When Sam Paley emigrated to Chicago from the Ukraine in the late 1880s, little did he know he would soon found a company with a long and unique future. Soon after arrival in Chicago, he started working as a lector at a cigar factory where he read novels, magazines and newspapers to the cigar rollers in the gallery. Over time he started gaining interest in the tobacco industry and started using personal time to gain knowledge on everything cigars. Shortly after, he was promoted to roller, then to blender. In 1896 Mr. Paley opened Congress Cigar Company, his first cigar shop, with an adjacent factory whose first product was named La Palina in honor of his wife Goldie Drell Paley. In 1910, the family and Congress Cigar Company moved to Philadelphia with William, Sam’s son, joining as Vice President of Advertising. After several years of success, the Congress Cigar Company was ultimately liquidated in 1926 when Sam retired. Fast forward several decades later and grandson Bill Paley went back to his roots and resurrected the La Palina brand and released their first cigar in 2010.

The La Palina El Ano 1896 Oscuro in your shipment today was created by Bill Paley Jr., grandson of Sam, to celebrate over 100 years in cigar making. Named after the year La Palina was founded, 1896, the El Ano comes dressed in a Mexican San Andrés Oscuro wrapper that secures a Dominican binder, and is brimming with Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. Snip the tip and light ‘er up and find hints of walnuts, leather, espresso, and earth. Our panel recommended pairing this medium to full bodied smoke with The Godfather cocktail. In case you aren’t familiar with the drink, it’s 1.5 ounces of Scotch Whisky and .5 ounce of amaretto liqueur.