Connoisseur’s Corner: Por Larrañaga Magnifico Exclusivo Reino Unido (2007)
U.K. Cuban cigar importer Hunters & Frankau took inspiration from the discontinued Por Larrañaga Magnum and created this cigar in its image. A period piece of sorts, this is one of the earlier Regional Edition cigars. Time has mellowed the Magnifico to a smoke of cedar and honey with traces of almond, spicy cinnamon and echoes of citrus. A slight leathery note is a reminder of the cigar’s former strength; however, its tightly-packed head and foot meant a firm draw the entire time. This could have been a classic. —Gregory Mottola
This gorgeous Churchill, with its supple wrapper, is a firecracker of flavor from the moment the match leaves the foot, smoking like a much younger cigar. The lush draw delivers plenty of wood and coffee bean that dance on the palate, along with a hint of German chocolate. The finish is exceptionally long, with just a hint of campfire smoke. —David Savona
This imposing Salomon shape, a Regional Edition Cuban cigar made for German distributor 5th Avenue Products, has a surprisingly mild start for a big Bolivar. It picks up steam about an inch or two in, taking on almonds, wood and a big burst of caramel, framed by some gritty earth. This is no quick smoke—about a two-hour puff. —David Savona
I set this cigar down not long after it was named Cigar of the Year. The Nicaraguan smoke is still bold and strong with some spicy elements of black pepper, but the raisin sweetness it had in its youth has been replaced by nutty macadamia notes and a chocolate quality that grows more pronounced as the cigar progresses. —David Savona
