FEBRURARY 13, 2022 - PHIL KURUT, COMEDY - CIGARS - MUSIC
PADRÓN FAMILY RESERVE NO. 45 MADURO (6 x 52)
WRAPPER: NICARAGUA
BINDER: NICARAGUA
FILLER: NICARAGUA
Creamy milk chocolate, dried cherry, and a touch of spice start out the No. 45. At the risk of jinxing the experience, I have to say that’s an excellent start.
Bits of spice and cherry step quickly through the retrohale. Spice, cherry, and wood linger on the finish.
It all pours through an excellent draw and smoke output.
Spice kicks up just a bit. Cherry and hay mix together, forming a barnyard note, which transports back in time to my aunt and uncle’s farmhouse where my cousins, siblings, and I would jump from the loft into a huge pile of hay. I despised heights, but I never had a problem launching from that loft.
By the way, the No. 45 is toothy as heck.
The burn line waves slightly. Just a light breeze over a shallow river.
Cherry leads the charge. Cola sweetness and spice flow together like a carbonated beverage. I've never liked the word "beverage".
Creaminess flows in and out.
Spice and wood provide the room note entertainment. Not too shabby.
Cherry switches dance partners and begins to waltz with sweet oak. Chocolate passes by. Maybe heading to the punchbowl.
Speaking of punchbowl, Primus’ Tales from the Punchbowl stands as one of my favorites. “Del Davis Tree Farm” is my favorite from that album. Actually, “De Anza Jig” might be a tie for first. The whistle during the intro of “Southbound Pachyderm” always brings a smile to my face, and that drum fill…pure genius. Tim Alexander can never be rated high enough. Who does he sound like? Tim Alexander.
Now, where was I?
Wood, chocolate, and graphite pour in and out of the pull, all embedded with cherry.
Dusty earth and mild eastern spices grace the nasal cavity.
Coffee, spice, and graphite coat the palate and provide a long finish.
Every so often, donut glaze pours through the draw. When it does, it glides straight through to the finish. Coffee and donuts. Who doesn’t like that? Communists.
And the ash? Look at the photos.
Leather wrings out when I push my tongue to the top of my mouth, coating my entire palate in the same.
Cherry, carmelized sugar, coffee, and spice dance together for the final slow dance as the room lights come up. We’re closing shop here, buds.
The tail end of the retrohale smoothly drops coffee and leather.
Leather, coffee, spice, and subtle cherry rest comfortably on an unbattered palate during the finale.
There are often debates and arguments about end of year lists. Padrón consistently makes those lists and is accused of all kinds of things. The most appropriate accusation remains to be that they are great cigars, and they’re on those lists because they should be.
SMOKE TIME: 1 hr. 52 mins.
RATING: 3.40 / 4 - Another tale from the punchbowl.
Click HERE for the 1st & 15th Podcast’s Cigar Aficionado’s 2021 list discussion with some excellent guests.