One that flies under the radar: Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona

[El Presidente]

The Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona ..........I don't think it even appears on a radar

Came across some fantastic boxes this week and it dawned on me that I would have had no more than two this past year. I am not sure why as I have always enjoyed them.

So I have made it my cigar of the weekend (have taken three).

For the Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona lovers (or haters), let us know what you think I will taste/experience

[earthson]

Need age (or 3-4 weeks of dryboxing), but I love the chocolate and honey over cuban earth and wood. The random shots of vanilla make it exciting.

A great PC!

P.S.: Hoping to see some like the box pictured above on the 24:24!

[Hohenthal]

Off the top of my head -

burnt/sugared almonds,

milk coffee,

toast,

not as creamy as Corona Extra but still plenty,

floral overtones,

touch of forest soil when young.

LOVE THEM!!!

Cheers, Alex

[NaFFe]

Love them

[PointFivePast]

I had my first one a couple months ago and recently had another. They sure are tasty little things. I get a bit of chocolate and sweetness as well as a pleasant dry sensation to the smoke. For some reason my palate keeps drawing some similarity between them and a Monte No.4 bu these definitely have the edge on price point!

[Dave O)))]

I've gone through almost three boxes and have been consistently good. Definitely improve with a little age, very young sticks tend to show in the last third. I need to reserve a few to age from my last box as the one I smoked the other day was the best yet!

[shlomo]

As previously mentioned, a couple years does wonders. Very similar to my beloved RG CE that are long gone, but slightly more depth in flavour and strength. Construction on alot of boxes is often less than ideal, but they tend to smoke well and are consistent throughout regardless. FAR more enjoyable than the harsh, rough, Perla.

[riazp]

Will have to give these a try, from what i'm reading this would make a nice morning cigar with my coffee/espresso

[irratebass]

I had a private discussion with Piggy recently, and he mentioned these sticks at least 3x's, he has me very curious about these, and as RoRo said "Hoping to see some like the box pictured above on the 24:24! "

[SCgarman]

always have a couple boxes of these. For the money they are a bargain when you get a good box. More concentrated flavor than the corona extra, although I do miss them. Some have described the Rafael G profile as that similar to Montecristo from the 1950's. As been mentioned the box may not appeal to someone shopping for cigars in a duty free store, but I find that box unique and would be a shame to ever see this marca disappear.

[Smallclub]

FAR more enjoyable than the harsh, rough, Perla.

I'm working through my 3rd box of Perla, and I haven't had a single one that could qualify as harsh or rough. To me they're strong and very rounded and offer a very specific flavor. No complexity but real depth.

[Smallclub]

Need age (or 3-4 weeks of dryboxing),

If a cigar really needs age I can't see how dryboxing would help the process. As a matter of fact maturation is slower in dry conditions…

[ArtVandalay]

You guys sure are making it difficult for me to pick my first box....

[SCgarman]

I got a box of RG PC's from our hosts and they had almost 4 years of box age on them. Those cigars were absolutely fantastic!

Sitting on a full box dated 2012, need to pull one out and spark it up. They are definitely ready!

[riazp]

I got a box of RG PC's from our hosts and they had almost 4 years of box age on them. Those cigars were absolutely fantastic!

Sitting on a full box dated 2012, need to pull one out and spark it up. They are definitely ready!

Send one my way while you are at it LOL.

I'll be on the lookout for these in Havana.

[SCgarman]

Send one my way while you are at it LOL.

I'll be on the lookout for these in Havana.

Good to see you back here on the forum after an absence!

Lots of different members have come and gone in the last couple years.

[riazp]

Good to see you back here on the forum after an absence!

Lots of different members have come and gone in the last couple years.

I come and go buddy. I read the forums, but dont post as much.

[ksblazer]

I enjoy them as well

As mentioned it's one of the PC's that fly's under the radar

Every time I see a new discontinued list. I worry that they are going to be on there. But so far they have dodged the ax.

Hope that continues. I miss the corona extras and lonsdales

[SCgarman]

The Pig loves them. So do I.

[shlomo]

I'm working through my 3rd box of Perla, and I haven't had a single one that could qualify as harsh or rough. To me they're strong and very rounded and offer a very specific flavor. No complexity but real depth.

They are strong, but to a point that I dont like, hence "rough". A few harsh ones were not bitter, just a kick to the face that I do not enjoy.

[billh1]

I love this cigar! Picked up this nice aged box from a 24:24 last October. Shared a few with friends and smoked a few myself...currently have one on deck for this weekend.

Mild and creamy with a hint on honey.

Thanks again Rob!

Cheers!

Bill

[NSXCIGAR]

I remember smoking RG in the mid-late 90s and also again around 2000-2002. I recall the mid-late 90s RGs were beautiful. Medium, extraordinarily complex. Tobacco, vanilla, honey, cream. I never gravitated towards them as I prefer stronger cigars but they were tremendous.

In the early 2000s, I recall smoking RG and they were disasters. Harsh, sometimes bland, cardboard. Not a good time for RG.

I really haven't smoked many since as they're not really stocked well in LCDHs but I've seen recent production has really come around. Not sure they're back to where they were in the 90s but they seem to be holding their own, especially the Perlas.

[Fugu]

As previously mentioned, a couple years does wonders. Very similar to my beloved RG CE that are long gone, but slightly more depth in flavour and strength. Construction on alot of boxes is often less than ideal, but they tend to smoke well and are consistent throughout regardless. FAR more enjoyable than the harsh, rough, Perla.

Agree, very similar blend to the CE. The last "serious" cigar in production of this marca, in my opinion. Both share some characteristic sweet peatiness in them, which for me seems unique to this marca. When I have the time, I prefer the CE, but the PC comes close behind. Another characteristic being the always exceptionally nice, smooth wrappers.

A regular buy of mine, and the 2011 boxes are a standout. As others have mentioned, this is a blend that certainly profits from aging. Five years is indeed doing good, but they have the legs for much more. I am stocking them on a regular basis - just in case....

[earthson]

If a cigar really needs age I can't see how dryboxing would help the process. As a matter of fact maturation is slower in dry conditions…

Don't worry, Small C - as you get more experience with cigars, you'll learn all the tricks of the trade! Regards...

[Smallclub]

Don't worry, Small C - as you get more experience with cigars, you'll learn all the tricks of the trade! Regards...

Good one. Confusing humidity decrease with maturation has nothing to to with experience — it's (a lack of) basic knowledge.

Please explain us how dryboxing helps the degradation of tannins…