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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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Thanks for the review. :-) One of the few Padrons that I enjoy. Maybe you had a bum stick.
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I have enjoyed the few I have had. They are definately a one dimensional cigar though.
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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!
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Thanks for the review, Steve!!!:-)

Sorry this one didn't turn out!!!

After-all it was no Camacho Triple Maduro!!!:-)
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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
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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.
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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...
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Nice review. Anything Padron is great, IMO. I especially like the 2000's.
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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.
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Also one of my favorite go-to sticks. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. Well-written review though!
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I find the holds true with many puros I smoke. Not a bad thing, just doesn't keep me intrigued.
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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Nice Review have you had Padron Delicias Maduro. Very tasty
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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.
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That's a very interesting point I hadn't considered. I wasn't doubting your first post, btw. It certainly sounds like you have experience on your side. Thanks for the lesson. :-)
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I know you weren't doubting my post, I simply provided more facts. Weather is always a big factor with any agricultural crop and both grapes and tobacco are more "sensitive" to show the effects as there is no margin for error.

Another point to add is that reading through TNs posted on the board it is clear to me that a number of people mistake "pepper" notes for unripe tannins in some cigars. 5 Vegas Miami blend is one of them, what people think is "pepper hit" is actually very nasty, green and seriously unripe tannins. Smoke one and see for yourself.

I would not put Padron in that same group. Are they unripe to the point of being bad? Not in my opinion. But they also could use some more ripeness to reach the levels of pleasure they used to deliver in the '90s. I keep buying a few Padrons in different vitolas from time to time to see how they are doing, but so far I am in full agreement with the OP in the thread, they are OK smokes, but that is all there is.

At least the prices are fine and holding steady for a long time by now, and I applaud them for that. I just wish they made just a bit more of an effort.
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