These Nicaraguan puros have a strange look; they resemble the knurled walking stick/wand sported by Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings. The wrapper is leathery looking yet slightly oily. The feel is firm yet supple throughout.

I clip the end with my Xikar and the prelight draw is perfect. No sense it waiting any longer, so I put it to torch.

The svelte 46 ring gauge foot is an easy light; though I exert some patience to be sure the foot is completely burning before blowing the end to coax a comprehensive light. The tobacco at the very center of the filler layer took a bit of patience to ignite completely, but when it does light, I am rewarded with an even burn.

The flavors are big and rustic. As I lean back to enjoy this stick, I am transported mentally to Cuba, where the craft of cigar making is a time-honored art form. This thin cigar reminds me of the 1950s when the most popular Cuban sizes were similarly thin. A small ring gauge cigar can burn hotter and taste stronger. The trick is to blend the less combustible ligero fillers so that the cigar will not burn too hot and will be flavorful throughout. Padrón has excellent artisans who know their craft and produce typically well constructed cigars.

During the second inch the flavors and body are medium to full and I am getting some sweetness from the maduro wrapper. This is a great contrast to the full tobacco flavors. As the wrapper warms it starts to exude some oils that were not present prelight and the burn is dead on.

The 4 months of aging have improved this cigar in every aspect. I have always harbored the suspicion that the Padrón Series cigars, especially the maduros, would enhance tremendously with aging and this cigar has done nothing to disabuse me of that notion.

This cigar burned well to the end and the flavors were great right to the last drop.

~Doc