Cigar Review- La Palina Maduro

By Cigar Reviews by the Katman on April 14, 2013

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro

Binder: Honduran -Double Binder

Filler: Nicaraguan -Corojo & Criollo

Size: 6 x 50 “Toro”

Body: Medium/Full

Price: $9.25

The La Palina Maduro made its debut at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show. The stick hit the brick and mortars in December, 2012. This is the first La Palina with a maduro wrapp

I’m a little late out of the gate with this one as it was released in November of last year but I will try to catch up.

First, La Palina is a quality brand of which there are very few in my mind. Consistently well-made and executed. And they stand alone in the taste category.

You’ve all heard the story about the beginnings of the cigar, the resurrection of the cigar, and the current success of the cigar. The owner of the company is Wm. Paley II. The son of the man who created CBS and hired Edward R. Murrow back in the early 1950’s.

Mr. Paley’s current job situation is very fluid in that his hands are dipped into many arenas; including show business. He decided to bring back the family cigar and history was made. His first cigars cost more than cocaine. They have since come down in price. I smoked them and found them ridiculously outstanding cigars but I’d rather shoot a moose than pay $30 for a cigar.

So, wisely, Mr. Paley began coming out with lesser priced bonanzas. I won’t pay more than $10 a pop for a cigar. Won’t do it. It is a needless expense to a retired man on a fixed income. You…that are bucks up….anything goes.

The under $10 price tag Gives the little guy a chance at discovering the blending talents of him and his people. We thank you, sir.

So if you have a movie script or an audition DVD, please send them to Wm Paley c/o CBS, Bite Me, CA. Bite Me was incorporated from a part of West Hollywood.

On to the review. And I must admit that without having smoked the cigar before, I know I am going to like it; so be prepared for favoritism.

I love the San Andres wrapper. I think it has changed the industry. It has deliciousness all to itself. The wrapper is close to coal black. The stick is solid with just the right amount of give. There are some pretty long veins showing, but barely due to the dark wrapper. I am assuming this is a triple cap but without a magnifying glass, I cannot be sure. The cap is so expertly made, the lines are invisible.

The wrapper has a beautiful oily sheen the glistens in light. And there seems to be quite a bit of toothiness.

I do the sniff around and detect pepper, cedar, leather, and sweet fruitiness.

I use a V cutter and light up.

The cigar is delicious on the very first puffs. I get a nice blast of red pepper. And a super-rich earthiness. There is a warm creaminess. And the fruitiness is Lapin cherry.

The cigar is redolent with fine leather. It tastes like I’m licking Mr. Paley’s leather chair at the Hillcrest Country Club. Of course, I would never do that with him sitting in it. Very embarrassing.

Smoke fills the room. The char line is a bit erratic and I hope I will not need to attend to it.

The cherry flavor becomes very strong along with the sweetness. This is the biggest dose of cherry I’ve had in a cigar and it is very pleasant. The body is at classic medium. The spiciness continues and I keep a Kleenex box close at hand. My nose is a runner.

The cocoa emerges in tandem with espresso. The only thing missing at this point is a big dollop of cream. This cigar is tightly packed, and by being so, is a slow burner. I think that only fair at this price.

The stick continues to reach higher and newer platforms of taste. I seem to be having some wrapper issues. I am very meticulous with the care of my cigars so I am not sure of the cause.

It looks like the cigar is expanding due to humidification. The cigars may have arrived dry and my 70% was a bit much for them. The slight wrapper damage doesn’t seem to be a terribly troubling issue at this time and I shall go with the flow. Better the issue is near the foot, as opposed to the cap.

Some nuts show up as I pass the 1” mark. Brazil nuts. Exactly. That toasty, semi-sweet flavor is unmistakable.

The cocoa and coffee continue to battle it out for first place. It is time to grab a Diet Coke for my egg cream experience.

I leave the first third and move to the second where the flavors and character beef up. The burn hits the misguided wrapper incident and the ash flowers a bit. All of this brouhaha shall end very shortly.

The main flavors continue to be cocoa and coffee and spice and nuts. No creaminess yet. The cigar is well balanced with a long finish on the cocoa and spice.

Generally, when manufacturers dole out cigar samples, they come in twos. And my rule of thumb is that if the first one has problems, I will not use the other one for a second chance. Instead, I allow the second one to age for a few months and try again. Any changes to the character will be noted in an amendment to the earlier review. It is the only way this can work.

I hit the halfway mark and creaminess makes an entrance. What would a Nicaraguan filled cigar be without its cocoa, coffee, spice, and creaminess? Fait accompli.

The cigar has turned into a flavor bomb. My lips are smacking from the sweetness of the cherry and the creaminess of the cocoa and coffee. I take a swig of Diet Coke and my childhood comes rushing back. I know purists think I’m nuts but I love the combination and it does, in no way, hurt the flavor profile of the cigar.

I am experiencing a flavor carousel. The cigar has dug in and become very complex. The balance is true and the finish is long.

I want to thank Courtney Smith of La Palina for sending me the Maduro 50..the toro. More cigar to enjoy. The wrapper mishap is pure oddity and completely inconsistent with the normal construction of the line. The cigar is so well made that it is weathering this problem like a champ. Other cigars would have folded their tents and left for Oklahoma by now, but the La Palina keeps on chooglin’.

I could smoke these cigars all day long. The body is still at medium. I know the last couple of inches will change and the body will become something to reckon with.

I move from the halfway point to the last third. Here is where the cigar really shines. The flavor profile is a masterpiece. And the cigar has corrected itself and looks perfect.

A nougat flavor arrives and is a nice surprise. The cigar has several flavor profiles on different levels. The complexity is at full bore. And the strength is increasing.

I sit back, push myself away from the laptop and just enjoy. Snow is falling outside…in April. And it is dead quiet. My wife is still asleep. The dog is on the couch, unconscious. And the damn TV is off. The only sound is the click clack of the laptop’s keys.

I’m back now.

The flavors are charging full speed ahead with depth and character. The cocoa leads the charge. The spiciness has moved towards the back of the boat. And I am left with a Milky Way bar that is creamy and light and delicious.

The cigar finishes out full bodied. And very full flavored. This was a delightful experience. Fortunately, there are plenty of B & M’s that carry the line; as well as a plethora of online stores. There is no shortage of this fine line of cigars.

It is Sunday morning and I have started out my day with a big smile on my puss. Thanks to Mr. Paley and Courtney Smith.