When clipping the cigar, be careful with the cap. Personally, I prefer a punch cut. Since Padron cigars are generally airy, you do not want to cut too much cap because it will inevitably fall apart or get too hot towards the nub.

The cold draw is excellent with just enough resistance. There are dark chocolate and espresso notes coupled with dry hay on a bed of wonderful Maduro aroma.

First Third

My first draw exudes clouds of smoke. Right off the bat, there are prominent black pepper notes in the front of the palate. The smoke is smooth with rich earthy, leathery, and woody undertones.

A few draws in, and the creamy, semi-sweet chocolate flavors settle in. I can also taste fleeting cedar on a base of sweet spice. The finish is long with lots of pepper on the retrohale. Flavors build consistently as my stogie progresses. The burn is a tad reckless - another quirk - but it never needs correction. The ash comes in light-gray and stable for up to half an inch.

Mid Third

Without any dramatic transitions, the flavors of my stogie get darker. The chocolate flavors go toastier, almost like toffee. The peppery notes go from black pepper to white pepper while the creaminess takes a breather.

Earthy notes coupled with sweet tobacco and woody, nutty spice remain on the finish. One of the most appealing qualities of this stogie is the sweet tobacco aroma. The burn is still solid, and smoke output is ample.

Final Third

The final third of my Churchill Maduro goes stronger. The flavors build to a full-body, and the strength is a strong medium. Peppery notes develop from white pepper to red pepper with strong tobacco, toasted espresso, and nutty flavors in the background.

The nub is all dark tobacco zest with a long peppery finish. My stogie is a tad warm at this point, but I am glad I preserved the cap because it means I can smoke it down to an inch or so. I have thoroughly enjoyed the smoke for 1 hour and 40 minutes. The flavors were excellently balanced and consistent throughout the smoke.

Why Padron Cigars are so Revered

Padron Cigar Inc. goes to enormous heights to ensure that each cigar they produce lives up to their legendary quality. From limiting their production to doing all the production and distribution themselves, each Padron cigar is an embodiment of their motto 'When Padron is on the label, quality is a matter of family honor.'

The Padron Series is legendary in its own right. Constructed using the same Cuban recipe for decades, these cigars deliver flavor as well as strength that is loved by aficionados and casual cigar smokers alike. Personally, I like that Padron Series cigars are not moody. This means you can truly enjoy your smoke, setting your stogie down once or twice without having to relight or retouch.