Por Larranaga Picadores

Por Larranaga Picadores

There's a particular kind of pleasure in finding something that everyone else has walked past. Por Larranaga has been quietly producing some of Cuba's most elegant cigars since 1834, yet the brand remains the discerning smoker's secret — the antique shop on the corner that only the locals know. The Picadores embodies this spirit of rediscovery: a vitola that vanished in the 1970s, only to be resurrected four decades later with a thoughtful reimagining that honors its heritage while speaking to contemporary palates.

Specifications

A Brand Reborn

The story of the Picadores reads like the best kind of rediscovery. Originally part of Por Larranaga's regular lineup, the cigar disappeared during the restructuring of the 1970s, a casualty of shifting market demands and Cuba's evolving production priorities. For forty years, it existed only in the memories of older aficionados who spoke of its balanced character with the reverence reserved for lost treasures.

When Habanos brought it back in 2014 as a La Casa del Habano exclusive, they didn't simply recreate the original. The ring gauge was expanded from 44 to 48, allowing for a more generous draw and a cooler smoking temperature. The band draws inspiration from 1970s Por Larranaga designs, a visual nod to the cigar's previous incarnation. Everything about this release suggests careful consideration rather than mere nostalgia — a brand reaching into its past to find something genuinely worth preserving.

Por Larranaga itself represents one of the great surviving names from Cuba's golden age of cigar making. Founded by Spanish merchants, the brand built its reputation on approachable yet sophisticated blends, never chasing the powerhouse strength that came to define later decades. The Picadores carries this DNA forward: a cigar that rewards attention without demanding it.

The Tasting Experience

First Light

The opening establishes the Picadores' temperament immediately. A gentle black pepper prickles at the tongue before settling into a foundation of cedar and dry earth. What distinguishes this beginning is the floral quality that emerges — chamomile and dried wildflowers weaving through the smoke like a thread of unexpected sweetness. Creamy notes arrive midway through the first third, softening the pepper's edge and introducing a coffee undertone that hints at the complexity to come. The draw is effortless, the combustion even, and the ash holds with the kind of structural integrity that speaks to skilled rolling.

The Journey

The second third reveals the Picadores' dessert-like soul. The pepper retreats entirely, replaced by a pronounced sweetness that calls to mind candied ginger and toasted almond. A vanilla thread runs through the center of the profile, backed by buttery shortbread qualities that coat the palate. The smoke texture becomes noticeably creamier, voluminous and cool on the tongue. This is where the expanded ring gauge earns its place in the design — the additional girth allows these subtler flavors room to breathe and develop without overheating.

The Finale

The final act returns to woodiness as the dominant theme. Cedar and dried oak move to the foreground while the sweeter notes recede, though they never disappear entirely. A trace of honey persists on the retrohale, and the almond character deepens into something closer to marzipan. The construction remains impeccable to the end, never turning bitter or harsh even when smoked down to the band. It finishes as it began — balanced, composed, and unwilling to sacrifice elegance for impact.

Who It's For

The Picadores suits the smoker who has learned that strength is not synonymous with quality. This is a morning cigar par excellence — the kind of companion that pairs naturally with a second cup of coffee and a few hours of unhurried contemplation. It will satisfy experienced aficionados who appreciate Por Larranaga's historical significance while remaining accessible enough to serve as an introduction to Cuban tobacco for those ready to move beyond mass-market offerings. The fifty-minute smoking time makes it practical for weekday indulgence, yet the complexity justifies reaching for it on occasions that call for something thoughtful rather than bold.

Pairing Suggestion

A aged Dominican rum with notes of toffee and dried fruit will mirror the Picadores' sweeter tendencies, while a lightly sweetened espresso brings out the coffee and almond undertones that define the cigar's middle act.