On The Cigar Authority this week we smoked a cigar that was the first care package cigar for the new year. We lit up the La Galera 1936 Box Pressed and has become customary following the show we offer a full review of a featured cigar. La Galera comes to us from Jochy Blanco’s Indian Head Cigars. This is a name you should know as Jochy is one of the biggest growers of tobacco in the Dominican Republic.
Cigar Review: La Galera 1936 Box Pressed
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic Criollo ’98 (La Canela Grown)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano and Criollo 98)
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Vitola: Robusto (Chaveta)
The Look: Packaged in black boxes of 21 cigars the La Galera 1936 Box Pressed is the perfect example of what I like to call a brindle wrapper as it hass different shades of brown. Box pressed to perfection the cigar which features two bands and the wrapper has a subtle coarse feeling under the fingers like fine sandpaper. The cigar is firm with no soft spots or voids of tobacco with a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw offers up a myriad of notes, some of which are raisins, caramel, molasses and a subtle pepper and cinnamon. The foot of the cigar is earthy with a subtle manure to it and pepper which cause me to sneeze. Once the cigar is lit, the initial note is citric.
As we move into the first third there is a note that reminds me of tangerines along with some cocoa sweetness that becomes more noticeable as the cigar progresses. The retrohale offers up notes of red pepper and earth with the red pepper lingering on the long finish.
In the second third some fruity sweetness continues while the red pepper flakes become subdued. As the cigar continues to the half way point where the cigar goes through a flavor change introducing notes of espresso to compliment the subtle licorice on the finish which is moderate in length.
In the final third the cigar still holds on to some subtle red pepper on the retrohale, but the primary notes are rich espresso with a bit of earth. The moderate finish maintains a faint licorice note as the cigar comes to a close.
The Finish: La Galera has yet to disappoint me with all their blends, and while I am still partial to the maduro, this one is a close second for me. The notes are easily enjoyable and the draw was perfection. The La Galera Box Press is big on value, and even bigger on flavor.
Score: 92
Price: $8.19 / $151.99
