Padron 1926 serie 2 natural

[Omskakas]

Oh, it's freestyle this time? Then I've got to review a NC for sake of it.

I'm having Padron 1926 serie 2 natural tonight. It's warm, moist August night and I've got no better thing to do than have a cigar and some drinks. So here it goes.

Construction is nice. Wrapper is dark and oily, it's supposed to be natural, but it looks almost maduro to me. I clipped only very little from the end and draw is loose. Cold taste is peppery.

First impressions were pepper, lots of it, almost overpowering. Through nose the pepper gives burning sensation. Body is full, no doubt. There's lot of nicotine. If this was a cheaper smoke I would have tossed it at this point. Aroma is good and creamy though, if you smell it from the side smoke.

At the time of second ash the cigar mellows down a bit. Besides of pepper I now get some toasted bread, or maybe it's more like burnt bread. This smoke is full of ligero! I sense some sweet notes from the aroma, maybe honey?

Time to toss the cigar. There's not much improvement. Pepper and burnt bread are still on the top. This was my first and maybe the last from 1926 series. I've enjoyed 1964 maduros but this smoke was way too peppery and nothing else. If I had to rate it I'd say:

/ 5 or "smokeable"

[sloth]

Good review. When I use to smoke Padron on a regular basis, I always thought of the natural 26 line as the best of them... Never remember getting too much pepper in them. Agreed, too pricey.

[KB24]

My remembrance was not heavy spice at all. I got rich creamy mouth fulls of smoke. I got a lot of coffee and dark chocolate. Maybe a little spice throughout but not too much. Crazy how these things can vary! I smoked that thing till my finger tips started burning.

-Patrick

[rdb6]

I recently smoked same cigar. What I tasted was sweet undertones as per usual for Padron. I did not get the heavy pepper. I like the 1964 better than the 1926.

[NitrousPurger]

i remember getting a lot of pepper from the '26 line. im a bigger fan of the '64 line but both too costly for the lack of defined flavors

[cigcars]

I've given the Padron 1964 a couple of tries...it just didn't do zilch for me. The 1926, though - THERE'S a SMOKE! I've got a petite one in my humidor among my Hoyo's, Montecristo's, Bolivars, and other wonderful Habana smokes!

[MIKA27]

My remembrance was not heavy spice at all. I got rich creamy mouth fulls of smoke. I got a lot of coffee and dark chocolate. Maybe a little spice throughout but not too much. Crazy how these things can vary! I smoked that thing till my finger tips started burning.

-Patrick

I very much feel the same way as Patrick.

I love the 26 and 64 Anniversario series Padrons, in fact, I have quite a few in my humi and love them. Probably the only NC's I love are the Padron range.

Perhaps it was that particular stick?

Regardless, love the review and pictures.

[jsd]

Good review. When I use to smoke Padron on a regular basis, I always thought of the natural 26 line as the best of them... Never remember getting too much pepper in them. Agreed, too pricey.

I have heard that from a few people, that the natural 26 is much better than maduro 26. I love both the 26 and 64 lines, but I think the 64 maduros are best. I wish the price point was a little more reasonable. I've yet to find another NC I enjoy better than any Padron Aniversario.

[MIKA27]

I have heard that from a few people, that the natural 26 is much better than maduro 26. I love both the 26 and 64 lines, but I think the 64 maduros are best. I wish the price point was a little more reasonable. I've yet to find another NC I enjoy better than any Padron Aniversario.

They are quite expensive here in OZ too.

[Omskakas]

Perhaps it was that particular stick?

Maybe it was. Maybe the roller put double ligero in it instead of volado by mistake or something like that.

Maybe I'll have to smoke another 1926 to be sure.

[thechenman]

Padron is one of my favorite NC marcas. I smoke the 26s, 64s and x000. All are good. The x000 are a bit similar to the 64s with a few years of age on them. However, the 26s are in a league of their own. My favorites. I don't really care for the natural wrappers, for these maduro is the way to go. There is a bit more spice with the natural wrapper, but nothing overpowering. Both are rich and creamy, but the maduro is often like eating a chocolate candy bar. The nicotine can give you a bit of a kick at the end though...but I only worry about that with the larger viotlas. Just smoke on a full stomach. These NCs are very different from CCs, but certainly worth a try.

[Stalebread]

Within the last two or three weeks I smoked a '26 that was over two years old and was really surprised at how much pepper it had in the beginning. It was an overpowering sensation. Not pleasant. The opposite of a balanced smoke. It mellowed out after about a half-inch but was not at all what I remember or expect from a Padron '26, or '64 for that matter.

