Hybrid Robusto
I first became interested in the Padilla brand when I came across Club Stogie member, Glacierman's Wikipedia write up on the Padilla brand. The Padilla's family story intrigued me, in particular Ernesto's background as a graphic artist and his subsequent path of return to the "mistress" of his Grandfather, Nicotiana. It wasn't soon after reading Glacierman's article that I was visiting the Padilla website, determining which vitola would be my doorway. Based on my current tastes and what I was reading I choose the Padilla Connecticut and the Padilla Hybrid as possibilities.
With these two smokes in mind I kept an eye out and soon found myself bidding on a box of 20 Padilla Hybrid Robustos.
The results are evident,
Congratulations, you're a Cigarbid winning bidder for:
Lot: Padilla Hybrid Robusto (20)
Quantity: 1 at $46.00
As previously noted, it is Ernesto's poetic sense of design that is so inviting to me. The oversized band for the Hybrid was designed by Ernesto. Looking closely one can see the tip of a fountain pen incorporated into the band design, a nod to his father & poet, Heberto Padilla.
The 3D Truncated Pyramid cigar box only added to my admiration of this smoke. There is art everywhere! Yeah, I don't smoke the packaging but I do find that in most cases it can be a reflection of the attention to detail given the tobacco.
So let us begin this review.
Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 5
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Color: Medium Brown
Wrapper Type: Hybrid of Cuban seed with a Connecticut seed = Ecuadorian Sun-Grown
Filler & Binder: Nicaragua, Dominican, Peru
Shape: Parejo
I gathered my usual accouterments, cutter (Xikar Xi2), lighter (inexpensive Colibri Cigar II Torch), beverage and cigar. For my beverage I chose a Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer I had in the fridge. The lightest of the Sierra Nevada beers is this refreshing wheat beer made with barley & wheat for a very light character but loads of flavor. Something that will not compete with the tobacco but merely serve to cleanse and refresh the palette.
I continued by setting the internet radio to my favorite station, adjusted the volume of the outside speakers, set the phones in easy reach, mounted the camera on the left arm of the patio chair with the Gorillapod and settled down into the chair on the north deck.
Time/Date: 4:30 PM PST 4/27/2007
Continuing with the attention to detail this cigar features a triple cap in the cuban tradition. That it is well made is evident to hand and eye. The unique color of the hybrid wrapper gives it a rich inviting appearance.
So cut and light this baby already...
The cut goes well and the pre-light draw is slightly sweet with light choco hints, easy with just enough resistance to know I didn't cut too much of the cap.
Toasting the foot I garner my first olfactory indication of things to come. It is apparent to me after the first few puffs that this cigar is begging to be sipped, producing big mouthfuls of white smoke tasting of new leather. With about 4 days in my humidor my next impression is that these cigars would even improve given more time in the box.
The next word on my notes is just the single word "Clean" which is followed by a nice light buttery mouth feel. At this point I start to notice the burn, the ash is a pleasing white and the undulating edge where tobacco meets heat is a bit suspenseful.
I take note of a definite nicotiana presence but not too much, just a little "how do you do". About 1/3 of the way in I notice the effortless sipping ceasing, asking for a bit more conscious effort on the draw. The ash decides it has hung on long enough and I take this opportunity remove the oversized 1.75" height band, that's huge when you realize the cigar is only 5 inches long. The band comes off easily without damage to the wrapper which is now displaying it's full beauty.
The flavor starts to build repeating the leather/choco/butter notes. The sipping has ceased and has turned to a tug! The flavor remains true to the blend, pleasant sans dominance. I notice the cigar exuding a floral fragrance from the incidental smoke escaping the ash. Still producing plenty of white smoke with each puff. As the flavor profile continues to build the floral notes increase in sharpness through the nasal exhale. Reaching the halfway point the draw starts to loosen a bit producing and increased choco aroma with the tongue accented by the buttery mouth feel.
Nearing the end of the 2/3 mark I start to experience slight white pepper but without the bite to the tongue, this coincides with a mouth feel that I liken to the tannins of a quality dark chocolate or a full red wine.
"Nico" is building as I notice I only have a few sips of beer left. The draw has returned to a gentle sip holding it's original sweetness.
Entering the final 1/3 my tongue starts to tingle but not burn, I am calling this character. As I draw smoke across my tongue I am treated to the taste of black pepper supported by this ever present sweetness. There goes the last sip of my beer. My upper lip gets into the action, it begins to tingle as I notice the oily sheen on the wrapper. The last 1.5 inch is still very firm, not softening as I have noted with previous cigar finales. The final 1/3 begins to kick while the last inch reluctantly softens giving way to intense rich leather.
It was an even burn to the very end never a need to pick up the lighter. In the throws of the final 3/4 inch it still had something to give. There was no disappointment on this 5 x 50 ride.
All told, about a one and a half hour experience.
