IV. LP Dirty Rat
Size: 5 x 44
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper Color: Maduro
Wrapper Origin: Connecticut
Wrapper Leaf Type: Habano Seed
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran

I’d been sitting on this cigar for a number of months and decided to break it out last night when I wasn’t up for a 2 hour smoke. It was an attractive cigar with a nice pigtail head. The wrapper was dark with a nice sheen. It wasn’t overly oily, but it reflected the light nicely. There were a few small veins down the length of the cigar. The pack was firm and it sported the standard LP label- part classical with the emblem, and part nouveau with the hand written name. The foot and the wrapper had a very “dark” scent with hints of wood, coffee, and a very faint note of cocoa. I bit the pigtail and pulled the cap off between my teeth. The draw was firm, but the flavor was somewhat diminutive. It was very similar to my experience with other Ligas- the cold draw is underwhelming and then the flavor explodes upon lighting it. If I could cite any specific taste I would say it was mild leather. I used a torch to toast the foot and finished the light with a wooden match.

The start was just as I expected- a blast of full-bodied flavor right out of the gate! I primarily picked up cedar with hints of pepper in the retrohale. I never cease to be amazed by the profiles of LPs, they contain nuances that are hard to pin down, but the overall taste seems so impeccably blended. The burn through the first section was perfect.

The second section of the cigar was consistent and just as enjoyable as the first. I started tasting a buttery tone that made the spice feel slightly “oily” on my tongue, but at the same time toned down the sharpness of the cedar. I really enjoyed the amount of smoke I got from this cigar. It was plentiful and on the puffs where I wasn’t picking the flavor apart, it delivered a great experience. This is one of those cigars that you can smoke mindlessly and still feel like you’ve experienced something good afterwards.

Much to my surprise, the cigar didn’t become all that more potent as it moved into the nub. This stick was interesting because while it never seemed to really change all that much, it remained engaging through the entire smoke. It bucked the trend of most full bodied cigars by not bordering on overwhelming in the final third. I think a lot can be said for the blender’s selection of a smaller vitola for this cigar. It closed with the same tastes of cedar and muted pepper that it began with, but it also bid farewell with background flavors of espresso, leather, and bitter chocolate.

The entire smoke took 60 minutes. I would not recommend this cigar for an early morning or on an empty stomach. It smoked well after dinner with a glass of Coke.

Pros: Contruction, burn, and depth of flavor.
Cons: None. I could cite the size of the cigar since I would have gladly enjoyed it for another 30 minutes, but I think the choice of vitola was essential to how the blend is presented.
Overall: 9.4/10

V. Papas Fritas
I was sent one of these in a trade a couple weeks ago and I was really excited to smoke it. The wrapper had a good sized vein down the length of the wrapper and it felt tight and solidly rolled. The foot of the cigar had a pleasant scent that wasn’t floral, but kind of outdoorsy- sort of grass like. I usually punch my cigars but because of the twist I cut it with a guillotine cutter. The cold draw was very good but underwhelming in flavor. The wrapper had a fresh sweetness to it. I toasted it and lit with a soft flame.
First 1/3:
After the cold draw I was pleasantly surprised by the stout flavor I got from the first few puffs. Immediately, dark tastes began to come out along with a little bit of pepper. I was honestly caught off guard by the potency of the smoke with the first retrohale. Speaking of smoke- there was lots of it. Wonderful clouds of it came effortlessly with each puff. These characteristics of richness and profuseness of smoke seem to make this a great option for an after-dinner smoke. I’m not sure I would burn it as an early morning stick. The burn was perfect from the start and the vein proved irrelevant. The ash wasn’t perfect but it didn’t shed itself prematurely.
Second 2/3:
A ways into the stick I noticed the wrapper began to peel up slightly near my cut on the cigar. I moistened it to sit it back down and it didn’t cause any issues with the smoke. I didn’t pick up on any kind of sweetness through the first half of the cigar, but nor did I find its robust flavor to be bitter. I did begin to get a taste that I can’t really describe well but to say it reminded me of a brush burning pile in autumn. It wasn’t unpleasant but was like a mix of woody and earthiness. I’m still amazed at the great quantity of smoke I got from a smaller RG stick (and without having to puff like a locomotive engine). For me the faint peppery taste that was in the first 1/3 dissipated as I approached the final couple inches and the stick just delivered continuous dark tobacco flavor.
The nub:
I the end I picked up a taste that I swear was like a fig or plum dipped in bitter chocolate. The tastes were balanced so there wasn’t any net profile one way or the other, but it was very pleasant. I smoked this one down low!

I was excited to review this stick and hope to do several more LPs because I know how many on the boards smoke them and I’d love to hear how my experience matches up with others.

Pros- Great construction, A+ flavor and a ton of smoke
Cons- Only that it isn’t available in a Churchill
Overall- 9/10