Cigar Weekly

Published Monday, May 21, 2001

The Padron's began making cigars in 1964 in Miami and this brand, introduced in 1994, celebrates their 30th anniversary. The boxed-pressed Padron Anniversary cigars are made in Nicaragua using only sun grown tobaccos from Nicaragua that have been aged for four years.

Cigar Weekly reviews are blind taste tests conducted by our readers. Reviewers are sent three samples with all identifying marks removed. Reviewers are chosen randomly from the list of everyone that has signed the Cigar Weekly Guest Book. Their comments are below.

Pre-Smoke Comments

Charlotte Johansen (Charlie): This looked like a maduro, really fine texture, oily and smooth. It burned even with a flat coal and nice solid white ash. (one did go out once). The draw was perfect and easy. You did not have to struggle with it. It had a round aroma and very little burn in your mouth.

Cora Lynn Deibler (GoGo): Before lighting, the cigar had a really nice aroma- earthy and rich. I expected good things! Construction, from outward appearances, seemed a little "iffy" since the cap was well applied on one sample but not the other, and one sample had unattractive veining, but the other did not. The light box press was attractive and the wrapper was pliable with some tooth, but not pronounced. Both had soft spots and lumps and felt "light," which pointed to underfilling. Looking at the foot, the color of the bunch was even, but I saw a large stem in one sample. Still, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and forged ahead! Both lit easily and developed a flat, not coned, ember. The aroma was almost non-existent and the draw too loose. Because of the underfilling the ash was loose and flaked easily. One sample burned evenly and remained lit. The other developed a tendency to go out. It was an unexciting smoke; when it went out a little early I was not inclined to re-light.

Jackie Kylander (Smokin_VI): Beautiful square-pressed 4x42 cigar. Small veins evident as well as an unusual rectangular cap. Nice even EMS color with no sweetness evident--this one is NOT going to be a mild one.

Kathy Donovan (LaBunny): Smooth, firm, box-pressed cigar, with a rich Colorado maduro color, and no visible flaws in the wrapper or cap. It had an easy pre-lighting draw.

Laura Johnson (Ashton Lady): This cigar looks like a light maduro wrapper. It is a box press robusto. The head of the cigar is medium in texture. The cigar was a little soft but the draw was just right when I went to light it. There was very little burn in the throat when the cigar was first lit.

Lisa Sturgill (CigarWench): This 46x41/2 possible colorado maduro box pressed cigar had firm bunch, with a med/smooth texture. It's cap was barely there. Had a easy pre draw and when I first went to light it, I had some problem getting it going, but once it was going, the draw was very easy, almost too easy. The cigar produced an average amount of smoke with a pleasant aroma.

Smoke Comments

Charlotte Johansen (Charlie): The balance of the flavor was perfect. It was medium and tasted a bit earthy. The body was medium, but the strength was a little below (medium).

Cora Lynn Deibler (GoGo): In both cases this smoke began mild with a decent volume of smoke. I immediately detected an herbal flavor which, though not my favorite, was not unpleasant and might appeal to those who enjoy it. This herbal quality, however, developed into a persistent grassiness which became decidedly pronounced in the first half. The flavor was shallow with a short finish. At the halfway point, the flavors intensified somewhat. At this point I wanted more complexity to come along with the changing flavor, but each time the cigar remained without much depth. The final third developed more fully, becoming "toasty" and medium bodied. Both samples, however, remained one-dimensional. This cigar seemed to have potential for better (and more) flavor at the end but never fully developed.

Jackie Kylander (Smokin_VI): Bam, coffee right off the light. Slight coning of the coal--indicating a goodly amount of ligero??? Tons of smoke from a slightly too-easy draw. Balance was a bit uneven, leaning toward the strong side without a good 'roundness' of flavors. LONG finish on this puppy. Some metallic flavors, but all in all, not a bad smoke!

Kathy Donovan (LaBunny): This cigar was a bit difficult to light, but once lit, it burned very evenly. The draw was very easy with plenty of smoke. The smoke was hot at first with a little burning at the back of my throat. After the first 1/2" that stopped and it mellowed out for the rest of the cigar. This was a medium-strength smoke with the usual powdered cocoa aftertaste I've encountered with maduro cigars. The ash was light gray with average firmness. I noticed a tunnel in the ash for the first inch or so, but that stopped, and never seemed to affect the nearly symmetrical burn.

Laura Johnson (Ashton Lady): This cigar had a wonderful Startit lit well and stayed lit all the way to the end. This is a medium strength cigar. It had a sweet slightly citrus taste to it and then turned to a more cedar taste as the cigar progressed. This gave the cigar a little bite.

Lisa Sturgill (CigarWench): Cigar produced a light burn in the throat, but had a lovely mild, smooth cocoa powder taste to it. Burn was even with a flaky, grey cone ash. About 1/3 into the smoke, a slight tunneling occurred, but it righted itself after about 1/4".

Summary Comments

Charlotte Johansen (Charlie): I would say that this is an elegant cigar. It is mild to medium, but a great cigar. I would smoke it my self and recommend it to those who likes to smoke mild to medium cigars.

Cora Lynn Deibler (GoGo): Overall I would rate this cigar on the low end of average in flavor and construction. A grassy flavor without quite enough depth, especially for a milder cigar. If the smoke is mild it should have some complexity to keep it interesting. Construction seemed to have some flaws but could've still been worth it if the flavor had been more remarkable. They might be right for someone who typically prefers milder cigars, wants a little kick at the end, and appreciates an herbal or grassy flavor, but the lack of depth makes me think that even that individual might be disappointed. I would hesitate to buy these.

Jackie Kylander (Smokin_VI): This is an in-your-face kind of smoke. No subtleties here. A little metallic and woody, but an agreeable smoke for me. Full bodied, medium to full strength. A little tweaking of the blend to add some roundness to the flavors would take this from a good to great smoke up to an outstanding smoke for me. Perhaps a wrapper with a bit more pepper and sweetness like a Costa Rican maduro???

Kathy Donovan (LaBunny): I am not a maduro smoker, as they usually have a slightly sweet flavor, and burn too hot for my particular taste. However, I did NOT find that to be true with these cigars, even when smoked to the nub. This was a very satisfying cigar. I will recommend it to my friends who like a mild to medium-strength smoke, but are looking for more flavor than is usually found in cigars of that strength range. If these cigars were in the low to moderate price range (1.00-3.50), I would certainly buy them. Even at a higher price, I would at least consider purchasing them. They had many similar qualities to the CAO Anni Maduro's and the La Luna Maduro Fuerte's only milder with less complexity.

Laura Johnson (Ashton Lady): In summary this cigar is a medium body cigar with wonderful flavor. I enjoyed the second one all the way down to the toothpick. I would recommend this one to some one to try that enjoys a medium smoke. I really enjoyed the flavors and I am looking forward to finding out what it is.

Lisa Sturgill (CigarWench): Enjoyable cigar, would probably buy this depending on price. It reminds me of a LaLuna Maduro. but not the richness that I have experienced. I would enjoy this cigar for an everyday smoke if I was inclined to smoke everyday!

Scores

 Review Results
Final Score: 39.3 out of 50

4 Star -- Excellent

This was our first all-female cigar review and the reviewers cigar-smoking experience ranged from six months to six years. All but one enjoyed the Padron Anniversary Maduro Principe but they had trouble identifying it. Comparisons were made to La Luna's and CAO Anniversario Maduros, among others. But what is unmistakable is the cigar's first-rate construction and smooth, rich flavor. Our reviewers noted flavor nuances of coffee, earth and cedar. A bit pricey and difficult to find, but worth it. Recommended.