Padrón Dámaso
Padrón Cigars, a mark that needs no introduction, winner of countless awards and the highest ratings from multiple publications, is introducing a new line of cigars for the first time in seven years! Get ready for the Padrón Dámaso. The Padrón Dámaso is Padrón’s first new regular production line since the Family Reserve ultra-premium line back in 2008. The Padrón Dámaso is expected to be priced between $10 and $14, but no official pricing has been released by Padrón. Anthony’s Cigar Emporium will be at the official unveiling of Padrón Dámaso on the July 17th IPCPR Convention, and will be taking pre-orders next week. Padrón Cigars expects to begin shipping the Padrón Dámaso in late August – early September.
The Padrón Dámaso is a round parejo, Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar, being a true departure of the sharply box pressed Nicaraguan puros that Padrón is famous for. “This is a totally new blend, completely different than anything we have done before,” Jorge Padrón, president of Padrón Cigars Inc., told Cigar Aficionado. “It’s Connecticut our way.” The Connecticut seed wrapper is the first by Padrón. The company has worked with a specific “formula” in terms of all of its releases – namely releasing a Nicaraguan Habano natural and a Maduro wrapper with 100% Nicaraguan long fillers. The Padrón Dámaso features a Connecticut seed wrapper from an undisclosed country over Nicaraguan binder and filler leaves. The Connecticut seed wrapper is believed to be the first by Padrón. The company has worked with a “formula” in terms of its releases – namely releasing a Nicaraguan Habano natural and a Maduro wrapper. The Padrón Dámaso is rolled adjacent to Padrón’s main cigar factory in Estelí Nicaragua “It’s made next to the existing factory, in an area where we used to store [tobacco] bales. We moved the bales and made that into the [Dámaso] factory,” said Jorge Padrón, President of Padrón and son of José Padrón. Jorge said his strategy was to make a milder cigar, but one that still had character. “It has to taste like tobacco, it has to have flavor,” he said. “Everything is still the same—we just didn’t want to mix the two. It’s important to separate.” Jorge Padrón indicated the change required hiring some new workers, but the majority of the workers on the new project had worked at Padrón before. “Ninety percent of the people are coming from within,” he said.
Padrón brochures describe the cigar as “for those who seek the quality and consistency of Padrón in a milder taste profile.” Jose Padrón, founder Padrón Cigars, described the inspiration of the Padrón Dámaso: This Cigar was named for my grandfather Dámaso, who was the first Padrón to arrive in Cuba sometime in the late 1800’s from the Canary Islands. In Cuba, we called people from the ‘Isleños.’ They were serious people who kept their word. Isleños tended to work in farming, and in this tradition my grandfather rented a small piece of land in Pinar del Rio and started growing tobacco. Dámaso was an honest decent man and a hard worker. He taught us to honor our word and be humble. These are lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life. I have tried to pass them on to my children. It means a lot to me that we are making this cigar in honor of my grandfather. He gave us life, a family and our start in this industry. I hope he’s somewhere looking down and feeling proud of the company we have built. I’d like to think Dámaso would be honored that we are continuing his legacy. He would be proud that cigars bearing his name are sold around the world.
The Padróns have been working on Padrón Dámaso for nearly a year, but the concept of the cigar preceded its title. When it came time to think of a name, Jorge Padrón turned to his three children. He said: “One day I came home and I sat down with my kids, and I said ‘Can any of you come up with a name for a new cigar?” His son, Jorge Luis, suggested Dámaso after doing some research on the Internet. “My dad,” Jorge said, “loved it.” Jorge Padrón said he had no short-term production targets for Padrón Dámaso.
Padrón Dámaso will come in four sizes to begin with, each of them named for the age of one of José Orlando Padrón’s grandchildren. No. 8 measures 5 ½” x 46 (Corona); No. 12 is 5” x 50 (Robusto); No. 15 is 6” x 52 (Toro) and No. 17 is 7” x 54 (Churchill). Jorge said: “We’re going to go little by little. We’re not in a hurry. We want to make sure this product comes out and launches on the right foot. We’re focused on producing a quality product… We want to make sure we have products for every consumer—that’s the goal.” The Padrón Dámaso will be packaged in 20 count boxes. The cigar is described as mild to medium bodied.
Padrón Dámaso
Made by: Padrón Cigars
Country of Manufacture: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Dimensions: No. 12 (5″ x 50 Robusto), No. 8 (5 1/2″ x 46 Corona), No. 15 (6″ x 52 Toro), and No. 17 (7″ x 54 Churchill)
