Padilla Black Bear Gordo

Some members may be familiar with the Padilla Golden Bear. The Padilla Black Bear is its wonderful counterpart . They’re equally large parejos (straight sided). Massive in hand, the Black Bear represents 60 rings of dark Maduro goodness. The medium-bodied cigar is cloaked by a beautiful Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. The aroma, with its distinct earthy rich sweetness, will knock your socks off. Despite its mellow, medium-bodied nature, the Black Bear brings flavor in spades. It begins with wonderful dark chocolate notes, complemented by notes of sweet spices and leather and hints of mint. The first third stays cool and creamy and was a soft medium in body. In the second third of the cigar, those flavors remain but look for some nutty characteristics—almonds and walnuts—to enter. The cigar remains very creamy and maintains that wonderful chocolate flavor. To this point, the cigar is still burning cool and evenly, with a ton of smoke. (One shouldn’t be surprised that the stick burns smooth because typically cigars with large ring gauges burn cooler.) The final third of the cigar brings a big flavor change—Look for much fuller flavors with lots of oak and toast and a strong finish of spices, leather and a gentle Maduro sweetness. This cigar is a perfect pre-dinner smoke so enjoy it with an aperitif of your choice—dry sherry or vermouth or even champagne come to mind.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world. The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.