Back in 2014 Padilla Cigars released a new blend known as the Padilla Cava at the IPCPR in Las Vegas. It was the companies first move into larger ring gauge cigars. Speeding the film up to this year, and again in Las Vegas, Ernesto Padilla has doubled down and released the newest incarnation of the Cava; only this time it is a maduro instead of the original Ecuadorian Habano.
The word Cava means Cave in Spanish and the original Cava was a tribute o Ernesto’s father, Heberto Padilla, who was imprisoned in Cuba, by Fidel Castro from 1971-1980. Heberto was a poet and the footer band, on that original Cava, came with a poem written by him. The footer has since been removed and both the new Cava Maduro and original Cava Natural sport a bold new band, that depicts an elaborate rendition of an angry Padilla lion, roaring with its teeth exposed, and holding a Trident in its hand. Maybe he can help us with the FDA!!
The blend of the Cava Natural is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Binder: Nicaraguan
The Padilla Cava Natural and Maduro are available in 5 vitolas:
- Robusto (5 x 56)
- Toro (6 x 54
- 660 (6 x 60)
- 770 (7 x 70)
- 860 (8 x 60)
For this Review I sampled the Padilla Natural Robusto
Cigar Review Notes
- Love the new band!
- Tightly packed large gauge robusto
- Smooth, medium brown wrapper with minimal veins but noticeable seams
- Well capped with a wide cap band
- There is a red wine aroma off the foot
- Cold draw had perfect restriction for me with some red pepper notes
- Heavy pepper on first light
- Cocoa butter breaking through early
- Pepper fades back and the cocoa butter blends with a sweet red grape .
- Mostly even burn with salt and pepper ash and a medium char line
- Medium volume of smoke to start
- Spice enters half way
- Medium strength
- Cocoa and spice are moving about the palate
- Sweetness develops end of second third with some leather
- Flavor profile pretty much stays through end
- Finishes at medium strength
- Solid hour plus smoke
Padilla Cava Natural