José L. Piedra Petit Caballeros
Tasting of the latest addition to the brand's catalogue.
As we mentioned in our article dedicated to José L. Piedra, 2019 will have allowed Habanos to bring the brand up to date with a new visual identity, a new band, new packaging and a new, thicker cigar, adapting to new consumer trends: the Petit Caballeros, a Hermoso Corto (48 × 120 mm) that we are going to taste together. Like most of the brand's other cigars, it has a vitola exclusive to the brand. However, it takes the measurements of the Punch Regios de Punch Edición Limitada 2017, known as the "Hermoso Especial" vitola.
Due to its dimensions, our Petit Caballeros belongs to the Corona Extra family and fits perfectly into the new trend of "Short Smokes", which are increasingly appreciated by aficionados because they offer a complex aromatic profile for a relatively short tasting time.
The brand's vitolario currently consists of five different vitolas in regular production, of which the Petit Caballeros is the most recently integrated and offers the most important cepo.
As also mentioned in our article, José L. Piedra shares many similarities with the Quintero brand, and like the latter, has been able to remain consistent in strength and flavour, unlike other brands that are considered to be the most robust, which have seen their flavours become rounder in recent years. The José L. Piedra blend remains strong and powerful, not minding the change in the dominant taste of the market towards lighter cigars.
This has allowed the brand, despite the total absence of special productions, Edición Regional, Edición Limitada or even commemorative humidors, to maintain its popularity among Spanish and Cuban aficionados in particular.
When they are young, José L. Piedra cigars have the reputation of being rather bitter and tannic, taste characteristics that only experienced aficionados are able to appreciate. Let's give it a try.
Dressed in a relatively dark wrapper, our Petit Caballeros has a rather rustic appearance. Rather marked veins and a slight lack of shine. To the touch, it is just firm but seems to have benefited from a careful construction judging by the homogeneity of the filling.
The new band of the brand brings a real youthful touch and dresses the cigar rather well while remaining discreet. On the surface, this Petit Caballeros seems to play it low profile. Let's see what it has to offer us in terms of taste.
The raw draw reveals aromas of earth, leather, cedar, hay and a hint of cocoa.
From the very first whiffs, the leather and earthy notes perceived in the raw version evolve in the background. However, the Petit Caballeros seems to be part of an aromatic profile dominated by cedar. Some very light notes of cinnamon are also perceptible but in a punctual way. At the end of the first tier, it leaves us with a pleasant sensation of spiciness, almost spicy on the lips. Unfortunately, this does not persist and fades away in the second third.
As far as the construction is concerned, it confirms our diagnosis and offers an excellent draw as well as a remarkably homogeneous combustion. The volume of smoke, not particularly tasty, is on the other hand extremely generous and contributes to immerse us in a pleasant atmosphere.
Halfway through the burn, we notice a slight evolution in power. Indeed, if against all expectations, it was rather discreet at the beginning, the Petit Caballeros is now more powerful.
In terms of flavour, the second third also evolves. The peanut butter comes to the forefront and blends with the cedar for our greatest pleasure. In the background, slightly less greedy notes of damp earth and bark evolve but in a rather blurred way.
As we enter the final third, the power seems to reach what one would expect from a José L. Piedra. A plethora of other flavours appear and disappear just as soon. Leather, cocoa, hay and a hint of citrus blend together but none are clearly defined or take over. A complex looking profile but one that lacks a little precision.
Throughout the hour of tasting the generous thick white smoke accompanied us flawlessly.
The perfect Petit Caballeros would offer the aromatic structure of its first half with the power of its last half. One thing is certain, it already shows all the aptitudes to become a good cigar after a few years in the humidor.
Despite its perfectible appearance and its aromatic structure which lacks a little precision, it is when we reach the end that we realise the qualities of this Petit Caballeros. Indeed, it almost leaves us with an impression of too little, as if we wanted it to be a little longer so that it could give us the best of itself. Its potential complexity, its profile of cedar, leather, earth and its remarkable construction make it an excellent cigar in terms of its accessibility.
Just like with a Quintero, this José L. Piedra Petit Caballeros will offer amateur or informed aficionados a hand-rolled cigar, ultimately unpretentious, which on the other hand embodies well the identity of the brand and more broadly the flavours of an authentic Habano with a medium strength.
JOSÉ L. PIEDRA Petit Caballeros - Cardboard box of 12 or Pack of 3
Vitola: Hermoso Corto (48 x 120 mm)
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