Padilla Series ‘68 Toro

Since its creation, the Padilla brand has continued to earn high ratings, receive top honors, and wow enthusiasts at the same time. Created by brothers Ernesto and Carlos Padilla, they are dedicated to perfection and use what they refer to as “lost or forgotten” old-Cuban traditions in order to create an outstanding premium handmade cigar. To them, attention to detail is paramount, so Ernesto and Carlos personally observe each cigar as it passes through a 5-step, “seed-to-box” process. The Series ‘68 was created as a tribute to their father, Heberto, who was arrested in Cuba for publishing a collection of poetry critical of Fidel Castro in 1968. Handmade at the Tabacalera Aguilar in Honduras, this smoke upholds the strictest quality standards, starting with a flavorful Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper which secures a Nicaraguan binder and a bevy of Nicaraguan Corojo and Honduran Criollo long-leaf tobaccos. Light up this near flawless stick and find rich notes of spice, earth, cream, and hints of citrus. Medium to full bodied, a pinot noir is a perfect accompaniment.

Honduras has been a tobacco growing and cigar manufacturing area for hundreds of years, but it was the Communist revolution in Cuba that really put Honduras on the map. In the 1960s, many Cuban cigar makers fled their homeland and arrived in Honduras to re-establish their way of life. The immigrants took advantage of the climate, soil, and geography, which were well-suited to tobacco growing, and began producing high quality cigars. The center of the Honduran cigar industry is the city of Danli and the nearby Jamastran Valley. The majority of the world’s pure Corojo tobacco is grown here, now that Cuba has stopped production of this iconic, spicy, and rich variety in favor of Corojo hybrids. Other important areas of Honduran cigar production include the Talanga Valley, Copan, and Trojes.