The Padrón Dámaso is the mildest Padrón: a round cigar with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, launched in 2015 and ... Read More
A Different Kind of Padrón For half a century Padrón was known for box-pressed Nicaraguan puros. The Dámaso, announced in June 2015 and shipped that July, broke the pattern. It was Padrón's first regular line with a Connecticut wrapper: an Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf over Nicaraguan bind... Read More
A Different Kind of Padrón
For half a century Padrón was known for box-pressed Nicaraguan puros. The Dámaso, announced in June 2015 and shipped that July, broke the pattern. It was Padrón's first regular line with a Connecticut wrapper: an Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf over Nicaraguan binder and long filler. The cigars are round, not pressed, and each cigar comes in cellophane. They are still made at Padrón's Tabacos Cubanica factory in Nicaragua.
The line is named for Dámaso Padrón, José Orlando Padrón's grandfather, who was the first of the family to come to Cuba from the Canary Islands, in the late 1800s. Padrón describes the Dámaso as mild to medium, which makes it the gentlest cigar the company makes. In 2016 Padrón added two Red Label sizes, the No. 34 and No. 32, which it offers for a more robust profile.
Dámaso Sizes
The Original Four
- Dámaso No. 8, 5.5 x 46: a corona gorda, the slimmest size.
- Dámaso No. 12, 5 x 50: the robusto, and the easiest place to start.
- Dámaso No. 15, 6 x 52: the toro.
- Dámaso No. 17, 7 x 54: a long churchill for a relaxed afternoon.
Red Label Sizes
- Dámaso No. 32, 5.25 x 52: a robusto with a fuller profile.
- Dámaso No. 34, 6 x 52: a round torpedo, the only Dámaso with a tapered head.
All six are available individually, in 5-packs and in boxes of 20. There is no maduro Dámaso; the Connecticut wrapper is the point of the line.
Strength and Taste
We list the No. 8, 12, 15 and 17 as mild to medium and the two Red Label sizes as medium. The original four are creamy and woody, with cream, cedar, citrus, honey and roasted peanut, and a light white or black pepper at the edges. The No. 32 adds bread, cinnamon, black tea and praline, and the No. 34 brings cherry, dried fruit, vanilla and more pepper. Even the Red Label sizes are milder than any of Padrón's Nicaraguan-wrapped lines.
Who the Dámaso Suits
- Morning or daytime smokers: the No. 8 and No. 12 pair well with coffee.
- Newer smokers: a gentle introduction to Padrón's construction without the strength of the box-pressed lines.
- Connecticut fans: anyone who usually smokes shade-wrapped cigars and wants to try Padrón.
- Padrón regulars: the Red Label No. 32 or No. 34 makes a lighter change of pace from a 1964 or Thousand Series.
You can try the No. 32 alongside four other Padrón lines in the Collection Sampler, part of our Padrón samplers. If you want to move up in strength, the Thousand Series is the next step.
How the Dámaso Compares
Next to the rest of the Padrón range, the Dámaso stands apart on three counts. It is the only line with a non-Nicaraguan wrapper, the only one sold exclusively in a single wrapper shade, and, with the 60th Anniversary, one of only two Padrón lines that are round in every size. Padrón doesn't publish an aging period for the Dámaso the way it does for the 1964, 1926 and Family Reserve, so we don't list one. What it shares with its siblings is the Nicaraguan binder and filler and the factory where it is rolled.
If you smoke a 1964 or 1926 most of the time, a Dámaso No. 12 or No. 15 in the morning makes an easy way to keep Padrón in the rotation all day.
Keeping Connecticut Wrappers in Shape
Store Dámaso cigars at 65 to 70 percent humidity. Connecticut wrappers are delicate, so avoid sudden swings in humidity. The cellophane can stay on in the humidor; it slows how quickly the cigars take on humidity but does not stop it.
Padrón Dámaso FAQ
Who is Dámaso Padrón?
José Orlando Padrón's grandfather, the first Padrón to arrive in Cuba from the Canary Islands, in the late 1800s.
What wrapper does the Dámaso use?
An Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, over Nicaraguan binder and filler.
Is the Dámaso box-pressed?
No. Every Dámaso is round, unlike most Padrón cigars.
What does Red Label mean?
Red Label is Padrón's name for the No. 32 and No. 34, which it offers for a more robust profile than the original four sizes. Both were added in 2016.
Is there a maduro version?
No. The Dámaso is only made with the Connecticut wrapper.
Which Dámaso should I try first?
The No. 12 robusto for the classic profile, or the Red Label No. 32 if you want a bit more strength in a similar size.