10-15yo Padron Fumas (CM)

[Habana Mike]

Last night I lit a Padron Fumas. These can only be found at the sidewalk bodegas in Little Havana.

Along Calle Ocho in Miami there are a few bodegas the have a small selection of cigars in the window, many with the Padron Fumas.

It's been a few years since I've strolled the streets there so this must be over 10 years old. Could be closer to 15

Short filler, though cast off scrap from the Aniversario blends among others make these pretty tasty.

I've visited the Miami Padron Factory at 1575 SW 1st St, just a few blocks away from the El Pub with the chicken sculpture outside, a block from the domino park.

The Ball and Chain - old school.....

And the museum/bar Cubaocho....

Probably a dozen or more times in the area, love to explore alone, soak up the culture and meet people on the street.

Many a Cubano, Ropa Vieja, Mojitos and Cubata. Cuban music abounds.

Stream of thought review:

rich

full flavored

light white pepper

dry earth

cocoa

lighter bodied than when fresh though still pretty heavy on the nicotine

anise (licorice, mint, fennel), dark earth

great draw

super maduro wrapper

a bit rough/rustic but well rolled 

not as complex a cigar as i would've liked but not bad for an old short filler.

Have a few more and look forward to getting to them and sharing a few out

In the end, very earthy, dark chocolate and pepper.

86/100

At less than $20 a bundle these are essentially the peso cigar for the Cuban Americas in Little Havana.

[bdw1984]

Great review.  Although I only live 40 min away, I don't get down to Little Havana nearly as often as I'd like.  It's truly one of the more unique places in the country.

[GVan]

HabanaMike,

Nice review and even nicer story.  I live about and hour and a half (good traffic) north of Miami and really love the vibe and culture down there.  Don't really get there as much as I should given the easy drive.

Liked the Padron review - have not had a Fumas.  I've been collecting and smoking Padron's for many years but don't review or write about them here. Being relatively new (42 posts) I keep it just to the new CC collection that is growing fast.  Two years ago, I was moving the cigar collection from the Tupperdore to the new custom humidor that I had made for my office. Lo and behold, buried at the bottom was a box of Maduro Padron A's with 6 cigars left from 1998.  Even back then I labeled all of my purchases.  I loved that the box was back from when they individually numbered the boxes.  Shared these with my son and son-in-law this past Christmas and wow were they something special.

Your CM brought back a good story and memory for me as well!  Thanks.

[JohnnyO]

A BOTL asked me about these recently. The front story was that Padron felt an obligation to all the cafeterias and bakeries and that is why he supplied them. That was up until 2005/06 or so. They were bits and pieces of his higher end cigars. It seems many Miamian's were re-selling these in Vegas and NY to a cousin or brother in law, while a boxed version with a black band were selling around $200/box. Padron was policing these heavily, even online sales. Most likely they got tired of that and realized that the boxed version was more profitable and helped maintain the image of their marca. Added to that, a lot of low end cigars entered the market in that time frame in Miami: Don Yoyo, Cubiche, Balsero, so Padron had completed his community service. I do remember that they were natural and dark and that there were several 42-ish RG sizes. There may have been bigger sizes but the most popular ones were corona sized. If you have any, these are kind of like a special occasion cigar. John

[Habana Mike]

7 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

A BOTL asked me about these recently. The front story was that Padron felt an obligation to all the cafeterias and bakeries and that is why he supplied them. That was up until 2005/06 or so. They were bits and pieces of his higher end cigars. It seems many Miamian's were re-selling these in Vegas and NY to a cousin or brother in law, while a boxed version with a black band were selling around $200/box. Padron was policing these heavily, even online sales. Most likely they got tired of that and realized that the boxed version was more profitable and helped maintain the image of their marca. Added to that, a lot of low end cigars entered the market in that time frame in Miami: Don Yoyo, Cubiche, Balsero, so Padron had completed his community service. I do remember that they were natural and dark and that there were several 42-ish RG sizes. There may have been bigger sizes but the most popular ones were corona sized. If you have any, these are kind of like a special occasion cigar. John

Still have a few. Reminds I should smoke one soon.

I'd be glad to shoot a couple your way. These are from the earlier 2000's.