Stick: Padron Delicias Natural
Size: 4.9" 46 Gauge
Price: $3.75
After finally getting over a nagging sickness and reaching the last day of school I decided to get a smoke with a friend. It was a great night for a cigar and we sat up on the balcony and enjoyed the cool air and reflected on another year of college gone by.
I haven't smoked much recently and went with an old favorite brand, Padron. Staying cheap, I picked up a Delicias Natural for $3.75 at my local B&M. I have smoked many of the X000 Padrons in the past and was interested to see how the cheaper sticks compared.
First off I noticed that the construction of the cigar looked very similar to other Padrons. The wrapper has the same appearance as the more expensive lines. However, the cigar didn't feel as well constructed as others from the brand that I have tried. It felt slightly looser than Padrons I have tried in the past. Not a surprise given the price.
When I first lit the stick, I ignored the harsh flavors I was getting. I chalked it up to the gas lighter I used. However, after a few puffs, the harshness remained. There was a spiciness that I had never experienced before with a Padron. Burnt toast flavors almost overwhelmed me the first third of the cigar and I was very unimpressed. As I smoked past the first third, the Padron flavor that I have come to know and love came out. The harsh spiciness gradually transitioned to a smooth nutty flavor. The cigar kept getting better as I smoked it to the nub.
The draw of the smoke was excellent throughout as I got thick plumes of smoke with little effort. I had some burn issues and had to relight a few times but it wasn't a huge problem. All in all, I think there are better cigars to be had for the price but I would definitely consider purchasing more of these in the future so that I can get the distinctive Padron flavor for less of the cost.
It was a great night for a cigar and I'm looking forward to a summer of refining my tastes and expanding my cigar knowledge.
