George T. Mormann

I had a long drive ahead of me. I was going to Chicago, and was in the mood for a consistent smoke to last as long as the interstate. I selected the Padrón Principe from the 1926 Anniversary series because I had yet to try a cigar from that series. Padrón makes a fine smoke, and cigars of the anniversary line are box-pressed and rolled with tobacco that’s been aged four years. They’re also double banded, and the second band that is wrapped under the top band contains an individual serial number of sorts, to ensure it’s an authentic cigar of the anniversary line. These cigars are purely Nicaraguan, and the wrapper is maduro, placing it on the stronger side of cigars. Cigar smoking can be a very serious hobby when it comes to details like that.

As far as the smoking experience, the Principe produced a consistent and almost immaculate burn when lit. The ash was weak, however, breaking from the cigar when barely a half of an inch long. To my disdain, the ash fell onto my jeans. The flavor was thick, bready, and I was pleased to encounter a prominent spiciness halfway through, which continued to the end of the smoke. And the strength was impressive for the Principe, given it’s petite size that is similar to a corona. For as much as I enjoyed this cigar, I do feel that there is another variety in the 1926 series that would better suit me.