Puro Desnudo – 2023 N4 Petit Corona Review (NRWMO)

[TacoSauce]

Background: I've smoked NCs on and off for decades. I think approx. 85% of those I have tried weren't very good. With a few exceptions, even the ones that are good, aren't that good (I'm looking at you Padron!). So when Rob & team started flouting their NC cigars that could compare and compete with CCs, I concluded right away that they were full of sh*t. After all, Rob is a salesman (a good one), and salesmen will tell you anything to get you out the door with their product. "Step right up! We've got this one ligament for all your ailments! We've got a car that will drive itself! We've got NC cigars that are better than anything you've had! Steeeeeyp right up!" As a result of all of that, I had been planning to skip these releases altogether. However @HoyoFan arranged a split of a bundle of the petite corona and so I ended up with a 5-pack.

 

Pre-light: No band. Evenly packed. Deep chocolate color. Smells of slight barnyard with a big chocolate note and a definite mustiness reminiscent of aged tobacco. The cold draw has no issues.

 

First Third: Cigar opens under-medium. The chocolate note is at the front and is delicious. A secondary note of fresh ground coffee -- not the drink itself, but the smell you get after grinding beans. A great combination! The retrohale is mostly smooth and enhances the experience. A tiny bit of pepper at the very end of the retro. Underneath the coffee and chocolate notes is a core flavor that I couldn't place while I was smoking. Later when I was reading more about the cigar, I saw the phrase "burnt edge of a cookie." That is exactly it! It was like smoking well-done cookies. Amazing, I've never experienced anything like that in a cigar.

 

Second Third: Fantastic smoke output. It is so satisfying when the smoke pours out this heavily. At this point the chocolate has faded and the core flavor is that of cappuccino cream (actual coffee, the drink, flavor this time) with just a hint of those cookies. There is also some amount of fruit notes popping up in the background. I can't place what fruit this might be.

 

Final Third: The cigar is a solid medium at this point. The creaminess has faded. The coffee flavor persists and a deep caramel flavor joins. At the 3/4 inch point it got hot and I put it down. Burn and draw were perfect for the entire duration.

Overall Thoughts & Rating: This is a fantastic cigar. It is catapulted to the top 5% of NCs that I have smoked (that's my rating based on a single cigar). It reminded me a lot of a AB Tempus Corona Natural at its core (a cigar that I enjoy), but with heaps of extra flavor and grace piled on. Kudos to the entire team and tasting panel on this. I officially apologize for assuming you were all full of sh*t.  After smoking this cigar, I am left scratching my head and a little angry. If it has always been possible to produce cigars with this much flavor and class from NC tobacco, WHY HASN'T ANYONE ELSE BEEN DOING IT OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS!?!?!? 😡

[SCgarman]

Hamlet Paredes. He is the primary reason these custom cigars are so good. His blending, and of course finding the right tobacco to fit the bill.

[TacoSauce]

On 9/7/2023 at 9:07 PM, SCgarman said:

Hamlet Paredes. He is the primary reason these custom cigars are so good. His blending, and of course finding the right tobacco to fit the bill.

I recall that Hamlet used to be a roller for Partagas. Any idea what he was involved with after that but before teaming up with Rob? Where did he get the blending experience?

[Fireball]

I think the combo of Hamlet and the tasting panel is why these cigars win out. The panel may like different flavors, but like all of us they enjoy general Cuban taste.

[SCgarman]

5 hours ago, TacoSauce said:

I recall that Hamlet used to be a roller for Partagas. Any idea what he was involved with after that but before teaming up with Rob? Where did he get the blending experience?

He worked for Rocky Patel cigars developing his own line for several years. 

[TacoSauce]

30 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

He worked for Rocky Patel cigars developing his own line for several years. 

Very cool. Would be interested in finding out which line and seeing if I've tried it. If it is one I haven't had I would add it to the "to buy" list.

[KCCubano]

Great review. I tried one and I must say in my opinion it was best NC PC I have ever sampled. Plus you don't have to worry about construction issues. 

[rondogg]

Seems like I'll be buying more than a few !

[TacoSauce]

14 hours ago, rondogg said:

Seems like I'll be buying more than a few !

Can't argue with the idea, but be aware that these cigars don't taste like a CC. While they are fully distinct from most NCs you will have smoked, and while they share a lot of the pleasant characteristics of a CC, they are missing the core Cuban flavor of a CC.This is expected, of course, since you are only going to get that core flavor with Cuban tobacco. Thus, while I would support the idea of trying as many of these releases as you can, see if you can get a split before jumping into full bundles to make sure these fit your preferences.

[TacoSauce]

19 hours ago, SCgarman said:

He worked for Rocky Patel cigars developing his own line for several years. 

A bit of research turns up the following from halfwheel.com:

Quote

During his seven years at the company, a number of lines were launched using Hamlet’s name, including Tabaquero by Hamlet Paredes, Hamlet 25th Year, Liberation by Hamlet and Hamlet 2020. Nish Patel told halfwheel that the company would continue to sell all of these lines with the exception of Tabaquero, which is being discontinued.

Some of these are still available for purchase from various online retailers. Anyone sampled the range and have a favorite to recommend?

[El Presidente]

25th and Liberation are the better ones. 

Hammy would tell you they don't hold a candle to what he is currently doing. Different tobacco. 

[SCgarman]

I have a couple of the original Tabaquero Salamon sized cigars. Not my ideal size, you need two hours of smoking time. 

[TacoSauce]

4 hours ago, SCgarman said:

I have a couple of the original Tabaquero Salamon sized cigars. Not my ideal size, you need two hours of smoking time. 

I remember Hamlet mentioning that the Salomones was his favorite vitolas during one of the videos that Rob posted awhile back. At least it was his favorite among the Partagas line-up. 

[El Presidente]

9 hours ago, TacoSauce said:

I remember Hamlet mentioning that the Salomones was his favorite vitolas during one of the videos that Rob posted awhile back. At least it was his favorite among the Partagas line-up. 

His two favourite cigars are the Partagas Lusitania and the Salomones. 

We can't replicate CC tobacco. We can make excellent cigars that stand on their own merits. 

Flavoursome. Excellent constuction in the main (and we will get better). Complexity/Journey. Affordable 

We have just started. 

[rondogg]

On 9/11/2023 at 3:43 AM, TacoSauce said:

Can't argue with the idea, but be aware that these cigars don't taste like a CC. While they are fully distinct from most NCs you will have smoked, and while they share a lot of the pleasant characteristics of a CC, they are missing the core Cuban flavor of a CC.This is expected, of course, since you are only going to get that core flavor with Cuban tobacco. Thus, while I would support the idea of trying as many of these releases as you can, see if you can get a split before jumping into full bundles to make sure these fit your preferences.

Oh sweet, do we find people to spilt them with before jumping full head on?

[TacoSauce]

5 minutes ago, rondogg said:

oh sweet do we find people to splt them with before jumping full head on?

If you can make connections with people in your region on here you might be able to find interest. If you read half-way down one of Rob's older postings, you will find mention of a number of "Network" forums on here for you to connect with locals.

)