Founded in 1834 in Cuba, Por Larrañaga is a brand with a long history. With all its filler and binder tobacco leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region, the most prestigious area for tobacco leaves in the world, the range includes cigars using both long and short fillers with a totally hand made technique. Available in only three different vitolas —Montecarlos, Panetelas and Petit Coronas—, the Por Larrañaga Picadores were offered for just a few years along with the three existing vitolas between 2015 and 2016. While the Por Larrañaga Picadores is not one of the best cigars we've ever had, it is a very special cigar in a Hermosos #4 size measuring 5" in length with a 48 ring gauge —not a Robusto but quite close in thickness. One thing worth mentioning about this cigar is that the brand is characterized by its medium to light flavor and the light color wrapper resembles a Cohiba. A mild and smooth perfect companion for the bronze case on that Zenith Montre d'Aéronef Pilot Type 20 Extra Special 'Bronze' we reviewed here.
With hints of coffee, caramel and a relatively grassy flavor towards the end, the Por Larrañaga Picadores is a very smooth and even burning cigar. Characterized by a consistent burn with very rare burn outs, the cigar is relatively strong as you light it up but within minutes it tones down to what is one of the mildest Cuban Habanos out there. Towards the end of the first third while the ash remains fluffy and dark grey, the cigar turns even smoother with hints of leather and coffee. Thanks to its even burn and long filler leaves, the cigar burns steadily for 30-35 minutes. While the Por Larrañaga Picadores is nowhere close to a Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Cohiba or Romeo y Julieta, this is a fantastic handmade cigar for the price, just like the Zenith Montre d'Aéronef Pilot Type 20 Extra Special 'Bronze' is a great pilot's watch for the money.
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