Padilla Signature 1932 Toro

This is a cigar that had much acclaim when made by Don Pepin, but now it is being made elsewhere, and there are many that wonder if it will stand up to the old version. It presents well from a box that has over a year of humidor age on it. The wrapper is a nice, rich brown the color of wet earth. The construction appears to be acceptable, but the cigar feels like it may be soft in a couple of areas. The pre light aroma is full of rich spice notes and some light earth comes through as well. The pre light draw shows notes of earth, cedar and spice.

The cigar begins with a core profile of sweet floral notes and some hints of earth and light spice. I am thrown by the floral sweetness in the beginning moments of this cigar, because there was no indicator that floral notes would show through. At the back of the palate the spice notes are intense and that elbows out some of the sweetness of the core. The draw is smooth and easy, but the burn is already showing signs of being difficult.

The first half of the cigar shows little development. The core of the profile maintains some floral notes, but there are notes of spice and earth present as well. At the back of the palate some thin peppery notes accompany some sharp blasts of cedar and spice. The draw is still excellent, but the burn is showing a runner that is nearly two inches long. Wanting to avoid the nuisance of a touch up, I smoke through it.

The final half of the cigar shows a major profile shift. The core takes on a tone of cedar with blasts of spice and pepper. The depth and complexity of this profile are somewhat disappointing, but the flavors are still pure and worthy of consideration. The draw maintains it's superior attributes, but the burn is deteriorating further and I have to touch up twice in the last third of the cigar.

The finish is a bit charred, but there are notes of spice and tobacco.

Appearance- 90 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 88 lack of depth and complexity and some charring in the finish hurt the score
Construction- 82 serious reduction for burn issues, but the draw saved the score from being worse
Strength- 88 a nice full bodied experience
Overall- 86.25 a slightly above average experience due to the construction problems