Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Size: 7 x 50 Churchill
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $178.00
Released: Marh 2024
Quantity Released: Undisclosed
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia, Dominican Republic

My one and only cigar received one year of home humidor time…in its cello.

BACKGROUND:
From Cigar Aficionado:
“We discussed Jorge blending a cigar in honor of my father, out of respect and gratitude,” says Fuente Jr. “And I was going to make a cigar that Mr. José Orlando Padrón would like.” It was a curious move, two rival companies, each a leader in the world of fine cigars, working together on a project that would bear both of their names. Coke doesn’t share the stage with Pepsi; Porsche and BMW don’t do joint projects; Rolex doesn’t make a watch with Patek Philippe.

“Two and a half years after that initial meeting, on a blazing hot July afternoon in Las Vegas, their idea had its unveiling. Fuente Jr. and Padrón stood on a small stage assembled on the floor of the PCA trade show. In front of a crowd of retailers, they showed off their creation, called Fuente y Padrón Legends.

“Proceeds from these highly anticipated cigars will be donated to two charities, the Fuente family’s Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and the Padrón Family Foundation.

“Two generations of cigar excellence. Carlos Fuente Jr. (top left) and Jorge Padrón (top right) with their fathers José O. Padrón (bottom left) and Carlos Fuente Sr. in Miami in 2014.” Photo courtesy of Cigar Aficionado:

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I found two reviews. One was written in January of this year and the other in July of this year. The blends were received favorably.

This is a very solid cigar carrying considerable weight.

As expected, the wrapper aromas are uptight and outta sight with notes of baking spices, floral, honeysuckle, strong dark chocolate, and a hint of citrus.

I pierce the cap using my PerfecPunch. It releases a cold draw full of peanuts and cinnamon, lots of cedar, aged bourbon, bell peppers, lemon zest, and mild black pepper.

SE Wisconsin was hit with a 1000-year historic rainfall on Saturday. Floods everywhere. People are homeless. We live in the southern part of Milwaukee County and received 10” in 8 hours. As a result, humidity is penetrating my humidors to the point that I have seen a lot of my cigars become over humidified. I grab my Humidimeter and test this morning’s cigar. It reads 69%. I’m good to go. I’ve looked forward to this for a long time.

Lovely beginning with punchy flavors of chocolate, an array of spicy peppers, peanuts, and delicious grilled porterhouse steak. Movin’ on up. Richness and refinement is immediate. Could this turn into a 2-1/2-hour treatise of how to blend cigars ? I hope so.

My next review will be this cigar’s partner, Fuente y Padrón Legends José O. Padrón Honoring Carlito Fuente Jr. See below:

Extremely creamy, melted butter, fresh Georgia peaches, cinnamon, mild red pepper, scorched earth, smoked brisket, and a touch of lemon zest. This is very simple, but elegant. Fingers crossed.

I take a lingering sip from my latte (I bought a frother) and then two puffs. I hold the smoke in my mouth until it is as cool as Inigo Montoya. The cigar mimics the rich coffee goodness. Flavors are lithe and supple. It feels like they are breathing in unison with my breaths.

The ash is delicate and cannot survive a modest touch of the ashtray. Showing off a foot long ash was fun but it was a phase because I no longer have the patience. I love the taste of Pruno in the morning.

Here’s the thing. A super excellent cigar should be available for less than two hundred bucks. Way less. I really expect a BJ when spending this kind of dough. I will suffice with the sound of the ash falling on my lap.

I often see Eddie Munster wearing my Eddie and the Monsters tee shirts. He must have duplicated them while strategically omitting the Pine Kone copyright underneath the design. I was accustomed to hearing from Butch regularly during his battle with his addictions. He always wanted something. I still have pristine 45 singles in their sleeves, promo photos, and a couple tees. I’d have more in my collection but I was an easy pushover for the kid from Mockingbird Lane.

This cigar is treating me right. I’m having a real good time. A natural sweetness begins to overcome the heavy savory input at inch two. The balance is forming nicely.

Transitions start to dilate. Initial reports that showed off a rich quality begins to exhibit an impressive depth that has me craving constant puff n huff. Despite the inherent impatience of this old man, I refrain from shoving the cigar in my mouth while pretending to be a fedora wearing newsprint journalist from 1946. I stave off that craving and allow the cigar to breathe.

