Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Padron Series 3000 Maduro is medium brown, with some raised veins, a significant amount of tooth and a lone water spot near the foot. The seams are a bit raised and the head is decently finished. The band is the basic brown and white offering that denotes the company. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and bakers chocolate, while the foot brings a mix of wood and earth. The pre-light draw brings cedar, cardboard and a light stone fruit sweetness, along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Padron Series 3000 Maduro

First Third

The cigar begins with earth, toasted oak, black pepper and some cocoa powder. At a half inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is creamy earth, toasted oak and cocoa powder. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the earth is just ahead of the toasted oak, with black pepper in the middle of the profile and cocoa powder and creaminess in the back half. The strength was right at medium.

Padron Series 3000 Maduro

Second Third

As the second third begins, the cocoa powder departs from the profile. At a half inch in, the oak increases to become even with the earth up front and the toast level increases a bit as well. The retrohale is now toasted oak, earth and zingy black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak and earth are even up front, with black pepper in the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the back half. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Padron Series 3000 Maduro

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper increases a bit. The retrohale remains toasted oak, earth and zingy black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted oak and earth are even up front, with the black pepper a bit behind and some creaminess in the back half. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Padron Series 3000 Maduro

Burn

The burn was straight throughout, and the ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Padron Series 3000 Maduro

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with earth, toasted oak, black pepper and some cocoa powder. Some creaminess joined in fairly quickly. Later, the black pepper increased a bit. The second third saw the cocoa powder depart and the toasted oak increased to become even with the earth up front. The final third saw the black pepper increase a bit more. The construction was absolutely perfect. The Padron Series 3000 Maduro had a nice start, with a well rounded flavor profile. It took a step down in the second third as the cocoa departed and remained at that level the rest of the way. With Padron, the question usually arises, Natural or Maduro. For this vitola, they both performed equally for me, so I can’t say I have a favorite between the two. As I mentioned with the Natural, this is the lower price point entry into their portfolio, but even with it being more affordable, it’s not a cigar I’d see coming back to and prefer their more premium offerings.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.49

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Padron Series 3000 Maduro