It’s always a thrill when a Cuban cigar comes out in the 109 format, which is why we were so happy to get a box of the Por Larrañaga Fénix, a Regional Edition made especially for Habanos distributor Phoenicia Trading A.A. and its many territories. The shape is quite large, measuring 7 1/4 inches by 50 ring gauge, but what makes it distinct is the head.
Though certainly tapered, Fénix’s head is not quite that of a belicoso or pirámide. Some call it a campana, which translates to “bell” in Spanish, on account of its bell shape. Others call it a drop head or cabeza tumbada because it resembles a drop. We tend to refer to these simply as 109, the name used in Cuban cigar factories for this particular size. The Por Larrañaga Fénix was released late last year and the packaging is unusually elaborate. Want to see it? Watch executive editor David Savona unbox these beauties.
