In November of 2010, a group  from BOTL.org visited Nicaragua to tour some of the factories where tobacco and cigars are produced. During their trip, Jorge Padrón of Padrón cigars handed each of them an unknown cigar to try.

While not much is known about this particular cigar or blend, it is known that a there was a ligero leaf, either an extra or a different one, or both, included in the cigar. While the wrapper is quite a different color than the Padrón Family Reserve No. 46, the size and range gauge are exactly the same.

Padron B.O.T.L. Esteli 2010 1

Sadly, almost nothing else is known about this cigar, other than the fact that it is possible that this was a final contender for the final blend of the Padrón 46th (and was not chosen), and this is borne out by the similarities in the size of the two cigars…

Padrón BOTL 2010 Cigar 2.png

  • Cigar Reviewed: Padrón B.O.T.L. Estelí 2010
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 5 1/2 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 56
  • Vitola: Corona Gorda
  • Est. Price: n/a
  • Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 1

The cigar itself is a gorgeous specimen, well constructed, with a very reddish brown wrapper that is glistening with oil. Where the 46th’s wrapper is rough to the touch, this cigar’s wrapper is velvety smooth. It is however rock hard when squeezed, almost to the point of distraction. It is also quite bumpy up and down the length of the cigar. The wrapper smells strongly of barnyard, hay, spice and hay.

The first third with great flavors of leather, espresso, wood and dry tea. There is an almost perfect amount of spice, although very little pepper,  in the beginning, but the amount ebbs and flows as the third goes on.

Padrón BOTL 2010 Cigar 3.png

The second third starts to get a bit sweeter, with flavors of anise and sweet wood added to the leather and espresso, which makes for a great combination. The spice is sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. The tea note is still there, but in the background. At the end of the second third, I can also feel the strength start to ramp up, and I know that it is only going to increase.

Padrón BOTL 2010 Cigar 4.png

The final third has much the same flavors as the first two thirds, in varying amounts, but the strength is noticeably stronger, almost to the point of being overwhelming.

Padrón BOTL 2010 Cigar 5.png

Final Notes

  • The flavors in this cigar were were very noticeable and extremely distinct, not muddled at all .I always love when that is the case, no matter what the cigar.
  • I was a bit surprised at the difference in the color and texture of the wrappers between this cigar and the 46th. While I have no evidence, I would not assume they are the same.
  • The burn was excellent all the way through the smoke, but the draw was a bit loose. In fact, I decided to try something different, and I only cut the smallest tip off the cap, and was rewarded with a smokable cigar, albeit still a bit loose as I mentioned. If I had cut the whole cap, I am pretty sure it would have been way too loose.

Padrón BOTL 2010 Cigar 6.png

  • The spice that I loved from the Padrón 45th and was somewhat lacking in the 46th was more prevalent in this cigar, making me wonder if Padrón used another ligero compared to the final 46th blend.
  • The final smoking time was hours and 55 minutes.

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published on Smoking Stogie, one of the precursors to halfwheel. Brooks Whittington did not believe in scoring preproduction reviews, as such, there’s no final score.

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Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.