LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Liga Privada Unico Papas Fritas
4 1/2 x 44 Petit Corona

Given that I poo-pooed a short filler cigar being sold at the price of a hand-rolled premium stick, I figured that now having one (from a bomb, see the thread http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=60640), I really should smoke it and review it. I must admit a bit of trepidation doing so, for I have had numerous short and/or mixed filler cigars in the past 32+ years of smoking cigars. As such, I was expecting some things to happen in the smoking of this cigar.

0.0 - 2.0 = poor/inferior quality
2.1 - 2.9 = fair
3.0 - 3.5 = good
3.5 - 4.5 = excellent
4.6 - 5.0 = superior

1) Aesthetics: A rather ugly wrapper hugs this petite corona, dark with lots of veins, but a bit oily too, that is promising. I like the pigtail cap and the band on the foot of the cigar – simple statement. I like that.

Score for aesthetics: 3.9

2) Pre-light Construction: I expected soft spots, spaces where the filler was uneven – couldn’t find them. I hefted it my hand expecting it to be a lightweight – disappointed again. I expected it to smell like a LP, robust and full of tobacco – and it did. The pigtail cap was broken off in the cellophane as I went to remove the stick, that was probably my doing. It was a bit drier than I expected, but it had just traveled from Alabama, and it had sat in my car in frigid temps for the last 4 hours.

Score for Pre-light construction: 4.6

3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: WOW! No floaters (maybe because I didn’t have a whole in it big enough for floaters to… (OK, it was big enough, but floaters didn’t appear.) What is more, I have premium smokes that didn’t burn as evenly as this one did, I have had uber-premiums that didn’t burn this well. Finally, not wanting to have the ash drop on my lap, I had to coax it off at a good inch to inch and a half. I mention these three items, because these are the three things that I feared most about a short-filler cigar. It smoked cool and even all the way to the nub.

Score for post-light construction: 4.8

4a) Flavor and strength – 1st 1/3: There is a lot of smoke production for this little cigar. A touch of cedar, some pepper, burnt cocoa, and a hint of coffee and very full flavored, might even claim it was strong.

4b) Flavor and strength – 2nd 1/3: As it headed into the 2nd third, the flavors didn’t change much.

4c) Flavor and strength – Last 1/3: Nor did they change much here either.
Through it all, this was a stronger flavored cigar and mild to medium-bodied in the nic department. I did however find it rather one-dimensional. While it was a dimension that I enjoyed, the lack of complexity left me a bit disappointed. I did nub it as it was a “nice” smoke. That lack of complexity and change also left me a bit confused, “how can a short-filler cigar perform that way.” I expected it to be all over the map. Oh yeah, do not snork this bad boy, it will do a number on your nose.

Score for flavor and strength: 3.4

5) Aftertaste/Finish: This stick had a rather long finish, resting on the palate for a bit. It was rich cigar taste that was left, nothing fancy, nothing exciting, though it was a nice aftertaste.

Score for aftertaste: 3.4

6) Aroma: Fairly strong aroma, bit of burnt sweetness and pepper.

Score for aroma:3.6

7) General Comments: I don’t know that I can give an overall score for this cigar, for I only had the one. What I did find was that I must eat a bit of crow, this short-filled smoke performed like a serious premium cigar, kudos to Drew Estates for that. While the flavors were not entirely in my “WOW” section, they were very pleasant. I also haven’t had a LP that impressed me yet, they appear to want to be strong without a whole lot of nuance or complexity. I want a stick to keep me incredibly interested. Thankfully, this only lasted about 30 minutes, so I wasn’t burned out quickly on that lack of excitement. It was an enjoyable smoke.

Overall score for the cigar.

