Padron Palmas Maduro Review
Cigar: Padron Palmas Maduro
Size: Panatela, 6.3”x42
MSRP: $5.10
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Origin: Nicaragua
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Prelight: This cigar has some visual similarities to the 6000 I smoked recently; the wrapper has seams, lumps, veins, slight tooth, and the cap is pretty sloppy. The wrapper on this maduro is quite a bit darker though, and smells rather delicious: sweet and floral. The foot smells just like a packet of Swiss Miss. I use a perfect cutter on the cap and the draw is perfect. So far, better first impressions than I had of the 6000. The cold draw tastes faintly of oak.
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1/3: I get black pepper right off the bat, but it is not so intense that it burns my nose in the retrohale. The first ash drop is only a half inch in, and at that point I notice wood and leather coming into the profile. As the first third progresses, the sweetness of the cigar increases, as well as some bitter espresso flavors. This cigar is not the powerhouse the 6000 was – it’s more delicate and sweeter.
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2/3: The flavors of the second third are oak, leather and espresso, in that order of strength. There is no pepper left in this Nicaraguan puro, and there is a creaminess to the smoke. The finish is clean and dares not to linger for more than a second or two. The burn has been excellent from the onset.
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3/3: In the final third, the leather taste disappears and I am left with oak and espresso, with the coffee taking dominance of the wood. The cigar gets more bitter towards the end, and the smoke is starting to get a bit hot as well. These factors are probably hand-in-hand.
Overall: Still an ugly cigar in my opinion, but this cigar delivered a solid smoking experience. Cheaper than the 6000 (and closer to my preferred vitola), I’d reach for this cigar again. It had a great balance of bitter, sweet, and savory. The construction was excellent despite its rugged appearance. For those who tend to smoke larger RG cigars and are wondering why some of us love a long and skinny, give this one a try.
