Puros Indios: Double Maduro Petit Perlas Review

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

I have been trying and buying more petit cigars these days. Obviously, the winter months have shortened the time I have for a smoke and I want something that is cost and "season" efficient. Plus, sometimes I just don't have the time for a big cigar or maybe it's because I want "just one more" for the evening. The Petit Perlas may just fill the bill.

This little cigar has a lovely nutmeg brown wrapper and spicy and nutty nose. After de-capping with my Palió cutter, I set the petit foot to light.

The Puros Indios line is the achievement of Rolando Reyes Sr., a Cuban born expatriate who has mastered every phase of the tobacco business from tobacco farming to rolling. He has also worked in 9 different Cuban cigar companies including H.Upmann and Partagas.

The specimen I am smoking sports a wrapper that is Ecuadorian-grown from Sumatran seed. The binder is also from Ecuador, while the filler is a blend from Brazil, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. All cigars are manufactured in Danli, Honduras. This little stogie exhibits a wonderfully spicy flavor at the outset.

I am pairing this cigar with a 10 year Cask Strength Laphroaig. I like Scotches with cigars. The beauty of Scotch is that you can "dial it” up or down, depending on the cigar, by using water to dilute and bring out the nuances. Cask strength Scotch is great stuff. This one happens to be 55.7% alcohol (111 proof). You DON'T drink this stuff straight. Trust me on that. But you DO mix it with water. In effect, you become the barrelmaster and decide on how strong or weak a drink you want. I tend to start with a fairly stiff drink (not too much water) and then dial it down if it is overpowering the cigar too much, until I get it just right. Anyway, this salty sea-spray Islay malt is working quite well with this spicy little gem of a stogie.

The cigar is burning and drawing quite well. The ash is a bit flaky, not wanting to hold on well, so I give it its wish and drop it into my ashtray in half-inch chunks. Nonetheless, the spiciness tingles my tongue and is satisfying. This is a medium bodied cigar with medium to full flavors.

It’s hard to go wrong with this little smoke. It is satisfying enough for the most experienced palates and comes with a modest price tag.

[MikeP]

Thanks for the review. I have to agree that the Puros Indios line is a very enjoyable smoke for the modest price. It makes a great every day smoke. Although I've never had the chance to try the cask strength Laphroaig, the 10 yr old Laphroaig is my favorite Scotch at this point. I love pouring some for people to try and watching their reactions. Some hate it and you can tell that some sort of like it but aren't sure - this will, I'm convinced, lead to their loving it with continued tasting. I wasn't sure myself upon my first time. Its a great Scotch and to enjoy along with a great cigar.

I would also recommend trying both the cigar and the Laphroaig.

[palm55]

Originally Posted by Dr. Stogie Fresh

[IMG]

This little cigar has a lovely nutmeg brown wrapper and spicy and nutty nose.

The Puros Indios line is the achievement of Rolando Reyes Sr., a Cuban born expatriate who has mastered every phase of the tobacco business from tobacco farming to rolling. He has also worked in 9 different Cuban cigar companies including H.Upmann and Partagas.

I am pairing this cigar with a 10 year Cask Strength Laphroaig. I like Scotches with cigars. The beauty of Scotch is that you can "dial it” up or down, depending on the cigar, by using water to dilute and bring out the nuances. Cask strength Scotch is great stuff. This one happens to be 55.7% alcohol (111 proof). You DON'T drink this stuff straight. Trust me on that. But you DO mix it with water. In effect, you become the barrelmaster and decide on how strong or weak a drink you want. I tend to start with a fairly stiff drink (not too much water) and then dial it down if it is overpowering the cigar too much, until I get it just right. Anyway, this salty sea-spray Islay malt is working quite well with this spicy little gem of a stogie.

The cigar is burning and drawing quite well. The ash is a bit flaky, not wanting to hold on well, so I give it its wish and drop it into my ashtray in half-inch chunks. Nonetheless, the spiciness tingles my tongue and is satisfying. This is a medium bodied cigar with medium to full flavors.

It’s hard to go wrong with this little smoke. It is satisfying enough for the most experienced palates and comes with a modest price tag.

DOC,

As usual, your review is concise, insightful, and has that certain "tenderness" that we all feel when we light the leaf!

Your review is dead-nuts-on!

Rolando Sr. seems to have a way of taking "spiciness" to the edge, without dropping over the edge into the abyss of bitterness.

Again... My compliments on the reveiw!!!

(PS - The Z-Plus lighter insert arrived today, and it kicks butt!!! Thanks again!)

[sirsmokesalot]

great review!!!

makes me wishi had bidded on that 5 pack i saw ont eh devil site last night

[palm55]

Got another box these little tittles this afternoon, and anjoyed a half-hour with an aged one... Rolando has screwed up on a few of them, but he hit dead-nuts on the perles!

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

Originally Posted by palm55

Got another box these little tittles this afternoon, and anjoyed a half-hour with an aged one... Rolando has screwed up on a few of them, but he hit dead-nuts on the perles!

Yeah! I love em. Great little short smoke. Any time of day, any day of the year. And, for a thin ring gauge, they don't smoke hot and have some great flavors.

Doc

[palm55]

Originally Posted by Dr. Stogie Fresh

Yeah! I love em. Great little short smoke. Any time of day, any day of the year. And, for a thin ring gauge, they don't smoke hot and have some great flavors.

Doc

Doc... These suckers are GOOD!... But as much as I like what Rolando does FOR us, he does have his bad moments, as well! (Check out the "Pirates" thread).

Onward and forward!!!

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

Originally Posted by palm55

Doc... These suckers are GOOD!... But as much as I like what Rolando does FOR us, he does have his bad moments, as well! (Check out the "Pirates" thread).

Onward and forward!!!

Yeah, I don't stray too far from the PI line. Too many other good smokes out there to smoke second flight. Even if they are from RR Sr.

Doc

[craigchilds]

My favorite Scotch with cigars is Glennfiddich 15 year. Glennfiddich 21 year is also very good, but (alas) not available for sale in the U.S.

Laphroig tastes a tad too medicinal for me.

[tech-ninja]

Great review!

I got some rothchilds on a recent trade with drevim. Can't wait to try them!

[Kennmon]

whats everyones opinion on puros indios as a whole? ive never had any cigar from them.

[PuroBrat]

Awesome review Doc. You sure know how to make a guy's mouth water for a cigar, AND a stiff drink. I NEED to come herf with you some day.
I Also enjoy a short smoke from time to time, may have to find me some of these.

BTW, PI made one of the best smokes I ever had, Special Aged Pyramide, yummy.

[palm55]

Originally Posted by Kennmon

whats everyones opinion on puros indios as a whole? ive never had any cigar from them.

(Purely subjective, of course!)
To me, the PI line is what stuff like Indian Tabac "wishes" it could be... PI's seem generally to be slightly spicy, but fall safely short of "harsh." They also seem to mellow quite nicely in the span of just a few months!

BTW... I'd concur with PuroBrat on the Aged Pyramides (particularly the maduro)... It truly is a treat!

[plexiprs]

Thanks for giving me another size of PI to try!!! By the way, a good straight bourbon goes nicely with PI's as well!

Kudos and a dinger for Doc!

[txmatt]

If I've said it once I have said it 100's of times:

drink Hefeweizen with Puros Indios

Trust Me!

Always looking for good short smokes for the 25 minute morning commute, will have to try the Perlas (without the beer whilst driving)


-Matt-