The History of Padron Part 2
When we last left our hero, Jose Orlando Padron, he had left his home and life in Cuba, to explore new opportunities around the world. In the 1960s, with barely any money in his pocket, Jose arrived in Miami, and through hard work and determination, set up the building blocks for one of the worlds greatest cigar companies. It was in Miami, with the help of a friend, that Jose was given the chance to work, save his money, and begin developing his own line.
With almost no options, a friend of Jose gave him a small hammer so that he could begin working as a carpenter. Any fans of the Padron line, recognize the little Hammer as one of the symbols of the company. It was with this hammer, that Jose was able to work and put money aside. After saving close to $600, Jose was now able to purchase enough tobacco and begin rolling cigars once again.
Jose rolled his cigars in the traditional Cuban fashion, using exclusively Connecticut broadleaf tobacco. They became immensely popular in the area, and the name Padron began to gain momentum
However, with his rising popularity, Jose began to realize the limitations of using strictly Connecticut tobacco. This tobacco took an unusually long time to cure, leaving Jose with a delay between rolling batches. However, hope came in the form of a man from Nicaragua. He had heard of Jose’s expertise, and asked him to accompany him to Nicaragua to inspect the quality of his tobacco. They travelled together to the Jalap region, and it was here that Jose had a revelation. This was the tobacco he needed to use to make the quality cigars he had always dreamed of.
Jose began using Nicaraguan tobacco in the late 1960s, but soon found his supply was still unable to keep up with his demand. So, in 1970 he again packed his belongings and moved to the cigar capital of the region, Esteli. It was hear the Padron we all love today, came into being.
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