Cigar Reveal #124
| S&T ID | #124 |
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| Brand |
Padilla |
| Cigar | Signature 1932 |
| Wrapper | Honduras |
| Binder | Honduras |
| Filler | Nicaragua |
| Retail Price | $9.50 |
| Tasting Notes | Salted caramel, malted chocolate, vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon, pine, cedar |
| Description |
We don't know the exact statistics, but we're guessing at least 98% of cigars are named for a year marking a birth or anniversary. It's a bit overdone at this point, but a great exception to that is the Padilla 1932, which gives tribute to Ernesto Padilla's father, poet Heberto Padilla. Though Heberto was Cuban, he was far more than an old school cigar guy. Heberto was a poet and critic of the Castro regime. Though he initially supported the revolution, when the government began restricting free speech that involved any "weakening of the Revolutionary ideology" he became a critic. In March 1971 he was imprisoned and spent thirty-seven days there. His prison time sparked poets and intellectuals to speak out against the government in what became known as the 'Padilla Affair'. The result was many pro-revolutionaries changing their support of the Castro-led government (Just Google Padilla Affair to read more on it). He was not allowed to leave Cuba until 1980, when he moved to the US and continued as a poet and professor until his death in 2000. This cigar has gone through changes in blends, labels, and factories, but has managed to remain a smoke worthy of a son's tribute to a father and a great man. |
| Review #1 | Cigar Aficionado |
| Review #1 Content | (Top 25 Cigars of 2009) Miami's Ernesto Padilla has his cigars made in a variety of factories. The Padilla Signature 1932 is a product of the superb (and small) Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras. The cigar is delicious as well as attractive, a gleaming, dark torpedo that is cedary sweet with rich chocolate and leather flavors and a long, lush finish. Padilla is the creative sort, with an interest in serious cigars built for lovers of stronger, more flavorful smokes, and has respect for the standard sizes. This 50-ring gauge is about as big a cigar as he makes. "I want to be synonymous with traditional cigars," says Padilla. The cigar brand is named for the birth year of his father, Cuban poet Heberto Padilla. |
| Review #2 | Stogie Press |
| Review #2 Content |
Overall, the Padilla 1932 was an outstanding cigar with impressive flavor transitions, burn, and construction right down to the nub. I especially enjoyed the notes of vanilla and cocoa mixed with coffee in the second third. It is a “no brainer” to pair this with a sweet cup of cafe cubano in the mid-afternoon. I will have to search out for the churchill or toro for sure. |