La Galera 1936 Box Pressed Pegador – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

La Galera introduced the La Galera 1936 Box Pressed line at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. Jochy Blanco created the line to celebrate the 80th anniversary of his factory, Tabacalera Palma. The name comes from the year the factory was built. The blend was worked on for seven years as Blanco put aside multiple grades of tobacco to age and ferment of a period of time.

The blend for La Galera 1936 Box Pressed uses a Habano Ecuador wrapper, Dominican Criollo 98 binder, and Dominican Piloto Cubano and Dominican Criollo 98 filler. All the tobacco comes from Jochy Blancos’s farms in La Canela. It comes in six sizes: Chaveta: 5 x 50, Pegador: 5 1/2 x 46, El Lector: 6 x 54, Pilon: 6 1/4 x 60, Cortador: 6 1/8 x 52, and Churchill: 7 1/4 x 50.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Corona Gorda
Length: 5 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 46
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican Criollo ’98
Filler: Dominican (Piloto Cubano/Criollo ’98)
Factory: Tabacalera Palma
Blender: Jochy Blanco
Number of reviewers: 4 – Lauren S. (Lauren S.) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Isaac M. (The Nothing) Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
Price: $7.20
Age: 1 Year
Release Date: February 2016
Contributed by: La Galera

Initial Impressions – La Galera 1936 Box Pressed Pegador

Appearance: 90

“This was a good looking little, box-pressed cigar with a uniform color.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Aroma: 92

“Wrapper is heavy leather while the foot has some raisin and sweet tobacco.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“This cigar started off with a fair amount of spices and black pepper. The texture was thick and almost chewy. Slowly the cigar settled into a base flavor combination of leather and charred oak.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“The opening few puffs are full of green vegetal note balanced by sweet cedar. The retrohale is light and grassy with a white pepper finish. There are ample amounts of thick chewy smoke and the finish is medium in length.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The wood flavor is by far the overwhelming star of this blend. A heavy oakiness along with just a hint of cedar and floral notes in the background. The white pepper is still prevalent in the retro.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

“Leather continued to be the main flavor in the second third. The wood flavors are not near as noticeable as in the previous section and were surpassed by nutmeg. There was a distinct dryness that kept my palate parched.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Final Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Heavy oak and smoke are all I can think of for this stick. The white pepper still lingering on the retrohale. The cedar and floral notes occasionally have a fleeting return but overall this cigar is an oak tree.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

“As the cigar enters the final third it has turned grassy and cedary. The finish has switched to heavy tannin notes. It remains on the palate for a long while. The retro is more of the same. The strength has jumped up a level and the finish has stayed the same.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Overall Impressions -La Galera 1936 Box Pressed Pegador

Draw: 88

“Draw is a bit more open than I care for, even with just a v-cut. Glad I didn’t use the straight cut this time.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Burn: 89

“The burn was slightly uneven but never an issue. It corrected itself constantly and never needed a touch-up.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Construction: 88

“The combination of a very light draw and the cigar burning out if left alone for a short bit of time suggests to me that the cigar is likely underfilled. Just a bit more leaf could give a more forgiving burn and pleasurable draw resistance.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 89

“This may be the most tree-like cigar I have ever had. The solid smoky oak flavor was strong and prominent from start to finish. Occasional cedar, floral notes, and white pepper on the retrohale added a bit of interest but overall I wouldn’t call this a very complex stick. It also smoked faster than I expected at just barely over an hour. For that length, complexity isn’t that necessary. I would smoke this again and would absolutely recommend this stick to anyone who seeks out those wood notes in a cigar.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

“Even though the flavor profile didn’t hit my palate, this is a cigar that will find a place in many humidors. For me, it would be the perfect cigar to pair with your morning coffee. If a cigar with a green note and cedary backbone is what you are looking for this is the one for you.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“This is a cigar that requires a drink. I don’t care what you choose to pair with your cigars, but have plenty of it nearby. My palate was left quite dry after each puff and needed something to get the juices flowing again. I’m sure many would have no problem putting this cigar down in about a half-hour as a quick burner. The flavors were nice, while the transitions were subtle. The smoke output was generous, though I did have to relight a couple of times. In general, I enjoyed the cigar, but I wouldn’t rush to make a regular rotation item.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“I didn’t get a lot out of this cigar. The session went quickly, as did my chances to really get into it. With just some oak, pepper, and bitterness, not a whole lot to go on. The most exciting part was realizing how fast things were going and not having to sit outside in the heat anymore. I’d say pass on this one. Or don’t. Your call.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 60

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

La Galera 1936 Box Pressed Pegador – Blind Cigar Review