|
|
|
| REMEMBERING A FREEDOM FIGHTER |
|
|
|
Page 2 of 2
Offered in four sizes, it’s priced between $8.00 and $9.20 each; the best bet might be the Churchill (7 inches by 48 ring) at $9.00 each. All four sizes are presented in boxes of 20. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Padilla Miami 8 & 11: [USA: available in 6 sizes] This is the blend that made the Padilla line a must-try among connoisseurs. It debuted in 2005 and was named for the location of Pepin Garcia’s El Rey de Los Habanos factory at the corner of 8th and 11th streets in Miami. The 8 & 11 is made, like most Garcia-produced cigars, from all Nicaraguan tobacco. It presents a medium-to-full body and has a toasty aroma. The taste is marvelously caramelized, with a rich flavor and a fairly long, sweet finish. You’ll appreciate the smoothness of this cigar; it burns evenly and seems to be on cruise control while delivering and clean, delicious taste. There’s a little less intensity to the blend in the second half, but it’s consistent from start to finish. Quality like this isn’t cheap and the 8 & 11 line ranges from $10-13 for the five standard shapes and $24 each for the stunning 7 1/4-inch by 57-ring Salomon perfecto. All sizes are offered in boxes of 20 except for the Salomons, in boxes of five. Overall grade: A: Exceptional. Padilla Series ‘68: [Honduras: available in 3 sizes] The Padilla Series ‘68 debuted in 2007 and remembers Heberto Padilla’s famed work “Fuera del Juego” (Out of the Game) which won the national poetry prize in Cuba in 1968 but also started most of Padilla’s political problems with the government. The cigar is medium-to-full in body, but isn’t nearly as bellicose as Padilla’s poetry. Using all Nicaraguan tobaccos, it greets you with a snappy, caramelized taste and a long, sweet finish. It’s very well made and quite sweet to the taste. An undertone of spice enters the picture during the second half that grows as the cigar reaches the end. This is a very good cigar, but not as disciplined or balanced as the 8 & 11. However, it’s also easier to enjoy, being offered in boxes of 20 for $6.00 to $7.50 each. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Padilla Signature 1932: [USA: available in 6 sizes] The Signature 1932 celebrates Heberto Padilla’s year of birth in the Pinar del Rio district of Cuba, famed as the site of the Vuelta Abajo tobacco fields. It’s a full-bodied smoke introduced in 2006 and has a slightly spicy aroma. The 1932 has a rich flavor that’s tangy and caramelized, using all Nicaraguan-grown leaves. There’s a fairly long and tasty finish to this cigar and an excellent depth of flavor. Well made, it burns evenly, but isn’t boring thanks to a note of pepper on the finish in the second half. Despite all the sweetness, there is hidden power in this blend and you will feel it toward the end. The balance in this cigar is impressive, but unsuspecting smokers may try to get too much flavor out of it and get than they bargained for shortly afterward! It’s offered in boxes of 25 in most sizes at $9-14 each (before local sales and tobacco taxes, of course). Overall grade: A-: Excellent. The Padilla brands that have been made by Pepin Garcia in Miami will, beginning later this year, be made in the Padilla’s own factory in Miami. It’s a way for them to completely control the process of making their now-much appreciated cigars, just as their father yearned for – and eventually got the chance, in the U.S. – to be free to write as he wished. Happy Independence Day to all. ~ Rich Perelman CLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGCigar Humidors and Cigar Accessories at Humidor Vault! Your online cigar humidor source, with rock-bottom pricing and fantastic customer support!Like sports? Get news and commentary you won’t see in your morning newspaper at TheSportsExaminer.com! Join the examination! A limited amount of classified advertising is available in this space on a weekly basis. For details, call Pat Harris at (213) 365-7965 or inquire by email by clicking here. Have an opinion? You can send it using the “Comment” button below! Don’t forget to register for our drawing for free cigars and accessories! Just click on the “Register & Win” button above; enter today! Looking for a cigar party? Take a look at our exclusive list of hundreds of cigar events across the country, listed by state and date, only on CigarCyclopedia.com!
Bookmark
Email This
Comments (0)
 Write comment
         |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
| < Following Column | Previous Column > |
|---|
 |
 |
Did you know?
“Cigars were introduced to the American Colonies by British Col. Israel Putnam on his return from Cuba in 1762.
