La Galera's Connecticut Pilones Short Gordo serves up a 60-ring x 5¼" chubby stick that feels like holding a meaty cigar marshmallow. At $8 per smoke in 20-count boxes, this Dominican-made Connecticut shade wrapper stogie delivers surprising complexity beyond its mild-medium billing. The 1-hour smoke time makes it perfect for hurried lunch breaks.
Cold draw tastes like licking a cedar plank. Initial puffs bring whipped cream texture with cashew butter sweetness. The retrohale surprises with white pepper tingle - unexpected in such a mild cigar. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the fat ring gauge.
At the 1-inch mark, mineral water crispness cuts through the cream. Reminds me of chewing on pear skins with background hay notes. Smoke output remains medium - no fog machine effect here. Ash holds firm for 2+ inches before first tap.
Last third develops burnt caramel edges but avoids harshness. The Dominican filler tobaccos show their pedigree with lingering baking spices on the tongue. Nub it down to ½-inch without tar buildup - a small victory for short-filler cigars.
Jochy Blanco's team uses traditional pilones - wooden boxes where tobacco ferments under its own weight. This 12+ month process explains the clean burn. The wrapper grows under Ecuadorian sunlight but gets fermented in Dominican humidity, creating that signature cream-pepper balance.
First-timers wanting luxury presentation without heavy nicotine, or veterans seeking a morning cigar that won't wreck their palate. Skip if you prefer Nicaraguan punch - this is more back porch lemonade than front porch bourbon.
