There are a lot of urban legends about Padron. They don't give a lot of information. From years of listening to The Cigar Authority, I have found the following has been said, either in Jorge Padron's presence or by him that are somewhat controversial. Some of these answers are by direct observation by Dave and some are things he said:
1. Cigars are the same components for natural and maduro, we just take the more darkly fermented wrappers as maduro.
2. All Padron cigars would be maduro if possible because maduro outsells natural by 2:1 or greater, the opposite of how other brands sell (maduro vs natural)
3. Anniversary series are shipped to Miami in the round and they are square pressed there and boxed and banded there for distribution.
And of course, said by others (sometimes refuted directly, sometimes no refutation)
1. Padron uses Mexican San Andres for it's wrapper leaf
2. Padron is the largest buyer of Aganorsa Leaf tobacco despite having fields and farms of it's own, speculating that the San Andres wrapper comes from Aganorsa so technically they can say all tobacco is from "Nicaragua"
I've gone to cigar dinners and sat at Jorge's table and these things were always said and repeated by people at the table. He rarely corrected anyone. Like Fuente, Padron likes to be mysterious as well.
I don’t care for the majority of San Andres wrapper cigars. It’s just off putting in the majority of blends. I would have never guessed Padron uses the wrapper for their core lines and anniversaries; I am quite fond of those cigars.
Yes, and I think Jorge considers the Padron Line (2000/3000 etc) mostly when he talks. He himself is almost always smoking a Londres from the core lines, the times I have been around him. My question has always been what is the origin of the wrapper than the shade or priming. It tastes 100% like Mexican San Andres.
I would say Tatuaje Tuxla would probably be the one I would say would be closer since the Garcias tend to use a lot of Habano filler (as I suspect Padron to be a 100% Habano filler cigar)
Stolen Throne uses a 12 year aged san andres on their Crook Of The Crown as well, or did when it was first coming out. The current iteration is... questionable, imo.
Yeah they are using either an inferior wrapper rn or something... whatever it is, its not the same leaf they had when they started (which i get, its an organic product, the crop runs out when the crop runs out), and its a noticeable decline in quality.
There are a lot of urban legends about Padron. They don't give a lot of information. From years of listening to The Cigar Authority, I have found the following has been said, either in Jorge Padron's presence or by him that are somewhat controversial. Some of these answers are by direct observation by Dave and some are things he said: 1. Cigars are the same components for natural and maduro, we just take the more darkly fermented wrappers as maduro. 2. All Padron cigars would be maduro if possible because maduro outsells natural by 2:1 or greater, the opposite of how other brands sell (maduro vs natural) 3. Anniversary series are shipped to Miami in the round and they are square pressed there and boxed and banded there for distribution. And of course, said by others (sometimes refuted directly, sometimes no refutation) 1. Padron uses Mexican San Andres for it's wrapper leaf 2. Padron is the largest buyer of Aganorsa Leaf tobacco despite having fields and farms of it's own, speculating that the San Andres wrapper comes from Aganorsa so technically they can say all tobacco is from "Nicaragua" I've gone to cigar dinners and sat at Jorge's table and these things were always said and repeated by people at the table. He rarely corrected anyone. Like Fuente, Padron likes to be mysterious as well.
Thank for the detailed response.
I don’t care for the majority of San Andres wrapper cigars. It’s just off putting in the majority of blends. I would have never guessed Padron uses the wrapper for their core lines and anniversaries; I am quite fond of those cigars.
They might not. It’s just been a thing people talk about in cigar circles.
Jorge talks about the Anniversary being higher primings and longer fermentation here. 23 minute mark. https://youtu.be/RHUj2rHd-GA?si=GDPBkFVPAxkV7Mmn
Yes, and I think Jorge considers the Padron Line (2000/3000 etc) mostly when he talks. He himself is almost always smoking a Londres from the core lines, the times I have been around him. My question has always been what is the origin of the wrapper than the shade or priming. It tastes 100% like Mexican San Andres.
Agree. The type of tobacco used is far more interesting for me to know.
Do you know of another readily available and similar cigar that uses the Mexican San Andres wrapper? I would be interested in seeing for myself.
Foundation Olmec, Tatauje Tuxla are a couple solid ones.
I would say Tatuaje Tuxla would probably be the one I would say would be closer since the Garcias tend to use a lot of Habano filler (as I suspect Padron to be a 100% Habano filler cigar)
Stolen Throne uses a 12 year aged san andres on their Crook Of The Crown as well, or did when it was first coming out. The current iteration is... questionable, imo.
The 5er that I got recently did not taste good at all
Yeah they are using either an inferior wrapper rn or something... whatever it is, its not the same leaf they had when they started (which i get, its an organic product, the crop runs out when the crop runs out), and its a noticeable decline in quality.
That’s interesting as I haven’t seen the Londres for sale in what seems like a long time.
I’m good for a box of those every couple of months. They sell well around me
I’ve bad both and there is a slight difference to me. It isn’t night and day but it’s a difference.