La Palina El Diario

Overall Score

1 review for La Palina El Diario

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    La Palina El Diario

    Origin : Honduras
    Format : Gordo
    Size : 6 x 58
    Wrapper : Honduran Corojo ’99 Rosado
    Binder : Honduran Criollo ’98
    Filler : Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ‘98
    Hand-Made
    Price : $11.55 each

    I would like to thank Courtney from La Palina for sending me these cigars. Disclaimer: La Palina is an advertiser on CigarInspector.com.

    La Palina was a cigar line originally manufactured by Congress Cigar Company way back in 1896. The line existed until 1926; when company founder Samuel Paley passed the company down to his son William, William took an interest in radio broadcasting and switched entirely away from cigars, creating the Columbia Broadcasting System. Congress Cigar Company ceased to exist. But now over a century after the founding of Congress Cigar Company, William’s son has decided to revive the original La Palina cigar line of his grandfather. Having had an opportunity to review the delightful La Palina Alison (Torpedo) earlier this year, I jumped on the chance to try the La Palina El Diario, a new blend. El Diario translates to “The Daily”, which is the intention behind this cigar — that this would be a great smoke for everyday. El Diario is available in five vitolas: Churchill (7×50), Torpedo (6.125×52), Gordo (6×58), Toro (6×50), and Robusto (5×52). Today I’ll be having a look at the gordo.

    Appearance : [rating:4/5]
    The La Palina El Diario Gordo scores high in the looks department. The dark brown wrapper is oily and firm, with no noticeable soft spots. The veins are almost invisible and right off the top I can smell a pleasant musty scent emanating from the surface. P.S. This stick is massive!

    Construction : [rating:4.5/5]
    The construction is very smooth and consistent, and only a few touch-ups were needed. The only reason this doesn’t get 5 out of 5 stars is because it was a challenge to light, but that was only due to the large ring gauge. The draw is easy and produces abundant clouds of smoke.

    Flavor : [rating:3.5/5]
    There’s an initial spicy kick of white pepper. The flavor afterwards is toasted and sharp, and mostly tastes of tobacco, nuts, and more pepper. There are subtle hints of chocolate and cedar, and a bit of leather as well. The leather and nuts come into the foreground during the middle of the smoke. The last third remains consistent in flavor but has a substantial full-bodied kick.

    Value : [rating:3/5]
    At $11.55 a stick, these sure are more affordable than the Family line. Still, I don’t think these are cheap enough to make it into a “daily” rotation (a daily 6 x 58 stick? I wish I could do this). I am quite tempted to try the robusto though!

    Overall Rating : [rating:3.75/5] (3.75)
    Not bad, but I enjoyed the Alison more. The construction on the La Palina El Diario Gordo is excellent overall, and the flavors are enjoyable. Again though, for me it is too large and also quite heavy in the final third, and the Alison offered a more balanced experience while still being full-bodied. Nonetheless, a very good smoke, and recommended especially for fans of heavier cigars.

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Cigar Region Honduras
Filler Nicaragua
Wrapper Honduras
Binder Honduras
Construction Hand Made