The Padilla Artemis Toro and the La Flor Dominicana Factory Press IV are on the menu for today’s reviews. Are they worth their $10-plus price tags, or are you better served spending your money elsewhere? Keep reading to find out.

The Padilla Artemis is a 2011 release from Ernesto Padilla. Padilla offerings have received high ratings in the past, so I am expecting big things from this Artemis Toro I am about to sample. Will it pass the test? I hope so.

The Padilla Artemis Toro measures 6 x 54. It’s one of four sizes in the line, which also includes the 5 x 54 Robusto, 6.2 x 52 Torpedo, and the 6.7 x 56 Double Torpedo. Its filler and binder are both Nicaraguan Cuban Seed, while the wrapper is Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo. The Artemis is produced at the Raices Cubana factory in Honduras and is listed as being medium-bodied in strength.

The most noticeable physical aspect of the Padilla Artemis Toro is its box-pressed shape. It’s done to perfection and gives the cigar a nice aesthetic touch. Two bands near the head really spruce up the appearance as well. The top band showcases the Padilla logo which features a male lion’s head. The bottom logo displays the Padilla Artemis name. Both look superb when matched with the dark reddish-brown wrapper thanks to their gold and orange accents. The cigar has some oil and a couple of minimal veins that are noticeable to the naked eye. The Artemis Toro is rather smooth and feels firm to the touch. There are zero soft spots here. The triple cap is done to perfection. The tobacco scent and earthy cold taste are my final observations prior to lighting up.

After lighting the Artemis Toro with ease I experience a good draw. The ash is solid and gray in color. The burn is slow and produces a lot of smoke. The cigar does stray for a bit in terms of the burn, but it manages to correct itself. One re-light is needed.