Padron 3000 Maduro

[Ratters]

Cigar: Padron 3000 Maduro
Wrapper: Nicarguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 5.5x52
Price: $7.99 at the local B&M



Setting: Garage, about 45 degrees out, sitting next to a larger propane heater, drinking Snapple, about 7:30pm.

Pre-light: Man, this is an ugly cigar. It's lumpy and veiny with a couple significant soft spots and a small hole in the wrapper. It does have a slight box press to it. The wrapper is a nice, oily, toothy chocolate brown, on the light side for a maduro, but that's kinda nice not having to wonder if it was dyed. The wrapper has a pleasant sweet tobacco taste, which also comes from the foot a bit more intensely. I cut the cap using the patented Cranial Screw Top method, but there was a divot under the cap and binder folded over as well so I re-snipped with the Palio in a conventional fashion.



First Third: The cigar lit up easily, the first few puffs producing decent smoke. The initial flavors were of that lightly spicy Nicaraguan flavor, along with a slight sweetness, and a taste of char. The finish really left a dry feeling on the tongue. Body is on the full side of medium. There is a spice that lingers on the tongue, but it kind of irritates with the dryness. The draw and burn are both very nice so far.



Second Third: As I get into the second third the char and dryness on the finish start to go away. Body is still in the medium to full range. As the char flavor went away some more subtle flavors were able to come through, especially the sweetness and a bit of espresso. There is a slight bitterness too, haven't figured out whether it bothers me yet. The dryness has started to come back about the midway point.



Final Third: The ash was holding nice a bit over an inch till it dropped in my lap. The flavors have stayed pretty consistent. The dryness has been consistent as well, as the bitterness, even after trying to purge. But the burn and ash were nice to the end.



Final thoughts: I really didn't care for this smoke. It was harsh and bitter most the way and not really enjoyable.

Liked it: No
Buy again: No
Reccomend: Hmmm, people seem to like them, I would tell people to give it a shot

[kelmac07]

Thanks for the review. One of the few Padrons that I enjoy. Maybe you had a bum stick.

[MedicCook]

I have enjoyed the few I have had. They are definately a one dimensional cigar though.

[Scottw]

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I have enjoyed the few I have had. They are definately a one dimensional cigar though.

I find the holds true with many puros I smoke. Not a bad thing, just doesn't keep me intrigued.

[issues]

Thanks for the review! Sorry you didn't enjoy it.

I'm a fan of the 2000's...

$4 a stick and not a bad smoke, nothing terribly exciting but I do enjoy them.

[Emjaysmash]

Sorry you had a bad experience with this cigar. I do get some of the char and bitterness sometimes, but usually with the Naturally wrapped vitolas.
Either way, I really enjoyed the review and pics! Thanks Steve!

[Skywalker]

Thanks for the review, Steve!!!

Sorry this one didn't turn out!!!

After-all it was no Camacho Triple Maduro!!!

[Adriftpanda]

I'm with ya on this smoke, not a fan of them but it does seem like everyone likes them. Thanks for sharing.

I had one a few months ago, I was in the casino and had no cigar with me... I was charged $15 for it! DU MA

[Ratters]

Thanks, but this isn't the first one I've had. Love the Anniversary and '26s, but haven't found a single thousand series that I've liked.

[elderboy02]

Originally Posted by Ratters

Thanks, but this isn't the first one I've had. Love the Anniversary and '26s, but haven't found a single thousand series that I've liked.

Try a Nica Libre. They are better than the x000 series.

[gbum]

paddy 2000/3000 maduro always be my go to stick... not the best..but decent taste and price...sorry if its not your cup of tea...

[MiamiE]

Nice review. Anything Padron is great, IMO. I especially like the 2000's.

[BigCat]

I know what you mean about the dryness...every now and then I get that too out of these. I tend to associate it with the condition of my palate though, like if I'm dehydrated or something. Still, this is one of my go-to sticks. Sorry it hasn't taken for you, but nice review anyway.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by BigCat

I know what you mean about the dryness...

"Dryness" is a sign of improperly grown tobacco. Unripe tobacco leaves contain unripe tannins, which leads to a sensation of "courseness" on the palate. Same as in wine.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

"Dryness" is a sign of improperly grown tobacco. Unripe tobacco leaves contain unripe tannins, which leads to a sensation of "courseness" on the palate. Same as in wine.

That's interesting...I've never heard that before. It seems odd that it would be an issue with padrons, however, as I understand them to have one of the best quality control reputations out there. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Bruins Fan]

I used to smoke them when I could get them for around three bucks, but when my B+M went up close to seven no way am I paying that for a yard gar at best.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by BigCat

That's interesting...I've never heard that before. It seems odd that it would be an issue with padrons, however, as I understand them to have one of the best quality control reputations out there. Thanks for pointing it out.

All I can tell you is that I used to be a big fan of Padron in mid '90s, even late '90s, they used to be my go to smokes to the point of chasing early release Annis and paying up to $25-30 per stick (in then dollars). Re-visited them in the past few years and well, fully agree with the review Steve posted, they seem to be bland and not as "quality" as I remember them in years past. Plus quality is not the same, IMO.

The tannin part is correct, ask any grower, that dryness your palate experiences is the feel tannins impart and the riper they are, the "softer" they feel. You can only cure tobacco leaves so much to soften the tannins, but when they are picked unripe there is not much one can do.

As to your point of "quality" control, like grapes, tobacco depends on weather in a particular year and no amount of work on the farm field can substitute for the old fashioned sun's influence (plus air quality). For example, in years like 2004, 2006 and 2008 (just some recent vintages) the weather simply did not co-operate and crops (grapes and tobacco) were picked on the "green" side (meaning unripe). Very few farmers were willing to do what's right and thin the crops a lot to allow what was left to grow to proper ripeness. Say what you want against the likes of Pepin, just one example and there a re others, but I have yet to taste any of his products that gave me an impression of unripe tobacco, main reason I am a big fan (on top of loving Nicaraguan leaf, my mainstay these days).

Some cigar makers simply get complacent, some don't.

Also one of my favorite go-to sticks. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. Well-written review though!

[Knip23]

Nice Review have you had Padron Delicias Maduro. Very tasty

[MarkinAZ]

Originally Posted by Ratters

Final thoughts: I really didn't care for this smoke. It was harsh and bitter most the way and not really enjoyable.

Thanks for the review and photo's Steve. I too recently smoked a 3000 maddy and came to the same conclusion as you. It simply was dry, one dimensional, bitter, and just didn't make it for me. I've smoked the natural and maddy n the past for both the 2000 and 3000 and enjoyed them. Unfortunately, it appears that QC is lacking at this point...