Padilla Habano
wwhwang
Posts: 2,878 ✭✭✭
I guess this is part review and part question. I smoked my only Padilla Habano today and I was talking to Stephen Hannibal about it. However, he brought it to my attention that there's two blends. AJ Fernandez and Oliva, since there was a thread earlier this year that Oliva got the contract for it. Since there's no change in the bands, vitola names, or anything else, how do I know which blend I got? Here's a review just in case. You guys can give me some input as to which blend you think it is or if I'm just insane.
Padilla Habano
Vitola: Toro (6x50)
Filler: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Habano
Paired drink: Bottled water
Pre-light and Construction:
It looked like a very nicely constructed cigar with a slightly oily wrapper. Taking a whiff of the cigar, I got a barnyard smell mixed with some spices that slightly tingled the nose. Using my cigar.com double guillotine cutter, I aimed for the tip of the cap, just so I could open it up. For some reason, though, bits of the wrapper ripped and came flying off with the cap. I don't know how it happened (maybe not sharp enough?), but even with small bits of it torn, it didn't unravel.
Draw and Burn:
The draw was very easy (almost loose). And there was tons of white smoke, which I love. However, this cigar had quite a few burn problems. The burn line was razor sharp to begin with, but after two inches, the burn went wavy and started canoeing at the second third. After two touch-ups, it was razor sharp again. There was also a slight tunneling problem during the final third, but not so major as to interfere with the enjoyment of the cigar.
Flavors:
1st third: Upon lighting, I received a huge blast of spices and pepper, which reminded me of Pepin Garcia. I was taken aback a little, but I quickly came to enjoy it. The spices were very strong in this portion, and I could have sworn that there was a bit of cocoa near the end of the first third.
2nd third: Here's where I thought I was going insane. The spices took a back seat on this portion, going from spice/pepper bomb to gentle, soothing spice on the draw. However, on the finish, I tasted...creamy Idaho mashed potatoes?! I drank my water and took a short break just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. However, continuing the smoke, there was gentle spices and maybe a hint of leather coming in on the draw, but a very long finish with the creamy mashed potatoes that I used to make back in college, when I was living in my own apartment.
Final third: The mashed potatoes are less pronounced here as spice and pepper slowly creep up and steal the spotlight away from the potatoes on the finish. The more I smoke, the more pepper and spice linger on my lips and the back of the tongue.
Impression: This is the most interesting cigar I've had so far. I can honestly say that I've never expected to get Idaho mashed potatoes in a cigar. If I had the money and the burn problems were fixed, I'd get at least half a box of these.
Padilla Habano
Vitola: Toro (6x50)
Filler: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Habano
Paired drink: Bottled water
Pre-light and Construction:
It looked like a very nicely constructed cigar with a slightly oily wrapper. Taking a whiff of the cigar, I got a barnyard smell mixed with some spices that slightly tingled the nose. Using my cigar.com double guillotine cutter, I aimed for the tip of the cap, just so I could open it up. For some reason, though, bits of the wrapper ripped and came flying off with the cap. I don't know how it happened (maybe not sharp enough?), but even with small bits of it torn, it didn't unravel.
Draw and Burn:
The draw was very easy (almost loose). And there was tons of white smoke, which I love. However, this cigar had quite a few burn problems. The burn line was razor sharp to begin with, but after two inches, the burn went wavy and started canoeing at the second third. After two touch-ups, it was razor sharp again. There was also a slight tunneling problem during the final third, but not so major as to interfere with the enjoyment of the cigar.
Flavors:
1st third: Upon lighting, I received a huge blast of spices and pepper, which reminded me of Pepin Garcia. I was taken aback a little, but I quickly came to enjoy it. The spices were very strong in this portion, and I could have sworn that there was a bit of cocoa near the end of the first third.
2nd third: Here's where I thought I was going insane. The spices took a back seat on this portion, going from spice/pepper bomb to gentle, soothing spice on the draw. However, on the finish, I tasted...creamy Idaho mashed potatoes?! I drank my water and took a short break just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. However, continuing the smoke, there was gentle spices and maybe a hint of leather coming in on the draw, but a very long finish with the creamy mashed potatoes that I used to make back in college, when I was living in my own apartment.
Final third: The mashed potatoes are less pronounced here as spice and pepper slowly creep up and steal the spotlight away from the potatoes on the finish. The more I smoke, the more pepper and spice linger on my lips and the back of the tongue.
Impression: This is the most interesting cigar I've had so far. I can honestly say that I've never expected to get Idaho mashed potatoes in a cigar. If I had the money and the burn problems were fixed, I'd get at least half a box of these.
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p.s. I have tasted actual leather