Cigar Info
The La Galera brand has been around since 2016. It is rolled at Jochy Blanco‘s Tabacalera Palma and launched with two blends, La Galera Connecticut and La Galera Habano. Prior to the La Galera brand, Tabacalera Palma had made cigars for many other companies, but didn’t have a name for itself. That all changed with Jochy Blanco‘s brand, La Galera. The name La Galera comes from the term for the roller’s room in the factory, a high-point of activity.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
La Galera Connecticut comes in 8 sizes, Chaveta (Robusto 5 x 50), Pilones (Short Gordo) 5.25 x 60, Corona Cepo (Pig Tail) 5 x 38, Bonchero (No. 4) 5.5 x 42, Cortador (Torpedo) 6 1/8 x 52, Pegador (Corona Gorda) 6 x 46, El Lector (Toro 6 x 54, and Presidente (Churchill) 7.25 x 50.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Corona Gorda
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 48
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic Piloto Cubano, Criollo ’98, Dominican T-112
Factory: Tabacalera Palma
Blender: Jochy Blanco
Number of reviewers: 4 – Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard) Lauren S. (Lauren S.) Chad M. (Chad Tchad) Randy B. (randobush)
Price: $4.75
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: February 2016
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
Initial Impressions – La Galera Connecticut Pegador
Appearance: 88
“Soft, silky looking light tan wrapper covers a 6”x 50 home for the binder and filler. The seams are tight, no visible stems, a triple cap up top, an open foot at the bottom, and the cigar has a good hand feel.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Aroma: 90
“Enormous amount of smell comes off this cigar from the foot to the cap. The major smell is of cedar and cabinet spices.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
First Third
Flavor: 91
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“Cold draw getting a robust amount of cashew flavor with very mild black pepper. Initial light up the flavor is of earthiness with some sweetness of cream on the tip of the tongue, but on the retro-hale getting a good amount of black pepper spice. The flavor is very light and bright on the palate. Surprised how much smoke output is coming off of this cigar based on the appearance of this cigar.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“The first third is giving me a nice mix of pepper, spice, and nuttiness with a touch of sweetness.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“This blend tastes like a trip through the woods. Cedar and oak mixed with the earlier floral flavor make this a very woodsy blend. Hints of grass and hay sometimes appear as well. A slight baking spice continues to show up on the retro the most prevalent being a bit of cinnamon kick.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
“The second third brings more of the same lackluster flavor profile as the first third. I detect a bit of salt and very light butter, Nothing that grabs the palate and says “here’s my flava flav” The burn has been even and trouble-free though.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“No transition and the flavor is really not much at this point. Getting very mild cream flavor with a light mineral flavor coming in and that is about it. The cigar has really started to burn hot and picked up the burn rate of the cigar.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“The cigar comes to an end with a very smooth, and nutty profile.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
Overall Impressions – La Galera Connecticut Pegador
Draw: 88
“Couldn’t have asked for much more from this cigar, good mouthfuls of smoke with a nice easy draw every puff.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Burn: 92
“Nice even burn with zero relights, touch-ups, or nurturing needed.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Construction: 93
“Zero issues with the construction of this cigar. On the contrary, the construction was very good.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Overall Strength: Mild-Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
Experience Overall: 88
“Very enjoyable, the flavor combos worked great together, and was a pretty mild to medium smoke. This would be great for morning or after dinner.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
“Overall I found this a consistent easy smoke. A very nice woodsy and floral blend with just enough spice on the retro to make it interesting. The finish was a bit rough as it got a bit charred. Depending on the price I could see them being a go-to morning cigar for me.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
“The first third was very flavorful and light and bright with earthiness, nutty, and cream flavor. For the rest of the cigar, the flavor really left the cigar and fell flat on the palette. The cigar after the first third started to burn hot and fast which might be the reason the flavor was not present. This cigar was not hitting my palette well and after the first third I did not get much out of the cigar.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“This cigar was not one that I would revisit unless I was on a golf course or fishing and had absolutely no other cigars to choose from. Although very well constructed, it offered my palate nothing in the way of complexity or enjoyable flavor profile.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 58
| Reviewer | Appear. | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall Experience |
| Joseph S. | 88 | 90 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Lauren S. | 92 | 95 | 92 | 95 | 90 | 97 | 97 | 95 | 92 |
| Chad M. | 88 | 90 | 88 | 87 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| Randy B. | 90 | 90 | 83 | 85 | 85 | 87 | 95 | 92 | 83 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.