Welcome back to another episode of Smoke Rings. Today, we're going to talk about a cigar that is a fan-favorite among staff here at Smokingpipes. Another size of this was actually awarded the 2022 Cigar of the Year. This is the La Palina KB Part Three; KB is short for Kill Bill.

Kill Bill Part Three: From The Raices Cubanas Factory

This cigar comprises Nicaraguan fillers in a double Honduran Criollo binder, wrapped in Honduran Corojo leaf. I think that Honduran and Nicaraguan combination makes for some really interesting flavor notes. It's also produced at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras. If you're not familiar with that, they produce much of Alec Bradley's portfolio, so you've likely smoked a ton of stuff from that factory and maybe weren't aware. All that being said, flavor is what it's about. So let's cut and light this thing and I'll let you know what I think.

First Third: High In Strength, Inspiring Its Name

All right, we're back and we're about a half inch into this KB Part Three. It has a super interesting profile. A little bit about the name that may explain the strength in this KB cigar — Kill Bill is actually referring to the patriarch of the Paley Family of La Palina, Bill Paley. Supposedly the first time he smoked this cigar, it nearly killed him because of its strength. I'm not getting that amount of strength just off the top, but it's definitely there. Flavor-profile wise, we're looking at a lot of hay and a little bit of citrus in the background. I'm getting a lot of oak and also a really nice coffee note. I can't wait to dive more into this and let you know what I think.

Second Third: Sweetly Rich Flavor Profile

And we're back diving into the second third. While the hay, citrus, and oak is still really the leader of the pack, some really interesting notes have made their way in. Cinnamon-like sweetness has become super prominent. I typically relate that to Honduran Corojo and it's one of my favorite tobacco varietals, so I'm really glad that it appeared. Also present is a lot of black pepper. I was getting a little bit of spice originally but black pepper has certainly made its way in. It's making for a super nuanced, quite strong smoke. Can't wait to see what else it has to offer once we get past this pretty large band, and we'll be back.

Final Third: Full-Flavored & Transitional From Beginning To End

All right, we're back with the final third of the La Palina KB Part Three. And wow, flavor-wise, this is definitely earning that 2022 Cigar of the Year from us. Unreal construction throughout. Coming into this final third, that strength that nearly killed Bill is certainly on display as well as full flavor at this point. A lot of earth and oak is still at the forefront, but those coffee notes, those hay notes, that cinnamon sweetness has ramped up beyond belief. Smoke production is pretty apparent. Overall, this really is a transitional cigar which is something particularly special in the cigar industry, going from mild in the beginning to full at the end; it's really a rollercoaster ride of a cigar.

Concluding Thoughts: La Palina KB III Is Excellent For A Medium-Bodied Smoke

So overall, if you are a medium-bodied/medium-flavored smoker, and you enjoy Honduran cigars, I cannot recommend the KB Part Three enough — available at Smokingpipes in all four sizes. I really like that little 6" x 40 half Lancero, if you will. Thank you for watching our review of the La Palina KB Part Three and we'll see you next time on Smoke Rings.