La Palina El Diario
Factory: Fabrica de Tobacos Raices Cubanas
Wrapper: Honduran Corojo ’99 Rosado
Binder: Honduran Criollo ’98 (x2)
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98
Vitola: Torpedo 6.125 x 52
Time in Humi: 1 week

This is my first La Palina experience. They are marketed as a high end line  on par with Diamond Crown and Davidoff. Given all that, my expectations were very high. The El Diario is their “everyday” line though it is priced in the $10-12 range. To me, that is a bit pricey for an everyday smoke, so I tried to be objective with my review and leave price point out of it. I will give this stick an overall rating with and without price consideration.

Prelight: As you can see, it’s a good looking stick. The Rosado wrapper has a nice coloring to it. I found it to be rather unique in appearance. The wrapper gives off lots of crisp white pepper and some cedar notes. I clipped it with my Xi cutter and found a clean draw with lots of sweet tobacco notes and some pepper. I’m really looking forward to this smoke.

Beginning: A single flame torch got us started rather easily and the first puff offered a lot of pepper on the tongue and through the nose. I was expecting pepper, but it seemed to dominate the first half inch. The ash has a strange crack running through it as well. No idea what that means, if anything, but I happened to notice it. The pepper relaxed as we went on and some subtle sweet and leather notes came into the fold. I  couldn’t pinpoint the sweetness. It wasn’t a true cocoa flavor. It was almost like a sweetened coffee sweetness without the coffee. Whatever that means. Regardless of all that, it was nice. Everything seemed to come together at the 1 inch point.

Middle: This is an elegant cigar. It’s subtle without being boring or weak. The flavors really seem to wrap around each other. I know that sounds lame, but I can’t think of another way to describe it. Pepper, sweetness, some leather and wood notes round out the menu and really complement each other well. I’m enjoying this smoke for sure and I’m trying not to think about the price tag.

End: More of the same. Solid medium body and medium strength. I’ve seen some other reviews that say it picks up in strength toward the end, but I did not experience that. The word elegant sticks in my head. It’s really the perfect description of this cigar. Some of it could be me falling victim to the marketing, but who cares. I began to wish I was smoking this in a lounge in a suit instead of on my deck in a hoodie. I nubbed this baby out after almost 2 hours of enjoyment.

Construction: Solid. The torpedo felt substantial in my hand, the wrapper was pristine, the draw was flawless. The only issue I seemed to have was that the burn got funky and went out on me once. Other than that, it’s very well constructed.

Final Thoughts: I wish I could say this cigar snuck up on me, but it didn’t. When you check out their website and advertising, you really kind of expect something high end and this stick delivered. Here’s my issue: it really is an everyday smoke at a premium+ price. I wish I could take price out of the equation, but I can’t. It’s a good smoke and I would like to have 5-10 of them resting in my humi, but the price point won’t really allow that.

Scores:
Smoke Time: 110 minutes
Price point: 6: I loved this stick, but I can’t stomach paying $12 for it. If it were $8, then I’d be singing a different tune.
Appearance: 9.5 – Clean. Precise. Elegant.
Construction: 9 – Spot on for the most part. The burn was a little troublesome.
Draw: 9.5 – Close to perfect.
Flavor: 9 – Subtle flavors that really melded well together. A different take on the everyday smoke for sure.
Overall without price consideration: 9 – This stick forces you to pay attention.
Overall with price consideration: 8.25 – Cut a few bucks off and we’re in business.

I enjoyed my first dance with La Palina. She’s not a cheap date and may price herself out of some budgets. (I know she’s on the high end for me.) If I can talk her into going to Applebee’s every once in a while, then we may be able to carve out a relationship.

 

Overall:

  • Flavor - 9:
  • Draw - 9.5:
  • Construction - 9.5:
  • Appearance - 9.5:
  • Price Point - 6: