Padilla Cigar Company was showing off a number of new blends and vitolas at the 2016 IPCPR. The portfolio was increased by 25 vitolas across 5 lines. One of those lines was the Padilla Anniversary – a cigar to celebrates 14 years in business. The presentation of the Padilla Anniversary is stunning, wrapped in a cedar sleeve and finished with a red satin footer band and an impressive primary band that shows just how important art is, in the making and selling of cigars.
Padilla Anniversary
Padilla describes the Anniversary as a Nicaraguan puro. What region? That is a company held secret. I was told, it will be a regular production cigar for the company, but they will be limited in production each month. There are 6 vitolas in the line, each packaged in 10-count boxes:
- Churchill (7 x 50) MSRP $11.00
- Double Toro (6 x 60) MSRP $11.50
- Robusto (5 x 54) MSRP $9.25
- Salomon (7 1/4 x 60) MSRP $14.00
- Toro (6 x 54) MSRP $10.50
- Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52) MSRP $10.50
Speaking of boxes, have you noticed that many cigars these days are coming in 10-count boxes instead of 20. Prices have gone up so I commend the brand owners for allowing the consumer to still buy a box, you know for the art, at least until the FDA screws it up and puts warning labels all over it. Of course as time goes by and prices rise will we be seeing just 5-count boxes?
Anyway, today I am reviewing the Padilla Anniversary Double Toro.
Cigar Review Notes
- Medium brown, extremely toothy wrapper
- Sweet hay aroma off the foot
- I used a punch to open it up
- Draw is not restricted and offered notes of fruit, coffee, and pepper on the cold draw
- Once ignited you are greeted with fruit with a light spice to start
- No pepper burn on this baby!
- The ash is dark grey ash on a thin char line
- Nice fruit tang builds and lingers on the palate as it burns through the first third
- Cedar aroma fills the air around me
- Ginger spice moves in as it gets into the second third
- There is a slight off centered burn cone which causes a bit of a wave on the burn
- Bitter cocoa powder note enters middle of second third
- Anise spice blends with a subtle sweetness in the background – one could even describe it as black licorice but not overbearing
- A white pepper fills in the profile
- Spice maintains through the final
- Medium Strength
- Total smoking time was around 90 minutes
Overall, the Padilla Anniversary was a delightful smoke that was not overly complex but was big on fruit and spice. The anise finish with was a pleasant surprise and would have me suggest pairing this with an Italian espresso.
Padilla Anniversary