Today is the first review of our Monday morning tradition at halfwheel, redux reviews. For more info about redux reviews and all of other review types, click here.

Today’s redux review is of a cigar that was part of Lancero50 and was the series’ largest surprise, the Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Gran Panatela.

I wrote this back in June of 2011:

The place to start is probably his book, The Gourmet Guide to Cigars, which was published in 1990. Later that year, he introduced his first line of cigars at Georgetown Tobacco, a tobacconist he had long been associated with, and in 1991, the TABADOM-made cigars were released nationally in six sizes. The Reserva Exclusiva line was introduced in 2001, made like the every other Paul Garmirian cigar by Henke Kelner and Eladio Diaz. The big selling point is ten-year old tobacco, something Garmirian has grown a reputation for. All PG Cigars are aged for a minimum of a year after rolling and most feature fairly aged tobaccos. What’s a bit surprising is that the price of the Reserva Exclusiva line is identical in price to Garmirian’s core line, the Gourmet Series. This is one of two Lanceros offered by Paul Garmirian, the other being the Paul Garmirian Gourmet No. 1, a true El Laguito No. 1, as opposed to this Gran Pantela, which is slightly thicker at 7 1/2 x 40.

Cigar Reviewed: Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Gran Panatela

Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Gran Panatela Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Factory: Occidental Cigar Factory

Occidental Cigar Factory Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)

Ecuador (Connecticut) Binder: Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Filler: Dominican Republic & Ecuador

Dominican Republic & Ecuador Length: 7 1/2 Inches

7 1/2 Inches Ring Gauge: 40

40 Vitola: Lancero

Lancero MSRP: $11.05 (Box of 25, $276.30)

$11.05 (Box of 25, $276.30) Release Date: 20001

20001 Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production

Regular Production Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 1

This example comes from the same box as the cigar back in June. Much like the original example, the wrapper is still not the cleanest of cigars and there’s still a slight box-press. And like the cigar from June, it’s once again a mixture of new flavors—this time sweet cocoa, cinnamon, lots of sweetness and a bit of an AGANORSA-like mix of sweet cocoa and pepper—but still full and complex. Cold draws feature a bit of red wine and meatiness, but other than that looks much like my notes from the early summer.

The actual smoking experience is not much different than six months and three days ago. It begins with nuttiness over earth, caramel and other sweetness. Midway through the PG exhibits earth, cedar, but still the flavor is dominated by a nuttiness. By the end of the final third, a similar array of oaks, cocoa, coffee and fruits join the nuttiness. The Dominican-made thicker rendition of the classic lancero is full, smooth and complex in flavor and is mild in strength.

Despite what the picture below shows, construction is pretty good, until I remove the secondary band which destroys the wrapper.

Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar (800.887.7877) and Casa de Montecristo (630.834.7777) are both Paul Garmirian dealers. Just call them and tell them halfwheel sent you.