Creamy and smooth.

The char line ain’t too cool for school. It isn’t as sharp as the part in my hair…but it will do, pig. It will do.

Another sip of coffee and the spiciness is released. But it subsides a few seconds later. Refinement guides the script. I fill my mouth with more smoke. Not unlike the same smoke I shove up your patootie. Only this erudite smolder is mouthwatering beyond anything I’ve tasted in a while.

The second third shows its face after nearly an hour. I have a sudden craving for gefilte fish. This horrendous Jewish delicacy always came out for the holidays. Thankfully, God invented horseradish to glop over the jellied roly poly fish parts. Don’t have to live like a refugee.

Sips of water cleanse the palate for the next puff.

Besides the ever-present creaminess, the next in line for a constant is the freshly roasted peanuts and café au lait. Chocolate all but disappears. Candied lemon uncrisps the zestiness. Baking spices come to the forefront. The meatiness lessens as the blend finds another gear. Flavors dole out a serious complexity that this cigar wears well.

After the first shoot for the Eddie Munster music video went balls up, I had to come up with another plan. The night before we were scheduled to shoot the scenes in front of Hollywood High School, I did a line of blow and wrote 30 scenes in 20 minutes. Turns out that all of them ended up in the finished video. Don’t say no to drugs. Especially if they’re free.

The cigar is hovering on the cusp of it becoming spectacular. While other bloggers gave this cigar a big thumbs up with ratings of 90, I feel the urge from my loins that I will rate it higher. But I’ve got a long road to hoe here. Construction is spot on making this a slow journey to mecca.

I’m beginning to feel sedated. Lulled into a false frenzy of feelin’ alright.

Single slurps of my coffee bring out the best of this blend.

The first half is dead. Long live the Legends. It took almost an hour and a half. I’m not complaining.

Strength in that first half was an easy going medium. But now, it has been ratcheted up. Medium/full is in play. Signals from my fingers to the keyboard are becoming difficult. I shall don my cape and muster a go it alone stand for justice and the American way.

I gotta get up and stretch. Be right back.

I needed another bass guitar. Musicians suffer the unrequited desire for more. We surround ourselves with tools for laying down the beat. Leo Fender developed a boutique line of guitars and basses under the moniker G&L. I snagged a fretless version.

The second half displays all the characteristics of the sweet spot. The intensity of transitions is dedicated with subtle yumminess. It don’t get any more sophisticated than this. If one could only snag this cigar for $15 what a wonderful world this would be.

When you’re in the studio, felons find their way inside to give you free dope. I was a chicken shit as I didn’t see the need to be poisoned by a stranger. Most of the folks I worked with had no issues with emancipated drugs and did whatever was offered. Fortunately, no one died.

Salted caramel shows up and drags with it an even more potent sweet lemon. This would be the perfect cigar after a big meal and a good waterpik session. I could have reviewed this cigar on a full belly. I see now it was a mistake to indulge on an empty stomach. I take no responsibility as I cannot afford multiples of this expensive cigar.

In the 60’s, record albums were either $1.99 or $2.99. Rock stars always charged the latter.

Chocolate makes a welcome return. The blend morphs into mocha java. And then I taste Almond Joy. Creamy smoothness is still the driving force. Brisket makes a resounding comeback.

The last third is the teller of tales. If it can bear down, I’m all in. Actually, I just shuddered. The term ‘bear down’ is not something any man wants to hear.

And…it delivers. What a ride. It is now 3 hours later. And I am completely saturated in good vibrations. I was dreading this review because I didn’t want to write a thumbs down critique. I hate blasting a cigar for being dreadful. Fortunately, this dynamic duo came through with flying colors. While we work on different wavelengths, this cigar deserves better than just a rating of 90.

99% of us cannot afford the $178 cigar. But there’s hope. The once expensive Padrón blends are now reasonable compared to the giant uptick in pricing over the last year. I recommend you seek them out from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN. You can also retrieve Fuente cigars from an expansive selection from Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.

RATING: 97

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, fuente, Fuente y Padrón Legends ~ Carlos Fuente Jr. Honoring José O. Padrón | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, katman, padron cigars, phil kohn