Cigar Review: Padilla Series 1968 Black Bear Torpedo

Initial Thoughts:

If you've never heard of Padilla cigars, welcome to the club. Before last year, I'd never heard of the brand that has actually been around and making cigars since 2013.

The Padilla Series 1968 Black Bear Torpedo smells a little green at the onset. After cutting the end, the cold draw flavors were those of very high-proof alcohol, so much so that I wonder if this cigar's tobacco was aged in a whiskey or bourbon barrel.

After torching the end, I was blasted with solid Nicaraguan flavors and shoe leather.

CigarScore:

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Brand: Padilla
Line: Series 1968, Black Bear
Size: 6 x 52
Cut: Guillotine
Light: Torch
Price: $8.37 – Good Cigar Co
Wrapper: United States TBD Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 75 minutes


NOTE: In the “wrapper” section above, I have TBD as the state. Some sources say the wrapper is a Broadleaf from Pennsylvania, others say it's from Connecticut.

In the middle of the cigar, the cigar tasted good, but not as smooth or as complex as a more premium, aged cigar. The flavors were spicey, I could taste cedar, and, occasionally, I could smell (but not taste) a little bit of vanilla.

Final Thoughts:

In the final third, the flavors of the Padilla Series 1968 Black Bear became a little bit harsh as the cigar heated up. However, even though the cigar didn't remain as good in the end as it started, the flavors were still pretty good.

Because of the Padilla Black Bear's price, I think this cigar is worth taking a chance on. For the most part, the construction of the cigar was great. The draw was perfect and I never struggled to get enough smoke. For these reasons, the Padilla Series 1968 Black Bear Torpedo earns a CigarScore 3.

The CigarScore Rating System Explained

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