La Palina's rich history began in the late 1800's. Their patriarch, Samuel Paley immigrated to Chicago from the Ukraine and immediately found work as a 'lector' in a cigar factory. By 1896 Sam had started his own factory with a cigar store nearby. Sam dubbed his factory, Congress Cigar Company and quickly gained the name 'Mr. Sam', a moniker given to him by his factory workers. After Sam's retirement in 1926 the La Palina brand was all but forgotten, but now, Sam's grandson has reinvented the brand in a big way. This addition to the La Palina line is a Honduran-made gem hailing from the revered Raices Cubanas factory, dubbed, La Palina El Diario.
Rolled right alongside numerous other 90-rated cigars such as Alec Bradley Prensado and Tempus, you can rest easy knowing every El Diario has be crafted with meticulous attention to detail and the highest quality tobaccos. This medium-bodied gem boasts a Honduran rosado wrapper leaf around well-aged Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo long-fillers. Spicy notes of mocha, nut, and leather all rear their heads in this super-complex offering. Securing a spot in my regular rotation, this cigar is one not to be overlooked.
La Palina El Diario received a well-deserved 93 rating noting: 'A powerful, meaty cigar with an open draw that delivers a lot of bold smoke for such a small size. Concentrated pepper, cedar and earth lead to an apple-like finish.'