Plucked from the back corner of the Klaro vault, comes a bold blend from La Palina that deserves far more attention than what has been handed down to it in the past. Confusion over the Blue Label name could be to blame, as not too long ago the blend was an habano smoke and not one that had been Sumatran leaf-wrapped.

Yet even with the word Sumatra clearly printed on the bottom band, very few people note that this is an entirely different smoke than what once bore that blue band. The blend not only now rocks a really oily, crisply veined Sumatran seed wrapper out of Ecuador, but the paper that comprises the bands is now a matte textured affair instead of a glossy application.

But a passing glance around the local walk-in humidor is likely not going to be enough to discern these details. The fact that internal tobacco leaves remain the same Honduran and Nicaraguan mix does not help either, for even when people do stop to read, written copy doesn't always register right away.

So, the La Palina Blue Label Sumatra sits. An overlooked, misidentified, and relatively unreviewed premium cigar blend that comes stacked with vibrant tropical flavors, creamy smoke, an outstanding draw, and an insanely slow burn rate. Let's give this neglected gem a much-needed review, shall we?

Unlit Impressions

Tightly filled and rolled with great skill, the oily, tooth-free Blue Label is a sturdy smoke. The cap is clean and deep, the seams are almost undetectable, and the powder blue banding with its faded gold and white accents adds a splendid contrast to the reddish-brown wrapper. This is fashioned in the same way as much of the La Palina portfolio, with the matriarch of the family, Goldie, being on display on the primary band and the name of the blend on the secondary.

Simple smells of cedar and blended baking spices form a warm holiday mixture before dissolving into a warm cup of hazelnut hot cocoa. This nutty chocolate essence gets even more exquisite as you inspect the foot, with green raisins, coffee grounds, whole grain bread, and dusty cedar sawdust touching the nose the most. Just note that a year of age in the humidor does make this blend smell much milder, so everything will be far more amplified straight from the cellophane. 

Cold draws stick with the cacao bean over Sumatran tea spice, with a melange of mixed dark dry fruits adding a lovely little lick of sweetness to the mix. Pull a few more unlit puffs and you will surely start to detect some of those mixed exotic spices and Indonesian tea tastes.  

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Initial Smoke

A big-ass cup of coffee, fortified with cream and turbinado sugar slips past my lips, as those dark fruity flavors form a gooey backbone. Retrohales are herbal, and spice-eccentric, and lead into a medium-length finish that is all cedar and dry cocoa powder. 

1st Half

Those retrohales may grow soil-heavy and slightly funky, but the cigar flavor profile lightens up everywhere else as you smoke. Dried strips of papaya, mango, and pineapple pair perfectly with a palm bark backdrop, as cinnamon steps out of the shadows to show milk cocoa who's boss.

Gradually turning toward the chai tea profile one comes to expect to find in a good Sumatran-wrapped cigar, body, flavor, and strength all forge a path toward full. The finish is fantastic and medium in length, the draw is ideal, smoke production is equally proportionate, and the slow burn rate is excellent. 

2nd Half

With sweet, milky chai tea taking the tasting wheel out for a Sumatran spin, a mixture of honey, toffee, and more turbinado sugar sift in with the cinnamon. With a creamy, breakfast cereal grain taste and texture on the tongue, the mind wanders toward thoughts of bowls of oatmeal and creamy parfaits. Lighter than before, and now resting in a bowl of dried oak, the second third finishes on a drying note that is tannin-heavy and prevents the body of the cigar from going too heavy.

Final third flavors begin with the return of those dried tropical fruits from the first third, really smooth retrohales that rely upon those newfound hardwood tannins more than anything else, and a mild peppery finish to keep the tongue tingling for more. By this point, I have begun to detect some nicotine in my review stick, thus bumping the strength level from medium to full. 

Parting Puffs

Coconut milk, more mixed herb tea, baking spices, and a heavy, oily Sumatran cigar flavor profile mark a near-perfect finish to an already outstanding premium cigar blend. Unfortunately, much of my enjoyment is countered by the increasing amount of nicotine clouding the senses, which by this point has caused a bead of sweat to form upon my brow. Still, no funky char is to be found anywhere, and outside of a bit of temperature-related heat earlier on, parting puffs remain a finely oiled machine.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Fans of a large ash are going to like this stick. Not only do the combusted remains of tobacco hold fast to the carbon ring for lengthy periods of time, but the burn line and temperature of my review cigar were outstanding up until the final third. There, I felt the need for a single touch-up, at which point the cigar took on a bit of additional heat.

But perhaps the biggest performance takeaway from this blend was how slowly it burned. I have not come across a 50 ring-gauge robusto that requires neatly a three-hour time commitment in a while, which is further proof that the fill is indeed ideal. Draw resistance was also perfectly metered thanks to a V-cut, and while a straight cut may have caused more smoke and a faster burn to form, I fear that overheating may become a concern.

Final Thoughts

What a stellar little smoke this blend has been. Every time I have sparked one up —this review marks stick number three for me— I have been left feeling extremely impressed. It's another one of those stealth smokes that nobody really knows about, or even considers; especially since the name still brings forth thoughts (and online search results) pointing toward the old habano Blue Label blend from La Palina. 

But fire one up, and you will be amazed by how different this stick is than its previous incarnation, or if this is your first dance with the Blue Label Sumatra, how monumentally good it truly is as a full-strength cigar. Just be ready for at least a two-hour smoke session with this little robusto, because this blend burns slow and low. Oh, and watch out for that final third and parting puffs, as the amount of nicotine contained within these last sections can be sizable. 

Flavor, Aroma & Transitions

Depth & Complexity

Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal

Backstory & Branding

Overall Balance & Repeatability