Origin : Honduras
Format : Gordo
Size : 6 x 58
Wrapper : Honduran Corojo ’99 Rosado
Binder : Honduran Criollo ’98
Filler : Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ‘98
Hand-Made
Price : $11.55 each
More info about purchasing La Palina cigars...

I would like to thank Courtney from La Palina for sending me these cigars. Disclaimer: La Palina is an advertiser on CigarInspector.com.

La Palina was a cigar line originally manufactured by Congress Cigar Company way back in 1896. The line existed until 1926; when company founder Samuel Paley passed the company down to his son William, William took an interest in radio broadcasting and switched entirely away from cigars, creating the Columbia Broadcasting System. Congress Cigar Company ceased to exist. But now over a century after the founding of Congress Cigar Company, William’s son has decided to revive the original La Palina cigar line of his grandfather. Having had an opportunity to review the delightful La Palina Alison (Torpedo) earlier this year, I jumped on the chance to try the La Palina El Diario, a new blend. El Diario translates to “The Daily”, which is the intention behind this cigar — that this would be a great smoke for everyday. El Diario is available in five vitolas: Churchill (7x50), Torpedo (6.125x52), Gordo (6x58), Toro (6x50), and Robusto (5x52). Today I’ll be having a look at the gordo.

Read the full review of La Palina El Diario...

Origin : Nassau
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuador
Binder : Costa Rica
Filler : Honduras and Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$20 each
More info about purchasing La Palina cigars...

I would like to thank Courtney from La Palina for sending me these cigars. Disclaimer: La Palina is an advertiser on CigarInspector.com.

I remember when I first heard about La Palina, I was not sure what to expect. An old cigar brand from the beginning of 20th century, revived and re-launched by a heir of broadcasting tycoons? This could be a big success just as well as a failure.

La Palina was manufactured from 1896 to 1926 by Congress Cigar Company, founded by Samuel Paley, an immigrant from the Ukraine who had had a brilliant career in the cigar industry, starting as a lector and quickly becoming roller and then blender. Thanks to his passion, the company was successful and Samuel’s son, William, continued the business and diversified it by investing in the radio as he saw its huge potential. This is how Columbia Broadcasting System, also known as “The Tiffany Network”, was born. At the same time, Congress Cigar Company was liquidated.

Bill Paley, Samuel’s grandson, entrepreneur and philanthropist, set a quest to create a cigar emblematic of the original La Palina. He teamed up with Avelino Lara, a Cuban master blender responsible for the original Cohiba blends who was working at Graycliff at that time. Avelino Lara passed away in October 2009, but his inspiration lives on, guiding his son Abel and his loyal Cuban torcedores.

This review concerns La Palina Alison, named after Bill’s beautiful wife Alison Van Metre Paley.

Read the full review of La Palina Alison...