Cigar Review: Padron 2000 Maduro

It is a pleasure to review this Padron 2000 Maduro. David Alicea, FTNYC Event Coordinator and cigar broker, likes to say that one of the dreams of most serious cigar smokers is to find the perfect $5 cigar that you can smoke every day and not get bored. With respect, I’d like to say that the Padron 2000 is, for me, that cigar (right now anyway). Below is the review.

Blend specifics
Size: 5×50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction
The first thing the regular cigar smoker will notice about the Padron 2000 is the bumpiness of the cigar. After smoking 10-20 of these cigars, it is a fairly consistent quality. Don’t let it fool you though – this cigar is well constructed, has a great burn, and almost always a good draw (sometimes it’s a bit tight). The stick sports the traditional Padron band. The prelight draw releases a bit of spice, natural tobacco, and coffee.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The 2000 opens up with the spice and coffee typical of the 2, 3, 6, and 7000 blends, but you’ll find that, though it is still bold, is a bit more laid back than its larger counterparts. As the cigar progresses, I’ve found that it steadily builds, adding notes of roasted nuts, dark chocolate, and leather. A really nice flavor profile.

What I find most impressive about the 2000, however, is its balance. Unlike the 6000 and 7000, it won’t overwhelm your palate and dry your mouth out, though I would still recommend pairing this cigar with a drink (for this review, I paired dark coffee).

Conclusion
For the price, this cigar is very, very hard to beat. It is one of the few cigars that I would consider purchasing a box, or multiple boxes. The 2000 is the perfect blend of strength, spice, flavor, and profile, all while maintaining an excellent smoothness of texture.

This cigar is available at Nat Sherman on 42nd and 5th ave. for around $5. A killer deal – I recommend dropping by and picking a few up soon.

Final grade: A+