What did you smoke today (NC) II

[NeverBend]

2012 Padron Series Churchill Maduro with Kirkland coffee with light cream on a lovely but brisk late, late Winter morning.

Similar to other Padron (hundreds) Series I've smoked over the past 4-5 years, this stick has significant construction issues. In this case there are 2 seams (~3/4" long) in the wrapper (it's not big enough), the wrapper is visually unappealing and it's loosely packed. Burns a bit fast and a tad uneven but given an undersized/flawed wrapper and too little tobacco, it took some skill to make it worth smoking. The quality of the leaf is very good, excellent wine like taste with sweet berries.

Before the Padron 1964 Anniversary and 1926 series were introduced the Series were exceptional. Are the more recent Series rolled by apprentices or seconds or intended to be lesser cigars?

Perhaps all of the above. The consistency of quality issues, sparse pack, visual low quality of the wrapper and flaws or rolling errors make me believe that the Padron Series is, essentially, a second. Padron gets no brownie points for lack of QC or willingness to be self critical. If the Series were represented as a second then I'd feel them to be overpriced but quality seconds because they taste good (and after all, that is the bottom), but I fear that it's as much or more a gouge of their name and reputation with customers. There's not a snowball chance in hell that the cigar that I'm about to finish ever got a '90+' rating from any reputable rating 'body' but that's a whole 'nother post.

[Cardinal]

Kicking off March Madness today with a new one to me. Good so far.

[OtismyMan]

Nice little crack stick ..

[allusred]

Warped Flor Del Valle Las Brumas...4.5x48. First smoke of the day, a good one.

[Cardinal]

Rd 2 as Middle Tennessee St leads Michigan St with 2 minus left.

[BlueDevil07]

Wish I had some bourbon or rum right about now.

[DogRockets]

A day late but smoking a candela today. Alec Bradley Filthy Hooligan

[tonyzoc]

Perdomo Champagne Noir Toro

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...psgwluyk50.jpg

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[Bruck]

Having a nice, little Brohiba this evening, paired with some Esperanto tequila. Tonite's stick is wrapped in CT Broadleaf and bound with Dark Air, both from Larry in KY; filler is nicaraguan and brazilian. The Brazilian gives it some citrusy tanginess.

[tjhemp]

Another short time to smoke so another short story is in order.