Today’s pair of reviews covers two solid cigars from two respected names in the industry. It’s time to take a closer look at the Padron Londres Maduro and the Don Pepin Garcia Vegas Cubanas Generosos.

Padron Londres Maduro

Padron is a name associated with quality cigars. Even better, many of its selections are easy on the wallet. That tradition holds true with the Londres Maduro. Designed to be a cigar for everyday use due to its easygoing profile and affordable price, the Londres Maduro caught my eye. After all, how could I go wrong by paying under five bucks for a Padron? I see it as a situation with little risk and a high potential for reward.

The Padron Londres Maduro comes in a Corona format that measures 5 ½ x 42. The cigar is a Nicaraguan puro made entirely with tobacco grown in the fertile Central American nation. To be more specific, Cuban-Seed tobaccos are used that are aged for at least 2.5 years. While the Padron Londres Maduro is the subject of this review, the cigar also comes with a natural wrapper for those who prefer something different. In terms of strength, the Londres Maduro is listed as medium to full-bodied.

Looking at the Padron Londres Maduro, I have to say that it’s not the flashiest cigar around. You won’t find any huge bands that catch the eye, but then again, that is not truly important to most. There is a small brown and white band near the head that displays the Padron name and logo. It blends in nicely with the dark brown wrapper. There’s a slight sheen of oil that is visible under direct light, and a few medium veins dot the cigar’s surface. Overall, the Londres Maduro has a lumpy appearance and feels firm to the touch. It also has a slightly square or box-pressed shape. Before lighting, I sense an aroma of coffee. The cold taste is reminiscent of cocoa.

The Londres Maduro lights with ease and has a good draw. The burn is even from start to finish, so no touch-ups are required. Re-lights are unnecessary as well, so Padron gets a passing grade in this department. The cigar has solid ash that is light gray in color. The burn is nice and slow, but keeps things under the one hour mark.