8) Recommendation: Would you recommend the cigar? As much as I regret saying it, yeah, I’d recommend this cigar. I cannot say that it is a cigar I’d buy, because I like more complexity, and I also have this prejudice in my head about spending $6.00 for a short filler cigar – even knowing that it performs like a champ.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Thanks for the review Todd, I need to grab a tin to try :tu

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

sounds good.. i tried one the other day but i had a little to much bourbon that night and couldnt really enjoy it.

thanks for the review

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

A good review, I just received a tin and I'm looking forward to smoke one of those little buddy's :)

Frans

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

sounds good.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

That's a good review; I had the same thoughts about mine. It's well-constructed, burns great, but the flavor is one-dimensional with very little complexity. The one dimension is tasty, though...but I won't be buying any more of these.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

I've enjoyed every one I've smoked. It looks like you hit the nail on the head with your review. I suspect you'll eventually break down and buy a few as standbys. Especially, for a 30 minute smoke when you have no time for a larger stick, you can't beat it.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

i like em... i don't expect too many transitions in a cigar that small. one dimensional is okay by me if I like the flavor and it's not a monster.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

I'm with you. I have a hard time justifying spending that much on a short filler, but I think I will pick some up to try next time I see them.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

How long did you sit on it? I've got two resting from a tin split I did with a botl and am looking forward to bring one. Thanks for the detailed review.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

About 6 hours. :D

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

About 6 hours. :D

I did get a couple more in the massive pummeling that I received. So, I might do an update later.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Picked a 4 pack tin a couple of weeks ago. Getting time to burn one. Looking forward to it after all the positive comments.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

I fired one up this evening. Perfect burn, tons of smoke but the flavor didn't do it for me. Not bad at all but not my thing. For a small, quick smoke I would much rather have a La Riqueza #5, Esencia PC, Short Story or Don Carlos #4.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Wow Rev, this was really nice reading. I like your scoring system.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Not my system, that was the system used by SMOKE magazine when I was a reviewer for them back in 1999.

Glad you liked the review. Every once in a while I can put a phrase together and make it read decent.

Thanks for your kind words.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Ever thought of writing a book? You know I'm in the book publishing biz.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Do not have much for a book. Sorry!

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Well start smoking more, Rev :tu

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Pretty much sums up the one I had today. It was my first and I was pretty impressed(not by the price though, I paid $31 for a tin)

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

If you can get past the mental block of a short filler cigar being categorized as a premium hand rolled cigar, which the PF is not a sole short filler nor is is quickly slammed together that is typical of short fillers, it is a fire cracker and IMO genius not because of the concept, as the vast majority of companies do it, but DE takes it to the next level.

A very good interview and explanation from Saka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLsHk2D65Os

One unsolicited tip I would offer is to let it be a slow burner. I'm a fast smoker and I can get 45 mins out of one and the cooler it stays you will notice it being not necessarily multidimensional but shall we say 1.5 dimensional.

Around here they go for about $5.50 each after tax and I would not hesitate to buy them at all as I know each and every time they are going to perform flawlessly. Charging up to a buck more for a MUWAT Bait Fish vs the PF does not compute with me. I think more people would be willing to give them a shot if they were available as singles as well as the $22-$25 range on an unknown is more than most smokers are willing to gamble.

YMMV and very nice review sir.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Smoked one today, and it was one of the better NC cigars I have smoked in awhile. If they were 3 bucks apiece, I might buy a bunch of 'em.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

I know it's baeting a dead horse but for me being a solely CC smoker to this point I don't get the 20 plus bucks for a 4 pack of mixed filler petit coronas. It just doesn't make sense to me coming from the CC world where boxes of 25 mixed filler can come out to <2 a stick... Thanks for the review though

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

Agree and disagree. I have a few of those cheap boxes from the island south of Miami, but the I can tell you from experience tha the Papas Fritas is a much better cigar.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

I don't know. The PL Panatela is pretty awesome for what a costs, and the new Quintero isn't too shabby. I'll check one of these out when I find one.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

nice review. i think the papas fritas is great, it gives you the LP profile in a quick smoke. Now if LP would make a corona in the 9 & 52, :dr

this smoke earned a spot next to the short story maduro & the tatuaje petite cazadore as a go to (NC) when I don't have much time. the illlusione rothchildes is a touch bigger, but is almost there as well.

Re: LP Unico Papas Fritas
 

They are a little one dimensional but I like them when I want a strong short smoke with some good flavor.