I don't know about you, but there is a weird satisfaction with fitting a smaller object into a bigger object. Finally organizing the Tubberware and seeing them all tidy and in a cabinet that doesn't looks like it was in the movie Twister is a good feeling. Dropping your little trinkets in a small box on your dresser gives the impression that they're super safe now and no harm can come to them. Even filling Easter Eggs for the hunt that the kids are about to go bonkers over can be entertaining. Córdoba & Morales took this idea into the cigar world, and I must say I haven't heard of their technique before.
According to their website, which is actually an impressive website and worth visiting, the Platino has been dubbed the "most quirky cigar" in the Córdoba & Morales portfolio. Two different molds are needed for this cigar as there is a full lancero in the middle without a wrapper or cap. Then another cigar is constructed over the lancero to result in a "cigar with exceptional flavor, a razor-sharp burn, solid white ash, and the perfect draw, firm but not overly firm". Along with the Sumatra wrapper here, there are also versions with an Ecuadorian Habano and one with a Brazilian Maduro. Well you had me at the Frankenstein construction, but the claimed results are enticing also. So let's cut it up, fire it up, and see what's up!
The Deets
Cigar: Córdoba & Morales Platino Sumatra
Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera CM
Size: 6.5 x 50
Wrapper: Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Appearance 9.5/10
Immediately upon picking this up I notice how sharp looking this is from head to toe. The Platino's platinum color band feels quality and applied properly on the cigar. The cap is gorgeous and more robust on the shoulder than many whip it-around-once-and-twist it pigtails. The wrapper has some nice visual texture while having zero veins and is extremely soft to the touch. Seams are quite nice also. I need to mention the how clean the foot is. Lots of cigars have a closed foot, but it was obvious that the foot appearance is important and was carefully closed. Aside from the couple minor dents, the profile uniformity has excellent cylindricity. Truly a cigar that was rolled with care.
Draw 8.5/10
Yeah, about that rolled with care comment I just made, now I have a raised eyebrow. The claim for the extra steps to utilize two different molds and using the double cigar approach was to have a perfect draw every time. Well I only have one sample, but the extra effort was for nothing on this one. The cigar felt soft when squeezed and is overall much lighter in my hand than I would expect, especially for being two cigars in one as they say. I used a small punch and the draw was still on the open side. However, the draw did slowly tighten up as the cigar progressed. It wasn't quite enough though to minimize the negative side effects of an open and/or hotter temperature burns. I'm just glad I used the smallest punch I had, as anything more would have been worse.
Burn/Construction 8/10
Again, they did an amazing job with the appearance, but the extra effort fell short in the burn category. A very small amount of swelling was present just below the burn line, while not being enough to cause cracks or tears. Speaking of burn lines, that was a bit out of control at times and needed various touchups. The ash would hold, but had me nervous a lot of the time since there was always one large crack that was threating my pants. Both the ash and burn line were better on the last third. There was certainly no ignition problems as the wrapper seemed to smoke itself. Overall it did strike me as a cigar that normally behaves very nicely and I ended up with a cranky one. The video on the website for Platino shows a much straighter burn line and a considerably tighter ash. We're not reviewing that one though, are we?
Taste 8.5/10
1/3 - Starting gate opens and I get a nice creaminess and vanilla cedar. The retro is inviting with white pepper and sugar cookie. Light+ body as of now. Moving inward I get a strange note like caramel vegetables, but I like its oddness. The end of the 1st third brings traces of cayenne pepper in the rear.
2/3 - Not happy being in the back, cayenne pepper quickly moves up and the cedar is now seared. Veggies get bolder as well but shed the caramel topping. The vanilla and cream from the 1st third have made way for a general sourness. The finish is now long enough to call a finish and I get fresh sourdough bread. Pleasant and in the Medium zone now.
3/3 - The issue of being underfilled has become a bigger problem in the final third. The combo of the open draw and burn temperature have muted any subtle notes there are remaining. I'm left with a profile of all hot cedar and hot earthy zing.
Overall 8.6/10
Sometimes you smoke a cigar, it underperforms, and you have a feeling that even 5 more sessions with that smoke wouldn't change the experience. My hunch is, that is not the case with Platino. While I did have plenty to complain about with the particular sample being reviewed, I have a hard time believing that C&M are going through the addition time & money to craft this cigar the way they do and result in what I experienced. In short, on a normal day, my money says that it scores much higher than 8.6 (or 86). I would absolutely like to try this cigar again and the many other blends they have. So don't put too much stock into the score I just posted and simply go pick up a Platino for yourself! Have you had one? Let me know in the comments below.
**Number of cigars smoked for the review: 1
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