I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I fired up the PCA exclusive Le Patissier in a 6.5 x 44 expression. There was a funky, musky earth component to that cigar that I couldn’t quite decide if I liked or not. By the end of the 5-pack, I knew that I liked it quite a bit – right around the time that they were sold out.
Enter the No. 50 size. I snagged a pack of the short robusto vitola while I was in the sandbox. From the very first puff I knew that I was in heaven. While the original Lonsdale had a velvety smooth approach that was unmatched, the No. 50 maintained my favorite tasting notes albeit in a rowdy, more aggressive manner. If this cigar were a song, it’d be Short Skirt, Long Jacket by Cake.
Some time goes by, and I ordered a second box in November of last year. As it happens from time to time, my first pull from that box was nothing like what I had hoped for approximately three weeks after I put it in the humidor. In a word, it was forgettable. To my dismay, this exact experience was replicated a week later.
Like I said, these things happen sometimes. A cigar is the resulting efforts of dozens of moving pieces including timing, nature, chemistry, and so many human elements. So, I tucked this box in my humidor and just revisited it over the weekend. It’s come a long way since December of last year, and I wanted to write about it this week before I blow through the box out of delight.
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I’m enjoying the Le Patissier No. 50 this morning with a sparkling water but espresso was an amazing pairing yesterday. My first puffs of the No. 50 size remind me of dark chocolate, finished leather, croissants, a touch of cinnamon, and a finish that reminds me of potting soil when prepping the garden in spring. The mildest amount of spice tingles on the tongue, and espresso is already building on the backend.
I love what Crowned Heads has done with Connecticut Broadleaf recently. This blend as well as last year’s Las Calaveras (2023) were exceptional yet unique Broadleaf expressions. I know on paper it doesn’t seem that way since earthy and sweet are typical characteristics, but maybe someone else can put it into words. Las Calaveras 2023 much more so, with a creaminess, nuttiness, and citrus (all the s’s) that isn’t rarely annotated in a Broadleaf experience.
Approaching the halfway point, the pastry element of this cigar really comes to life. The oils coat my palate in such a fantastic way, rounding out the edges and harmonizing like a champ. Every now and then I’ve also experienced what reminds me of Life cereal, lattes, and/or cashews. This blend is hitting its stride now
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