I have long considered myself a traditionalist… especially where cigars are concerned.  I love the old nameplates like Montecristo, Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta and smoke them proudly.  However, I am consistently amazed at the quality of cigars coming out of the boutique houses like Perdomo, Alec Bradley and Padilla.  I was a huge fan of the Padilla Habano when it was released a few years ago and my humidor sported plenty of them.  But I recently smoked the new Padilla Reserva and was simply blown away.

The reddish brown, Cuban seed vitola from Esteli reminded me of the old Cuban brands I just mentioned.  I was warned by Mike Staiber, the Studio Tobac sales rep, that this cigar had a spicy start.  Boy was he right!  The pepper was evident from the start.  What he didn’t mention was that the spiciness continues throughout this medium-full bodied torpedo, but smoothed out to a well-balanced smoke.  I detected coffee and nutty notes as I sipped on a Lynchburg Lemonade and settled in to watch the Belmont Stakes.  As I mentioned, I love the Padilla Habano… and it pains me to say this… but this new Reserva is better.  Much better!!!  The flavor is deeper, bolder and more complex.  With every puff, I was more and more glad that I purchased an entire box of these beauties.

Even the traditionalist in me has to make more room for this new kid on the block.