Padilla Finest Hour Sungrown Robusto – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

The Padilla Finest Hour line has been around since January 2019. We have reviewed the two other versions previously, the Padilla Finest Hour Connecticut, and Padilla Finest Hour Oscuro. Today we are looking at the final blend, Padilla Finest Hour Sungrown.

The name Finest Hour comes from a famous speech given by Winston Churchill during the Battle of France. Padilla Finest Hour comes in three different wrappers: Habano, Connecticut and Oscuro. Padilla Finest Hour Sun Grown is a Nicaraguan puro with a habano wrapper. All blends come in the same size and prices: Robusto (5 x 52) – $7.50, Toro (6 x 52) – $8.25, Gordo (6 x 60) – $8.90. They are presented in 20-count boxes.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Undisclosed
Blender: Ernesto Padilla
Number of reviewers: 5 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Alan (Eulogy) Mickey T. (irratebass) John A. (Bostoneo) Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
Price: $7.50
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: January 2019
Contributed by: Padilla Cigars

Initial Impressions – Padilla Finest Hour Sungrown Robusto

Appearance: 89

“It looks better if you don’t stare at it for a while. I like the smooth feeling of the wrapper and its medium-brown shade is very uniform. The cap is a fairly well applied, large double cap that looks like it is using two different wrappers.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Aroma: 88

“Yeast, honey& hay notes on the body, while there is coffee & tea on the nose.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

First Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Upon lighting up I am greeted with a perfect medium-mild profile of caramel, wood char, and a lighter finish that reminds me of sipping on a simple coffee with cream. This profile is very consistent across the first third of this fine cigar.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“The draw is a little loose but the smoke output is thick and creamy. Pretty earthy profile of leather, pepper, and cedar with maybe a touch of baking spice.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Second Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Leather, pepper, and cedar like the last third. It is smoking very well but I think a bit more strength or pepper would liven it up.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“Strictly mineral notes and pepper is all this cigar has to offer.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Final Third

Flavor: 86
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Rounding into the last third, a noticeable salt note begins to build its presence in the formal shoe leather-like profile that was in place. As the third progresses, I am swamped with an immense amount of salty flavor. With this amount of salt, it overwhelms any other notes and I may as well be pouring the real thing right on my tongue at this point.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“There’s a touch of sweetness at the end that is adding a bit more personality. The core flavors have never changed since the beginning with rich notes of leather, pepper, and cedar.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Overall Impressions – Padilla Finest Hour Sungrown Robusto

Draw: 88

” V-Cut had decent enough draw to not have me reach for my straight cut or draw tool.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Burn: 92

“Never needed a correction burned very well.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Construction: 90

“Everything about the construction was very nice but I can’t say that those 8 stems didn’t affect the draw that’s what I am blaming for it.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 88

“A very consistent cigar I would be willing to smoke again, just hope I get one with a little less stems.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“Straight forward in terms of flavor but easy to smoke and rich in flavors. If you’re a fan of rich notes of leather, pepper, and cedar with a creamy smoke output give this cigar a try.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“So this cigar started out decent enough, nothing really special. There were flavors of black pepper, walnuts, and baking spices. Then the cigar just decided not to play nice. Roared its UGLY head and goes strap in fool, because we’re going to take a ride on the unsmokable highway. With that, the cigar went full gear into full-bodied and just full of dirt, earth, burnt wood, burnt tobacco, and just horrible pungent, acrid and putrid flavors. Sorry I have to call them as it is. I gave this cigar a decent amount of time to turn back around as well, but I just couldn’t do it. Pitched with at the beginning of the third.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“If I had to give two thumbs as a rating, one would be up and the other down. The first two-thirds of this cigar was pretty damn tasty, the last third however was a salt city and was very difficult to enjoy. While the burn, construction, and draw were all grade A quality, the ending flavor for this stick was very off-putting for my tastes, unless you’re a salt coinsurer!” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“I was not a big fan of the cigar or the notes it offered. Pepper and mineral with bitter vegetal notes are just not in my wheelhouse. This is a cigar that I would not seek out again if other than to try and prove this sample was a fluke. I will at least acknowledge that as a possibility.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 71

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Padilla Finest Hour Sungrown Robusto – Blind Cigar Review