Cigar Review: La Palina Collection Mr. Sam Robusto

La Palina has made their cigars in a number of factories: 1896 and the Family Series at the Graycliff’s factory in the Bahamas; El Diario and the La Palina Maduro at Raices Cubanas; Classic at the PDR Factory in the Dominican Republic; and Goldie and Mr. Sam at El Titan de Bronze in Miami.

Mr. Sam—named after Bill Paley’s grandfather and broadcasting pioneer, as well as William Paley‘s father—was originally a limited edition release last year, but now it has expanded into a regular offering. Samuel Paley founded the original La Palina cigar line which, as it grew, began radio advertising. Eventually that advertising spurred the purchase of a chain of radio stations that in turn William Paley grew into CBS radio and television.

The Mr. Sam line now consists of the original Robusto (4.25 x 54, $12.50) size, plus a Corona (5.5 x 42, $11) and a Toro (6 x 50, $13.50). While it’s no longer a limited edition, the small size of the El Titan de Bronze factory will almost certainly limit the number available.

The blend pairs a reddish-brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. I smoked two samples provided by La Palina for this review and found the construction on each to be flawless with a firm but not tight draw, a sturdy ash, and a consistently straight burn.

The primary flavors are medium- to medium-full with oak and dry chocolate. Secondary flavors include coffee, clove, and subtle woody spice. It’s a well-rounded cigar with only a slight variation from start to finish.

La Palina has a lineup of solid cigars, but I can’t remember enjoying any as much as Mr. Sam. If you’re looking for an after-dinner pairing you should smoke this with a Sherried Single Malt like the a Macallan 12 or (if you want to kick the intensity up a notch) the cask-strength Aberlour A’Bunadh.

In short, it’s an impressive cigar full of flavor, but also balanced: the kind of cigar that will be enjoyed by all types of cigar smokers (though certainly the more experienced aficionados will appreciate it the most).  That makes it worthy of a rare rating of five stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five-stogie rated cigars can be found here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys