Bought and smoked a lot of them...all through 2016, they were between 2.50-3.50 per on here.
They are very typical of La Palina...IMO, their top shelf stuff can compete with just about anything available. Anywhere. The lower-ends (black, red, classic, etc.) are pedestrian. I've never had an awful one. But never a great one, either. For some reason, they all start out good, but I'm through with them before the cigar is finished....looking towards something 'good' next. Red is no different. Good opening, mild-med....sometimes almost 'Cubanesque'. Problems begin about a third of the way through. Rare is the red that burns well throughout. Once the burn goes sideways, the flavor does, too. I'm not sure just what it is...its almost like some cigars suffer from pulling the smoke through them.....like the second-half tobacco gets 'tainted'. Most of the lower lines of La Palina seem to go that way.
On the other hand, the mid-range Diarios are consistent and very good. The higher end stuff...Goldies, Mr. Sam, Family's, etc....unbelievably good....great, even
dstieger wrote:
