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These La Corona toros have been in one humidor or another for months now. I had already smoked a few of the sticks before taking notes for this entry; this time I paid careful attention to the experience. As with the others I had smoked, the construction appeared to be excellent. Wrapped in a medium-buff Conneticut Shade wrapper, this slightly veiny cigar was nevertheless attractive. It had a medium-weight feel in the hand. The most noticeable characteristic isn't the cigar itself but the gaudy band. In my opinion, this label is overdone -- a too fancy, gold-leaf-dominated thing with a cheesy picture of a woman in the middle.
Upon lighting this stick, the initial impression was of a dry, quite mild, straightforward cigar. A woody flavor dominated the experience for the first few minutes. If cigars were wines, this one would be a young Sauvignon Blanc, attractive but young and decidedly grassy, rather than a big bold Barolo or a tannic, complex Paulliac, or, for that matter, an oaky Chablis Grand Cru. It had the character of a well-made, attractive smoke, but one with little depth.
Fifteen minutes in, the ash was compact and stood at one inch. But it was beginning to look fragile so I tapped it off (it took no effort). The flavor was now smoother and had lost the woodiness; it was hardly complex but was certainly pleasant.
At the halfway mark it was still burning fairly straight; the cigar remained somewhat pleasant but the flavor profile was beginning to take on an unwelcome harshness. This was not a cigar that demanded nor deserved much attention. Bystanders, however, swooned to the abundantly "spicy" aroma. As is often the case with any but the best mild cigars, the others in the room were getting more enjoyment from this stick than I.
Fifteen minutes in, the ash was compact and stood at one inch. But it was beginning to look fragile so I tapped it off (it took no effort). The flavor was now smoother and had lost the woodiness; it was hardly complex but was certainly pleasant.
At the halfway mark it was still burning fairly straight; the cigar remained somewhat pleasant but the flavor profile was beginning to take on an unwelcome harshness. This was not a cigar that demanded nor deserved much attention. Bystanders, however, swooned to the abundantly "spicy" aroma. As is often the case with any but the best mild cigars, the others in the room were getting more enjoyment from this stick than I.
By the time the stogie had reached its last third, the experience was no longer pleasurable. I abandoned the cigar one hour into it, with two inches left.
All in all, this cigar had consistency, good looks, fine construction, and uninteresting but acceptable flavor. And kudos on the aroma. If not for the low cost, I would not recommend this cigar at all. However, at certain select times when expectations are few, distractions expected, or low cost but solid construction is paramount, I would consider the La Corona Perfecto X to be mildly recommended.
All in all, this cigar had consistency, good looks, fine construction, and uninteresting but acceptable flavor. And kudos on the aroma. If not for the low cost, I would not recommend this cigar at all. However, at certain select times when expectations are few, distractions expected, or low cost but solid construction is paramount, I would consider the La Corona Perfecto X to be mildly recommended.
