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Padilla '68

vortex

vortex

"A billion Eddie Barzoons jogging into the future
Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
5,510
I just purchased a box of Padilla 1968 cigars to round out the series in my collection. Being a big Don Pepin Garcia fan, I felt compelled. ;) I searched for the name Heberto and was rewarded with an interesting post! I should have known Ernesto was a member. I didn't know his company was so young or that he reached out to Cigar Pass right from the beginning. Would I ever love to try one of those original Padillas he sent to members as samples! ;)

As I smoked this Padilla '68 Robusto from the box I received today(xlent smoking condition OTT), I looked up the back-story. This is the final collaboration of the series blended by Ernesto Padilla, Heberto's son, and Don Pepin Garcia. If I'm not mistaken, the series begins with the 1932 Signature, proceeds with the '48, and ends with the '68. I'm enjoying it, BTW. While similar to the '48 and '32, it has a character of it's own. Less spice and more sweet and sour contrast. The second half develops a Cuban twang, too. :D

The series was released in honor of Ernesto's famous Cuban poet father, Heberto Padilla.
Here is his NY Times obit for those interested.

The '68 is another great cigar, IMO. Congratulations, Ernesto Padilla!

I'm going to guess about the significance of the dates.

1932 - Year he was born - (Year of his death(2000) minus 68) Easy one!
1948 - First published work - Total guess as he was only 16 at the time.
1968 - Imprisoned for his poetry - I think this was referred to in the obit. WRONG! :p

Anyone know the last two for sure?

Steve

I moved this from the Lobby after realizing it was mostly about the cigars. I also deleted the obit because it didn't fit this forum and anyone interested can use the link provided.
 
Ok, I found out 1968 is wrong. It was in 1971 that he was jailed and interrogated.

This is from The Guardian obit, which is much better, IMO.

"In 1968, however, the judges in the national poetry contest decided to award their annual prize to Padilla's collection, Fuera del Juego (Out of the Game), which contained such obvious revolutionary scepticism as the following lines: "The poet! Kick him out!/ He has no business here./ He doesn't play the game./ He never gets excited/ Or speaks out clearly./ He never even sees the miracles ..."

So that might be it. :whistling:

Edit:spelling
 
I am sure some of you have seen or heard of the Press Release that Padilla Cigars will no longer be making cigars with Pepin Garcia. As you know, as many of you are aware Pepin's operations have grown tremendously and many different brands have been brought into his fold.

Over 3 years ago, I had the opportunity to begin producing cigars with a Cuban-roller few if any in the cigar industry had heard of at the time. I remember walking in and seeing about six rollers going about creating cigars in a manner which I have not seen in any other factory at the time. I met with Pepin and his son and was very impressed with the quality and craftsmanship of their cigars. All the heads on their cigars were triple-capped, the cigars were created with to binders unlike the traditional one and there was no use of any machines to assist in the bunching of the cigars like the majority of cigar factories and of course, all the rollers had been trained in Cuba.


At the time there were a few private labels being produced at that factory, I came to Pepin and in about 6 months we had created a great blend which was called the Padilla Miami 8&11, which was named Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars in 2005.

I mention this information to give people an understanding of how small Pepin's operation was just 2 short years ago.During that time, we created other award-winning blends such as, the Padilla Miami, Signature 1932 and 1948 and at the time Pepin did not have a cigar factory in Nicaragua and I wanted to come out with a more accessible cigar at a lower price point and at the time our cigars were at a high price point due to the labor costs in Miami and how the cigars were manufactured. I looked for another cigar company over 2 years ago that could compliment what I was doing with Pepin, which offered a lower price point which could only be achieved in another country, such as Nicaragua. I spoke with Jose Oliva, of the Oliva Cigar Family and worked out a great blend that we soon called the Padilla Habano (named after its wrapper). Both the Oliva Cigar Company and Pepin Garcia were instrumental in Padilla Cigar Companies success and remain close friends to this day. I had mentioned to Jose Oliva, several months back the idea of opening up my own Padilla cigar factory and he was very supportive along with his brothers in this new venture. At that time, I saw that many new brands in higher volumes were beginning to be produced in Pepin's factory. One of my main goals at Padilla Cigars was to create limited, premium boutique cigars and in order to better achieve this goal I feel that the time has come to create my own cigar factory that will be able to produce high-end premium cigars, similar to what we created earlier with Pepin. I am very excited about this new project and will bring better quality control and production control along with creating more unique cigar blends in the Cuban tradition.
Working with Pepin Garcia has been a great learning experience, and he has a great passion and dedication to his craft. I know the reason many of you visit internet forums is to get more insight into our small industry and at times gossip and rumors can run astray but the simple fact is, I wanted to have more control over the premium cigars that Padilla manufactures year out.

