Cigar companies sure love their history. Fortunately for La Palina, it’s a rich one!
The La Palina El Año 1896 Oscuro cigar celebrates the year the brand was first produced in the Congress Cigar factory in Chicago. The venture was started by a man named Sam Paley, who was a Ukrainian immigrant who knew how to dream a little bigger than the rest. Perhaps it was all that stuff he read when he was a lector?
What do you mean, what’s a “lector?”
A lector was a pretty important person in the cigar factories of yesteryear. Before the radio was widespread, someone had to fill the silence and the most common practice was to simply have a person read to the rollers. They might read from a newspaper, a novel, Shakespeare… whatever was at hand. With so many hours in the day, it was possible to get through a lot of material. Anyhow, “Mr. Sam” as he was known colloquially, was a lector who decided to open his own cigar company. He named it La Palina, which translates somewhat liberally to “the female Paley.” This was probably a nod to his wife Goldie, who also graced the box art in a Spanish costume, and even has a stick carrying her name in the modern La Palina brand offerings.
The El Año 1896 Oscuro is a handsome cigar, for sure. It features a dark Mexican San Andrés Oscuro wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a rich Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler blend. Fire it up and enjoy the aromas of earth, toast, chocolate, and raisins. Thanks to the box pressing effect, you’ll also get a nice even burn and a super comfortable draw.
Mr. Sam retired in 1926, but we’re still enjoying the fruits of his labor today. We’ll smoke the next on in your honor.
Please browse our selection of La Palina El Año 1896 cigars at your leisure.
