it’s smooth and creamy, just the way I like it. There must always be foreplay, and a beautiful wrapper sets the tone for the sensual experience to come…
–Binder: Ecuadorian
-Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua. The rare Medio Tiempo leaf is incorporated into this filler.
-Size: 6 1/10” x 50
-Strength: The La Palina website characterizes this cigar as Medium/Full. My professional opinion places it toward more towards medium, however.

 

FLAVOR: After lighting, I immediately taste a creamy sweetness, followed by notes of nut and wood…not a dark, heavy woody taste,
but rather just enough wood to make it pleasurable. The La Palina Goldie is one of the smoothest blends I have ever smoked.
The flavor, construction, and burn of this cigar are excellent, but most importantly I can feel its velvety smoothness.  If it feels this good, then I will have to take it all the way to completion……
It remains smooth and creamy all the way down to the final third; it’s never harsh, not one bit. It retains its great flavor to the nub.

 

RETRO-HALE: Retro-hale is so smooth that I want to do it over and over. So I do.

 

ASH/SMOKE: Ash is light in color and bit flaky (like some men I have dated). It produces a good amount of light-colored smoke. The smoke in the air around me unquestionably adds to the ambience of the room. A nonsmoker sitting nearby may be drawn to me, wanting to take the conversation to the next level, or they may be bitchy and complain; a clear indication that they are not a lover of cigars, in which case they are beneath notice.

 

Mr. Paley describes the Goldie as “a tribute to women working in the cigar industry”. The cigar is named after a woman (his paternal grandmother), made by a woman, in a factory run by a woman; the national sales director for La Palina cigars is also a woman, so who better to appreciate it than me?  I am a woman (refer to the photos if you are unsure). I do not work in the industry, but with my sensual love of smoking cigars, the La Palina Goldie and I are a perfect match. Like the excitement at the beginning of a new relationship, it’s thrilling; the union of Ramona and Goldie is making me tingle….I may soon explode with passion.

 

VALUE: The retail price of this cigar is $18.00, excluding it from the list of cigars I can afford to smoke on a daily basis. Since I base my cigar selection on my mood on a given day, I would definitely pick this cigar to improve my outlook on a rough day. After I make love, the smooth draw of this cigar would add even more enjoyment to my already heightened senses. After sharing such intimacy with another person, I would gladly spend an hour or two appreciating this cigar; it will be burning and I will be glowing.

 

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS: (From a review in Cigar Aficionado [Nov./Dec. 2012] by David Savona:) “Mr. Paley doesn’t quite grasp the tasting note concept, doesn’t taste the hints of coffee bean or the wisp of leather others get when they smoke cigars. He prefers to find harmonies in his cigars. ‘A cigar to me is like a piece of music. It can have a lot of elements, it can be orchestral.’”

 

Personally, I love the fact that Mr. Paley “doesn’t quite grasp the tasting note concept,” as many people do not.  Many cigar lovers read reviews and chuckle at the description of the flavors provided by the reviewer; notes of onion, smoked meat, floral undertones, deep substantial earth, maple syrup…..
To me, it is not important to be able to taste every individual note; what’s important is to get an overall taste and feeling from a cigar. You must let the cigar have an effect on all your senses.
Smoking it must make you feel good, both in reality and in the secret place where your erotic fantasies hide.

 

In this world of mayhem, sharing two hours of my time with this cigar is time well spent.

This cigar is smooth and encompasses all of my senses…
MMMmmmm…….
…Love, Ramona

Cigar Review #2: Rocky Patel Edge Habano Toro

by Ramona Brown | Nov 18, 2015

BACKGROUND: Rocky Patel’s  Edge series was introduced in 2004.  Rocky began his career as an attorney in the entertainment industry. While working with the clients he represented, he would relax with them as they smoked between takes on the set. During that time he was approached to invest in a friend’s cigar company and quickly became fascinated with the vast array of tobaccos and processes of creating cigars. He eventually stopped working as an attorney and has become a leading manufacturer of premium cigars.

Rocky Patel’s company is based in Naples, Florida. The “Rocky Edge” is produced at the El Paraiso factory in Danli, Honduras. Rocky’s cigars are typically very consistent and dependable in terms of quality and flavor.

The Edge Habano is the sixth blend to be added to the Edge series and uses purely Nicaraguan tobacco. It is the first Nicaraguan puro in the group.

–Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Habano Seed)
–Binder: Nicaraguan
-Filler: Nicaraguan
binder and filler from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa
-Sizes: Toro and Torpedo
-Strength: Medium/Full

A beautiful cigar touches all of my senses… In order for me to smoke a cigar more than once it must have one attribute that is more important than any other: IT MUST BE SMOOTH. I don’t like harsh or abrasive; I like it smooth…… 

 

 

The Edge by Rocky Patel

 

THE WRAPPER:   The wrapper is very important to the taste and look of the cigar; so it must be discussed immediately. When your lover is excited, you must be ready to act immediately. This wrapper is smooth, dark, and oily. Its oily sheen immediately grabs my attention. The wrapper looks similar to my skin after a luxurious bubble bath and having rubbed creamy moisturizer all over my dewy body.    Unlike my freshly oiled skin, the prominent veins and tight seams give the cigar an attractive, rustic appearance. The light-blue foot band beautifully offsets the dark wrapper, adding an understated flair. The lustrous sheen and gorgeous, rich brown color of the wrapper remind me of a handsome, weathered leather saddle.

 

THE PRE-LIGHT DRAW/ LIGHTING: The draw is smooth and easy. Hint: most women like it smooth and easy, not pounding or thrusting too harshly (except at finish). During production every Edge cigar is placed in an apparatus that tests the amount of air drawn through the cigar to ensure a perfect draw.

 

The Edge lit with ease. The foot toasted beautifully. After lighting, it opens up to a perfect, slow-burning draw that is flawless. I don’t need to suck too hard to get results.

THE BURN/ THE DRAW/ THE ASH/ RETRO-HALING: From the first moment I put my lips on it to the last, the burn was smooth. It burns evenly, assisted by its clean draw.  As you know from my last review, I like a good amount of smoke. The Edge provides me with enough smoke to thoroughly taste its bold flavors.

This savory, well-constructed stick burns perfectly, delivering luxurious, creamy mouthfuls of luscious, thick smoke that hovered in the still air, further enhancing my pleasure.  Finishing this cigar to the nub was effortless. The burn lasted just over an hour, needed very few touch-ups, and the burn line was even all the way through. The burn temperature was cool and I applaud this exceptional, sultry experience.

As discussed in my previous review (previous reviews can be found in the right sidebar of the main page), retro-haling is the best way to taste all the flavors in the cigar. You must take the smoke not only into your mouth, but into your body as well; this is one time you can take something into our body without pulling up your skirt. The retro-hale delivers a very nice boost of pepper to my senses, but not an overpowering one.  Remember: smoking a good cigar should touch all of your senses…………taste the flavors, smell the complexity of the smoke, touch the wrapper against your lips, hear the strike of the match, see the smoke as it leaves your mouth.

 

FLAVOR: The flavor from the oily Habano wrapper immediately fills my mouth. This cigar begins with a rich burst of solid, classic Habano flavor, transitioning to a smooth, full flavored smoke.  The flavors complement each other nicely. The blend is full-bodied with a rich flavor that blasts your palate with spices and pepper. As I smoke it to the end, the second-third is only mildly complex (unlike my life which is insanely complex), but it maintains this same character throughout. It is delightfully smooth and provides savory notes of spice, black pepper, and cedar.

While this cigar is definitely a medium- to full-bodied smoke, the flavor is just right without being overpowering like other full-bodied cigars. Smoking it to the finish offered the same bold flavors without ever becoming unpleasant or harsh.

VALUE: The retail price of this full-flavored cigar is approximately $7.00.  I consider this cigar to be a bargain, and have made it a staple in my humidor.  Smoking premium cigars every day quickly adds up in expense, but at this price I can always have an Edge Habano at hand when life gets too crazy and I need to sit on my little balcony and relax.  Every day I have breakfast (coffee and a cigar) outside on my balcony with my little space heater.

 

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS:  Unless you prefer a very mild smoke, I would absolutely recommend this cigar.  For new smokers or those with seasoned palates, the flavors in the Edge Habano are very consistent and are blended beautifully. This is my favorite cigar in the Edge series….so far.

 

 

This cigar is smooth and encompasses all my senses…. MMMmmmmmmm……..
Love…Ramona

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Cigar Review #1: Laranja Reserva Corona Gorda

by Ramona Brown | Oct 28, 2015

After returning from a trip to Greece and Turkey, where I enjoyed a variety of Turkish and Cuban cigars, I am ready to return to an old friend: The Laranja Reserva.

BACKGROUND: Laranja Reserva was released in 2014 and is made by Erik Espinosa at his factory in Esteli Nicaragua: the La Zona Cigar Factory.  Erik has released many other masterpieces from this factory,

my favorites being the Espinosa Maduro, the 601 La Bomba series, the La Zona Habano, and the Alibi – an exclusive blend which can be found only in Espinosa lounges. 

–Wrapper: Brazilian “Laranja” habano (Laranja is Portuguese for ‘orange’ and explains the orange hue of the wrapper leaf and the lovely color-coordinated band)

–Binder:  Nicaraguan

–Filler:    Nicaraguan

–Body:   Medium/Full. I don’t recommend this to new smokers because of the nicotine content and the overall strength, but experienced smokers should enjoy this smooth cigar again and again….

CUTTING/ THE PRE-LIGHT DRAW/ LIGHTING: I like to use the deep-V cut on all of my cigars.

The pre-light draw on the Laranja is perfect. As I put it to my lips, I don’t need to suck on it over and over to get a good draw; the flavors immediately flow into my mouth. Subtly, sweetly over my lips. It doesn’t need to be rolled between my fingers because there are rarely any hard sections that need to be worked out. It feels perfect from the outset.  I love to feel this cigar in my hand, the way the wrapper rubs along my fingers, the bumps and veins, the rough texture, the oils against my skin. Prior to lighting, I draw in the aroma of this cigar as it will have a different scent after I light it. I deeply inhale, taking a long, lingering, sensual sniff up the entire length, drawing in the scent as my nose reaches the exposed foot, inhaling the mixture of amazing organic aromas. The notes of citrus that originate from the wrapper are heavenly on my tongue.  MMMmmmmm….take it in….

After my Laranja is lit, I hold the cigar to my wet lips and gently draw the smoke into my mouth.  I hold the smoke in my mouth for a few seconds to fully taste it on my palate, and then I slowly release. This cigar produces a lot of smoke on the exhale.  I can’t help but appreciate the smooth flavor at this point, experiencing the flavors of citrus upon my tongue.

THE BURN/ THE DRAW/ THE ASH/ RETRO-HALING: The burn of the Laranja is flawless. Each time I smoke one the burn line is even from beginning to end. I usually leave a cigar after using them 3/4 of the way through (like some men I have known), but this is one of the few cigars that I smoke until there is nothing left to hold on to (like some other men I have known). It has an easy draw that allows the smoke to enter my mouth gently and effortlessly.

With the cigar fully lit, the Laranja presents my palate with something for all of my senses: I hear the strike of the match and the crackle as it lights; feel the long hard cigar tightly in my hand; smell the aromas as the smoke leaves my body and enters the room; taste the smoke as it lingers in my mouth; see the color and length of the ash as the cigar burns beautifully down its shaft. The ash is mostly white in color and falls off into the ashtray in firm chunks, which is how a cigar should ash. This is beneficial if I am wearing a white silk dress while smoking.

long white ash… size matters…

Retro-haling: I retro-hale this cigar in the first-third as it is a bit smoother on my nasal passages. I prefer to do it slowly so I can feel the smoke and the notes of pepper as it moves through my body.

STRENGTH/ BODY/ FLAVOR/ PURGING: The Laranja starts out in the medium category for strength and body, but as I move through the second third, it becomes full bodied and medium to full strength. The flavor is an uninterrupted, ever-changing experience which embraces all my senses. The flavors in the Laranja are diverse and they evolve as I smoke it.  It kicks off with notes of citrus and pepper, and as I move into the second third, the cedar and spice join together and continue in the background. This cigar does not need to be purged, as it does not accumulate a buildup of harsh flavors. I don’t want harsh flavors in my mouth when sitting in a cigar shop, though sometimes that happens at home when I have something else in my mouth…

PAIRING:  As you can see in the photo above featuring M&M’s, the flavor of this cigar is enhanced by chocolate.  I place two M&M’s in my warm mouth, let them melt, and then continue to smoke. The tastes blend exquisitely in my mouth. MMMmmm…..

RAMONA’S FINAL: Erik Espinosa has produced some excellent cigars from the La Zona factory, but the Laranja is my favorite. It is definitely worthy of a box purchase to enjoy at home. It one of my personal favorites to slowly savor on my balcony after a stressful day. Erik has extended an invitation to his friends at Allegheny Smokeworks to come to Nicaragua and see how his cigars are blended and rolled. I hope to be a part of this excursion this winter.

This cigar is smooth and encompasses all my senses….   MMMMmmmmmmm……….. Love,Ramona