Like any legend, the Sancho Panza cigar brand has been through a few incarnations. It was first offered for sale in Cuba in the 1800s. It eventually made its way through the ages and into the hands of the widely celebrated late cigar master, Estelo Padrón (brother of Jose Orlando Padrón, of Padron cigars fame). He was responsible for a number of non-Cuban versions of storied brands like Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey. His work with Sancho Panza saw the creation of several reliable blends that found their fans and were popular, year after year.
But things have now changed once again, as this longstanding brand continues to evolve to suit the tastes of the smoking public.
In more recent years, Sancho Panza cigars have become the property of General Cigar, who tapped Room 101 founder Matt Booth to lead the revitalization efforts. While some no doubt didn’t want a go-to blend tinkered with, others saw the opportunity presented by the brand. There was room to improve and modernize, while still staying true to the traditional qualities that carried Sancho Panza through so many years.
“Built, not bought,” says the brand’s new website, and we can see that the rebuilding process is well underway. Three blends still form the core of the company’s offerings, and they’ve all taken new forms. Sancho Panza cigars include the Original, Double Maduro, and Extra Fuerte.
The Original was always a reliable smoke. Still wrapped in Connecticut shade, it now includes some Mexican San Andrés leaf and Brazilian mata fina to spice things up.
The Double Maduro is earthy and flavorful, using a Sumatra wrapper and Nicaraguan long-fillers to offer a rustic, woody experience.
And the Extra Fuerte still knocks you on your ass. It just does so with a tad more sophistication.
Sancho Panza is inspired by the Latin culture of West L.A., and the company’s roots go deep. As they explain: “Our formula is simple: respect the craft and honor tradition. If you want a cigar crafted with respect, passion, and tradition, Sancho Panza was built for you.”
We expect that in another few decades, Sancho Panza's will still be getting lit around the world. They may not be in the exact same form, but they undoubtedly will still carry the same spirit of reverence when it comes to what makes a good cigar.
Please browse our selection of Sancho Panza cigars at your leisure.