[khomeinist]

I have been noticing a change in the 1926 blend for over a year now. Much more of a ligero, pepper kick. Not pleasant in my book. I don't know the reason for this change.

Up the ligero in response to market conditions?

Different qualities in recent Nicaraguan tobacco crops?

Less aged tobacco in Padron warehouses?

No idea. But I know many that are finding Padron cigars harsher than in previous years.

[bobsled]

The 1926 Maduro is not for the faint of heart. It is a potent, strong cigar with a lot of flavor. It is one of the few NC's I purchase and enjoy, the flavor has been consistent for me. I keep them in a separate humi because of their unique aroma.

I do not enjoy the naturals for some reason nearly as much, I suggest trying one you are certain is a maduro, you may be surprised.

[PointSource]

This is my go to NC, but the Maduro version. I think it's fantastic.

[finecigar]

I tried this one Padilla and Rocky Patel- maybe it was just luck but it kicked these expensive sticks out of the water. I am growing farther apart from NC's though.

[lemmycaution]

I've always thought you could never get a bad Padron. Even if you don't like them they have always been consistent. A couple of months ago I bought 2-1964 maduros (I don't remember the exact size), to have with a friend who smokes occasionally. We lit them up and from the beginning they were very harsh with nothing but a strong pepper flavor. For the most part, I normally enjoy Padron cigars but these were unsmokable for the both of us. So there goes the theory you never get a bad Padron...

[thechenman]

I like the older Padilla blends, especially when Pepin was making the cigars. The Miami 8&11s were my favorite. Now Padilla cigars are a shadow of what they once were. As for Rocky Patel...I can honestly say he makes way too much crap. He should focus more on cigars and less on marketing. Of all his cigars, the only three that I care for are the Vintage 1990, Sun Grown and Decade.

[CanuckSARTech]

My remembrance was not heavy spice at all. I got rich creamy mouth fulls of smoke. I got a lot of coffee and dark chocolate. Maybe a little spice throughout but not too much. Crazy how these things can vary! I smoked that thing till my finger tips started burning.

-Patrick

Same exactly. Thick, meaty smoke coating the mouth, billowing with cafe-au-lait and dark chocolate, with a hint of spice (almost a pink peppercorn with nutmeg tone). I've found them quite consistent to date.

I have been noticing a change in the 1926 blend for over a year now. Much more of a ligero, pepper kick. Not pleasant in my book. I don't know the reason for this change.

Up the ligero in response to market conditions?

Different qualities in recent Nicaraguan tobacco crops?

Less aged tobacco in Padron warehouses?

No idea. But I know many that are finding Padron cigars harsher than in previous years.

That's not good to hear. Every one of these that I've had has been from 2007-2008 production boxes. What were the date slips on the recent stuff that you've noticed a change on?

Not happy to hear this - getting ready to pick up another box of these soon from Michigan; I might have to give the tobacconist over there a head's up, to see if he can find me any older boxes, outside of the change if there is one.

[CanuckSARTech]

And I vote that the one in your picture is a Maduro version.

There's a very definitive difference between the Maduro and the Natural. I have both in my humidor, and yours is a spot-on Maduro.

[khomeinist]

The padron 1926s that I am referring to are 2009/2010 boxes. Very recent production. Sampled from many boxes.

But hey. Try a couple of singles and let me know what you think. If you like the 45 Hammer release (I do not) then you might be ok.

[Omskakas]

And I vote that the one in your picture is a Maduro version.

There's a very definitive difference between the Maduro and the Natural. I have both in my humidor, and yours is a spot-on Maduro.

I ordered it as a vanilla. Retailer mistake? Thanks for letting me know what I smoked.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Bleeding awful Nicaraguan garbage! I'm just too accustomed to the taste of real cigars.

[SirSmokeALot]

Pretty surprised this was such a disappointment. Padron's are one of my favorite non cuban brands.

As others have mentioned, I agree the 1926 line are way too spendy for what you get but usually deliver a tasty smoke. Perhaps you just got unlucky and drew a bad apple. Weird though because I think padrons are more consistent in quality that most cuban lines. Not necessarily better, just more consistent. That said, Nicaraguan tobacco has a unique flavor and is not for everyone.

[CanuckSARTech]

I ordered it as a vanilla. Retailer mistake? Thanks for letting me know what I smoked.

Could be a retailer mistake. Not really that big of a deal, probably better for you I would think. I believe that the Maduro versions are about 5-10% more per stick than the Natural, IIRC.

But, just a frustrating confusion if you're trying to compare taste testings, and compare to earlier tasting notes (like I do), or compare to other outside/published reviews.