Padilla Hybrid Cigar Review

We have had absolutely wonderful weather here all week. 40 lows, mid 60’s highs, can’t beat that! Well tonight another big winter storm is coming in that threatens to drop out wonderful temperatures 30 to 40 degrees. I decided to head out back and enjoy a Padilla Hybrid before that happens.

This Padilla Hybrid was actually sent over by our good friends StogieBoys.com. If you aren’t familiar with the site check it out for some neat features such as the Make a Wishlist, and even a Military Discount program. Anyhow, originally released in 2004 Padilla’s Hybrid is a top-notch cigar created with value in mind. The Peruvian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican blend is constructed  under the direct supervision of the almighty Ernesto Padilla. That being said, you know that the product will be top shelf.

The Padilla Hybrid is released in three classic sizes: Churchill (7 x 48), Robusto (5 x 50), and Torpedo (6.2 x 52). You can pick these up from Stogieboys.com here for less than $3 a stick.

 Size: 5 x 50  –  Wrapper: Connecticut Shade  –  Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan  – Body: Mild

Prelight: The Padilla Hybrid carries a classic, shade character wrapper. Light, and incredibly consistent brown with only a few darker spots near the foot of the cigar. The wrapper is silky and smooth, but feel very delicate in my hands. The filler is firm for the most part with only a few softer spots towards the foot of the cigar. The body of the cigar carries almost no veins all the way to its round double cap. This cigar as well as the others I have look a bit sloppy. There are a few knicks in the wrapper as well as some peeling on the cap and the foot. The Band on the Padilla Hybrid is huge, and in my opinion not very pretty. It starts with a huge black stargate looking band with a brownish/orageish/reddish crest with a gold and black “P”. The crest is surrounded by a few gold coins before a silver “Padilla” emblem stretched out around each side of the band. Underneath each of those is the words “Hybrid” and “Hand Made”. It’s almost impossible for me to get any kind of aroma from the wrapper of this hybrid. I can get a very faint tobacco scent, but that’s about it. The foot’s aromas are barely noticeable as well but I did  get a nice whiff of some subtle spice in there. I actually used a V cut on this cigar. Something I have been trying out lately and its been working really well! The cold draw produced a very mild profile with lots of grassy, earth tones and just a little bit of spice and tobacco.

First Smoke: The Padilla Hybrid lit up almost the second the flame hit the cigar.  The flavors started out with a really mellow cedar, a little bit of spice, a tiny bit of pepper, and lots of natural tobacco flavor. The draw is awesome kicking out massive amounts of thick white smoke with every little puff. The Hybrid doesn’t give off a lot of stationary smoke, but it smells awesome! It’s like a little cedar stick burning away in my ashtray. The burnline is a bit thick with a lot of little waves, but nothing too concerning. The ash is a decently packed dark grey which only held on for about an inch before giving way.

Halfway There: As I stated before, the wrapper on this Padilla Hybrid is a gentle one, and deep into the second third it begins to show it’s weakness cracking about 4 different times throughout the body. The good thing is, it’s just the wrapper so there is not smoke escaping and it isn’t hindering the experience in the least. The flavors really haven’t changed up any from the first third, still really smooth with some nice subtle cedar and spice, natural earth flavors and a bit of tobacco. I am feeling zero nicotine at this point and the wavy burnline has completely corrected itself and the Hybrid is now burning like a champ.

Finish: The band slid off clean and easily which is a huge relief. Given the strength of the cigar’s wrapper I was really scared that it would just pull the whole damn thing off. Again, the Padilla Hybrid hasn’t really switched up too much in the flavor department. Although the spice has ramped up a bit in the final third, all the other flavors have remained the same. This cigar is really mild and smooth, not giving off even the slightest of nicotine kicks. I did encounter a little harshness into the final inch, but that was expected. It’s nothing too bad, and for the price I would have been shocked if I didn’t pick up any harshness at all.

Overview: It’s obvious that this cigar isn’t my flavor profile, but that doesn’t really make it a bad cigar. It’s very one dimensional but carries an very smooth and overall enjoyable composure. It’s very mild and only produces a handful of flavor, but given that it makes a perfect cigar for all those who don’t like the full bodied smokes or are just starting out smoking cigars. Another pro is the fact that I have seen these cigars sold for as little as $1.50 to $2.00 a stick! Can’t beat that. It might be a good investment for those of you who have a lot of people who normally don’t smoke cigars are need something smooth and mild to offer then that won’t break the bank. Needless to say, this cigar won’t be in my regular rotation but that’s just simply due to the fact that I didn’t care for the flavor or the body. Outside of the subjectivity it’s a great cigar at a great value.

Pairing: I decided to switch it up a bit and pair this Padilla Hybrid with some Ramos Pinto Quinta Ervamoira 10-year-old Tawny Port. I was just in a wine kind of mood and my lovely sister in law got this for me for Christmas. The wine is a very sweet, caramel type of port with lots of ripe grape, cherry, and spicy flavors. This isn’t as heavy as most ports I have had but definitely tastes like it is. Although the port was excellent, I wish I would have paired it with something that wouldn’t had overpowered the cigar so much. Maybe a nice ale, pilsner or some apple juice.