Padron Black PB-97 review

[JDoughty]

Nabbed one of the last Padron Black from the shelf at Pipe & Pint in Durham on the recommendation of the folks there and it's been sitting in my humidor at 63RH for a couple of months. Decided it was time for a comfy pufferating session in my camo pajamas on the couch, one of the last I'll get for awhile since archery deer season is opening later this month. The cold draw had hints of baking spice, rich cocoa and a hint of woodsiness. First light yielded a nice creamy texture with aromas of hay and a touch of leather. Flavors were smooth and well structured throughout, with a bit of milk chocolate and baking spice, raisin sweetness and some liquorice. In the last third, some rich cappucino notes emerged, with natural sweetness and earthiness predominating. The ash was solid and lingering, though I had to knock it off a few times for a light re-toasting of the foot. Overall impression was one of elegance and subtlety. Definitely a well constructed cigar, rich and full bodied with generous volumes of creamy smoke, lasting about 90 minutes for a leisurely puffing session. The draw was slightly tight, but soon corrected with a draw tool. 

Would I buy it again? Probably not. It is undeniably a quality stick, and I appreciated the elegance and structure of its well balanced flavors, but for the price point there are many other cigars that I personally find more enjoyable. The one good thing about the top shelf Padrons is they are ready to smoke on release, and they save me from hungrily eyeing the boxes of Montecristos in my aging humidor that I shouldn't be digging into quite yet.