Padilla Hybrid Torpedo

Padilla Hybrid was released in 2004 to great acclaim, generating impressive ‘90’ and ‘91’ point ratings. The brand disappeared for a while but, happily, it’s back. Draped in a light chestnut Connecticut-seed wrapper, the Hybrid is a mild-to-medium-bodied cigar chock-full of flavorful Nicaraguan tobaccos. The construction is nice, the draw easy, and the ash white and firm. Look for notes of cedar, earth, leather and spices all working together to create a smooth, complex and balanced smoke. Rest this puppy in the humidor for a month and you’ll get a more complex smoke. Mild for any time of day, our panel recommends Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale or your favorite IPA.

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.