Many friends within the industry that I have mentioned the new factory to have already offered us a hand with our new premium Miami factory. And as some of you may know, we currently produce 2 brands in Honduras and Nicragua; the Padilla Habano and the Serie'68 which just received a 93 rating along with a exclusive interview on Padilla Cigars and myself in the latest April issue of Cigar Aficionado.
We hope to have the factory up and running in several months, as the location, tobacco and rollers have been established.

Padilla Cigars will continue to manufacture 3 brands in the Miami Factory: the Padilla Miami, Signature 1932 and 1948 and will also create exclusive blends only available at the Miami factory. We look forward to your comments and welcome your opinions as we continue to create limited award-winning boutique cigars. When the factory does commence its operations, we welcome all cigars smokers to visit us on Miami's historic Calle Ocho (8th street).
We wish Pepin Garcia and his family continued success and look forward to our new challenges as we bring the Padilla Miami Cigar Factory to life.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued support and wish everyone the best.

Sincerely,

Ernesto Padilla
President
Padilla Cigar Company
_________________
 
The Padilla Series 68 that just received a 93 rating in this issue of Cigar Aficionado magazine, is NOT made by Pepin Garcia. It's made by the Cuban Aguilar family in Honduras. Great blenders great cigar i'm glad to have them a part of my team.

Regards,
Ernesto Padilla
 
Shortly after posting this I, too, learned the '68 was not a Pepin blend.

It remains one of my favorite Padilla cigars and I was very glad to learn this. It deserves every high rating it receives, IMO, and is testimony to the fact that Ernesto Padilla is a talented blender and producer of cigars. This also greatly reassures me that the excellent quality of Padilla Cigars will continue so I can also continue to enjoy them!

Welcome to CigarPass and keep up the good work, sir! :thumbs:
 
Wow.... I don't know about anybody else but this is all fascinating to me. I've just really been introduced to Padilla cigars since I came to CP. I had my first one, a 1932 thanks to a generous botl, two days ago and I thought it was an excellent cigar. I'm now interested in trying the rest of the line and others as well. I started reading this thread not realizing it was from several months ago. I'm glad this came back up..... very interesting!

Welcome Ernesto..... Best Of luck to you in your new ventures!

DeVonn
 
Good info. I tried the 68' a month or so ago, and found it just okay after letting them rest for a couple of months. I like the regular padilla better.
 
I would like to thank Mr. Padilla for his inputs. Both the Miami and The 1932 are my favorite smokes, and I'm happy to hear that they will still be available. I havent tried the 68, but it's on my "try" list.
Best of luck to you Mr. Padilla.
 
Has anyone had the chance to try the Padilla 1932 limited Oscuro cigars? I've heard great things but they are a little pricey.
 
Napa_Smokes said:
Has anyone had the chance to try the Padilla 1932 limited Oscuro cigars? I've heard great things but they are a little pricey.
Click to expand...
No I havent, and now I want some...where are they????

I did smoke a couple 1968 Robustos. I thought they were very tasty, and definitely something I would purchase by the box.
 
I had my first 8&11 about 5 months ago. I fell in love. This led me to a fascination with padilla cigars, and I have since tried every single brand and Size I can get my hands on. Unfortunatley, I have not had the privelege of trying the Habano yet.

I loved it so much, I convinced my bosses to clean out Phillips and King with an order and they have since become a local favorite.

I commend you on your success Mr. Padilla, and look forward to the future of Padilla cigars.

Jake
 
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