Long-term review Por Larrañaga Galanes Boxdate NOV 2020 - stored too moist

Today on the test bench and in my long-term review Por Larrañaga Galanes Boxdate NOV 2020: A Cuban beauty with a past - and a humidity problem. The Por Larrañaga Galanes from 2020 is one of Cuba's most charming vitolas. Mild, accessible, delicately flavoured. But today it shows me that even a well-aged Cuban is not forgiving of incorrect storage.

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The first sample on the day: stored far too moist. The draw resistance was far too strong.

Too moist is not too good

The cigar at the back is first aired out to lose moisture.

The box has been in my humidor since 2020 - at a proud 75 % Humidity. (Yes, I can already hear the collective shaking of heads.) And because most hygrometers are decorative rather than precise measuring instruments, it was possibly even more humid.

The first specimen becomes bitchy from the second half onwards. It smouldered very quickly, the draw resistance became even stronger and it became bitter.

In my review Por Larrañaga Galanes of the day, the cigar had accordingly:

• a heavy train,
• an intense but sour-bitter flavour from the halfway point,
• and finally: a bursting cover sheet and a sad end in the ashtray.

I made it that far with the first specimen. From here on it was inedible.

In short: the over-moistened tobacco was no longer edible. Even the Perfect Draw couldn't save the mishap.

Teaching piece: It wasn't the cigar that was to blame - it was me.

The comparison: two and a half hours of venting - and suddenly a different smoke

Now the second copy: A huge difference to the first one! Optimal draw resistance and it tasted much smoother, creamier, more balanced.

I wanted to know. The next Galanes went outside the humidor for two and a half hours for a little dry cure - already cut to get rid of the moisture. And lo and behold: A completely different smoking experience! It lay outside the humidor in the shade.

What has improved:

• Draw resistance: Perfect.
• FlavoursCreamy, soft, well balanced.
• Fire behaviourQuiet glow, dense smoke, no problems until the last third.

Only at the very end did it become slightly bitter - the warm smoke moistened the still too moist tobacco even more. And yes, there was a small crack in the wrapper leaf here too. The tobacco was probably not quite dry enough.

I really enjoyed the second one.

Conclusion: Less is right

Many aficionados complain about poor draw with Cuban cigars. But I say:
This is not due to the cigar, but to incorrect storage. I smoke a lot of Cuba cigars every year and it only happens once (if at all) that they don't draw.

My tip from practical experience:

• Do not store cigars from Cuba above 68 %.
• Always leave in boxes
• If too moist: Let a cigar „air out“ before smoking - about two hours.

And what do we learn from this?

Cuban cigars are like good wines: they need time, rest - and the right environment. Those who give them this will be richly rewarded.

With this in mind: Keep it dry (but not too much). And: Don't just light up - listen to the cigar. It tells you a lot.

Have you had similar experiences with cigars that have been stored too damp? Write it in the comments - I'm not the only one who's been wrong.

Picture credits

• Vasilij Ratej

Resources on the topic

Por Larrañaga Galanes on Google

This might also interest you

World Of Habanos at Zigarren.Zone

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