moki
el Presidente
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2003
- Messages
- 9,415
It was with some trepidation that I lit up this Padrón Millennium Maduro. Sure, I'd paid a pretty penny for a lovely serially numbered humidor full of 100 of these very hard to find smokes. But that wasn't it; cigars are meant to be smoked, I'm fine with torching any cigar up, regardless of price. No, it was rather that I was worried I would be disappointed. Would this be another overpriced, limited edition, boxed-set disaster? Would I have to make excuses for this cigar, half-heartedly recommending it?
I'm happy to report that the answer is a resounding no. Certainly, if you expect this cigar to give you a rub-and-tug (and at a MSRP of $25 per cigar, you could justifiably expect that), then you'll be disappointed. But if you're simply expecting a wonderful tasting smoke, then you will be rewarded in spades. That it is an extremely hard to find cigar that few people will ever see, let alone smoke, is just the icing on the cake. This cigar stands on its own merits, scarcity be damned.
I plucked out cigar #98201, punched it, and have it a quick look over. Keep in mind that these cigars were manufactured in 1999, so they've been aging in the cedar lined humidor they shipped in for 4 years or so. Add to that the fact that the tobacco was aged 5 years before rolling, and you are left with some seriously old dead plant leaves here: they were picked about a decade ago.
Yet they maintain a wonderful rich texture and color that's darker than the Padrón 1964 Maduro's, yet a bit lighter than the Padrón 1926 Serie. Construction is wonderful in this 52x6" smoke, very similar to the 1964/1926's: box pressed, and wrapped up tighter than a virgin who has never even entertained a dirty thought. These cigars clearly had been well-cared for over the past few years.
I gave the cigar a sniff, and the aroma was all Padrón: that unique nutty/smoked scent that all of the 1964/1926 maduro's they produce have. The smell of one of these Padróns is like porn: very hard to describe, but you know it when you smell it. The moment of truth: I put the torch to the foot of the Padrón Millennium, and it light right up. The first taste was unique, the taste of something familiar, yet different. The first taste also brought a smile to my countenance. I was in for a very, very enjoyable ride.
Quantifying the taste of anything like a cigar, wine, or fine cheese is sometimes difficult to do. You use terms that allude to what you're tasting, hinting at the flavors crossing your palette rather than stating in no uncertain terms the flavor. With that in mind, the Padrón Millennium Maduro has amazingly complex and subtle flavors spiraling out of that stick when you burn it.
Deep, musty, and rich, with a taste of roasted chestnuts, a tiny bit of spice, and hints of dark roast coffee that are finished off with a remarkably smooth, sweet honey flavor. There's also a noticeable cedar smell and taste, likely from it being stored in the cedar-lined humidor for so long... and I even experienced subtle undertones of sweet cherries. Oh yeah baby, this is a good smoke.
I have no idea how much the aging that these cigars have gone through have to do with the taste I experienced, because this is the first Padrón Millennium Maduro I've ever smoked. I've seen some earlier reviews that stated it was a bit harsh, which was far from my experience, so I think the years have been kind to these cigars.
I smoked half of the cigar on the way to my local smoke shop; I was on my way there to pick up a hydrometer for the humidor these babies came in. When I walked in, a few people sniffed the smell emanating from my smoked, and turned their heads in interest. One guy mentioned to me that the smoke smelled wonderful, and asked what it was -- and this was a pipe smoker. The smell of the smoke has a wonderfully rich, nutty, sweet aroma that's subtle yet quite distinctive. I ended up giving one of these to a guys who works at the smoke shop; I think he's going to have an special, enjoyable experience with it.
The cigar lit well, though right at the beginning one side started burning a bit quicker; I probably didn't light it evenly. It wasn't enough to get alarmed about, but I was taking no chances of this canoeing, so I torched the recalcitrant side for a second or two, and it burned straight and true the rest of the way down. The ash was mostly white, remarkably solid, and it gave off large volumes of great smelling smoke, with a very easy draw.
Needless to say, I smoked this cigar all the way to the end, braving the cold to have just one more taste. Unlike many cigars, it didn't get acidic towards the end, but rather got even sweeter, with even spicier, rich aromas of caramelized nuts, with a cherry or two tossed in for good measure.
Maybe it just wanted to impart the finishing flavors to you with vigor, so that you wouldn't forget it. A goodbye kiss, indeed. The aftertaste left in my mouth was very surprisingly milky-sweet. I didn't feel compelled at all to take a breath mint, or have a slug of something to drink afterwards, but rather just enjoyed the taste it left in my mouth. It was quite surprising, really.
So is this thing worth $25-30 a smoke? If you're a lover of cigars, I think it is, at least to try it once or twice -- IF you can find it. If you enjoy Padrón 1964 or 1926 maduro's, there is simply no way you will not like the Padrón Millennium Maduro. Now the hard part: how does it compare to a 1964 and 1926 Padrón?
I think that's like comparing different years of the the same kind of wine, from the same vintner. The taste is definitely more robust than the 1964's, and I think even a bit fuller than the taste of the 1926's. They all share the similar, distinctive nutty/smokey flavors characteristic of Padrón, but they all have different subtleties.
This smoke is not twice as good as the Padrón 1964 Maduro (though it is a bit over twice the price), however given the choice between smoking one or the other -- and keep in mind that I *love* the Padrón 1964 Maduro's -- I'd definitely pick the the Millennium. Given a choice between a 1926 Serie Maduro and a Millennium, it'd be a tougher call. They both have somewhat similar flavors; I think the nod goes to the Millennium, but it would depend on my mood. They are both incredible sticks.
