Originally published at Tiki Bar Online
50 (Toro), 6” x 50 ring gauge / MSRP $9.25
One of the latest additions to the La Palina line is the Maduro, first presented at the 2012 IPCPR Show in Orlando and released to the public in November of the same year. The size consists of 4 sizes, of which the “50” (a fairly standard Toro) is the smallest ring gauge. I’ll just quote directly from the sell sheet that La Palina sent along with the sample I smoked for this review:
The Honduran made La Palina Maduro has an exceptional combination of sweet and spice that is sure to impress. The naturally process Mexican maduro wrapper is hand-selected for its distinctive color and oily texture.
A double binder from Honduras and Nicaraguan corojo and criollo filler tobaccos further highlight this beautifully rich wrapper, creating a medium-bodied cigar with refined balance. The La Palina Maduro is dark, sweet and spicy with a buttery smooth finish that will appeal to any palate.
So getting past the marketing-speak, the wrapper on this cigar actually is quite dark and a lot smoother than most other Mexican maduros I’ve seen. It had quite a bit of oil and a mottled appearance where some of the darker shading is almost black. Interesting to note also that the band has a couple stripes of black in it on either side of the cameo-like front piece. I didn’t have any other La Palina products to compare this to at the time of the review, but I believe that detail of the band is distinctive to this blend. As for aroma from the wrapper, there really wasn’t a whole lot…a little leather, a hint of anise…strange since it was in cellophane the entire time it rested in my humidor (a couple weeks between receiving and smoking). The foot, on the other hand, had a rich, ripe earthy aroma, like fresh manure mixed with tilled dirt. The cold draw was excellent and had a flavor that successfully mixed earth, anise, and raisin.
On initial light, the La Palina Maduro had a refined, smooth natural tobacco flavor with an abundance of sweetness and a decent dose of pepper spice on the retrohale. I also got some cedar notes on the nose and some dried fruit or raisin flavor on the palate. I was just a few puffs in, but so far this was not at all what I expected just from reading the country of origin declarations for the disparate pieces. There was a bit of that specific Mexican bitterness, expressed here as closer to an slightly over-roasted espresso bean, but the sweeter flavors balanced it as some other leaf (I’m guessing the Honduran binders) muted it a bit.
As I headed into the second third, I noted that the draw had tightened up a bit since the initial lighting; it was not what I would call “too tight” but it bordered on it. The burn line was fairly uneven so far and I had needed several minor touch-ups, but that is not unusual for Maduro wrappers, so just an observation. The ash was solid and didn’t flake excessively. The flavor in the second third was of sweet tobacco and a little cocoa powder, but it continued to get more muted as the third burned through.
That trend continued in the last third of the La Palina Maduro, unfortunately, as did the tightening of the draw and constant need for touch-ups. The cigar actually went out on me twice during the second and final thirds. For me, the flavor died along with the cigar in the last 2/3. It wasn’t “off” in the way that cheap cigars will get, but it just really did nothing for me, which was a bit of a surprise after the last few La Palinas I’ve had. To me the Kill Bill, KBII, Goldie, and Classic were all superior in flavor. You might have a different reaction, though, so give it a try and make up your own mind. The body of this cigar was medium as was the strength. The price is very reasonable if the blend is something that appeals to you.
Postscript: I received 2 samples from La Palina and smoked only one. I sent the other to Keith so he could try it…he liked it! He said it had a great draw and notes of chocolate and leather with lots of spice and a little sweetness. In short…a totally, utterly different experience from what I had. So, I will try this again when I get the chance, but for now I have to stick with the experiences I had.
Body: 5/10
Strength: 5/10
Complexity: 3/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1/2
Flavor: 3/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 7/10
