Cigar Weekly

Cigar Weekly first interviewed William Paley at the 2009 International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers trade show in New Orleans.(Read Cigarticle.)It was there that he introduced his first cigar, manufactured for him in Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas by Graycliff. He told the story of his grandfather coming to the United States in the late nineteenth century and going into the cigar business, with the La Palina brand being the result.

William Paley, Sr. worked for HIS father at La Palina until he got involved in the radio business by way of advertising La Palina on the radio. The outcome of this was the Columbia Broadcasting System as Paley, Sr. acquired a network of stations and renamed it. The Columbia Broadcasting System is still in existence today, with radio news, still, and of course, television.

 William Paley, Jr. at the IPCPR Show, 2009, in New Orleans, La.

On June 17, 2010, in New York, William Paley, Jr. introduced the new La Palina 1896 line at an invitation-only gala.

This evening in New York City the fruit of two years work will have ripened and be ready for harvest. That is when my cigar will be presented to the public.

My heart is swelling and a feeling of pride and anxious anticipation flows through me. This is not unlike the moments I experienced before the birth of my sons. This endeavor has been both frustrating and fascinating. The people I’ve met, the education I’ve gained, and the friends I’ve aquired have made me a lucky man.

This journey has been a search for my roots as well as an entrepreneurial endeavor. Learning more about my grandfather’s immigration and the Horatio Alger like story of his success have focused me on the time in our history when the product of man’s hands, his talent and perseverance, created worth in the marketplace. An immigrant and self-made man who achieved the American dream, I am proud to have him as an ancestor.

I hope you will try a La Palina 1896 and share with me this homage to an other era and way of life.

Again, according toLa Palina Cigars website, we learn about the Limited Edition 1896 Robusto.

Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Costa Rica
Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua

Size: 4.75 x 52 – The “1896″ is a limited production blend with a rich Ecuadorian wrapper. This flavorful, medium-bodied cigar excites the palate and the nose. There is a hint of sweetness against a spicy background that is enhanced by the smooth draw. The 1896′s variety of flavors, notes and nuances come together like a masterfully composed concerto.