When I began smoking cigars roughly 5 years ago, it was a Padron Anniversary Maduro (1964 Torpedo) that really got me hooked. I immediately began to buy them whenever I came across them and as many as I could afford.
I searched high and low in B&Ms and online. While searching online I learned of the Padron Millenniums. I had to have one. I think some of my first posts ever on internet cigar forums were "Who has Pardon Millenniums?" I had one response from someone in Missouri (I think) saying his local B&M had them for $60 each. I was so new too cigar forums that I didn't trust it and thought $60 was way too much for a single cigar!
:-) Needless to say, I never pulled the trigger and never thought I would come across one.
Imagine my excitement last week when someone on this very forum announced he was selling some. I immediately inquired and he was nice enough to sell me the two I was looking for and for a lower price I was expecting.
They arrived Monday... I can't remember the last NC I've had but was going to review this one no matter what.
The cigar is a beauty to behold. Like any Padron, the quality is top-notch. Sad to say, that was the best part. After I cut it and lit it, my expectations were shattered. The cigar's burn and draw were typical of Padron - perfect. The smoke was thick and bountiful. The flavor - not so much. The first 2-3 inches had a slight perfume aftertaste - not pleasant like florals that are sometimes tasted in cigars, but kind of like old-lady perfume. It was slight, and this was a cigar I've been wanting to try for a long time so I kept on. The perfume taste disappeared (thankfully) and not much else happened after that flavor wise. It was a decent smoke, but no where even close to other Pardon’s I've had even in their regular line. I kept on but finally laid it to rest realizing nothing else was going to change my experience.
:-)
Am I sad this cigar sucked? Very much so.
Am I happy I got to try one? Very much so.
Am I starting to think I'm spoiled by Cubans? Very much so.
When will I smoke my other one? Not for a while.
Here are some pics for posterity.
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Life's a real beach at times, ain't it. Sorry for the dream dashed, but thanks for the review. And your are right about that cigar being a beauty - by the picture, it looks too good to smoke.
Hey, maybe that's the trick!
:-)
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Patrick, I've had much the same experience with older Padron anniversary-quality cigars, more often than not they've been flat for me.
I had a much better success rate on them if super fresh, I don't recall a bad fresh one in fact so maybe 100%
I haven't had one in a year or more, I should revisit them too! Thanks for the reminder
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Man, I'm sorry that the Padron was a let down! Thanks for the Review Though!
It's a good thing I didn't review it. I think from simply being a Padron whore that excludes me from doing an un-bias review!
:-)
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