Bad Padilla Obsidian Experience.........
lilwing88
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,787
I had a Padilla Obsidian Torpedo tonight. Unfortunately, I had a nightmare of an experience. I guess this happens to every smoker at least once, but this cigar had issues from the get-go. Pre-light, it felt too densely packed to the touch. No give at all. Not dried out, just very firm. I cut it at the traditional spot for a Torp and right away I could tell it was gonna be a tight draw. But i toasted it anyways. I had trouble geting it going, this thing was packed TIGHT! Finally get it lit, and at first, I get some good smoke output but its taking a lot of effort. I decide to cut another 1/8th of an inch off, to open it up a bit more. It works but only a little. It could have been plugged, but it didn't seem to be. There were lots of burn issues that had to be corrected through the first inch and a half. I gave it about a third before I abandoned ship.
I'm not giving up hope on this one. I'll try it agin someday, because all the problems aside, the flavor was excellent. A very intense maduro, with lots of flavor profiiles. Hopefully I'll get to distinguish them all with my next stick.
I'm not giving up hope on this one. I'll try it agin someday, because all the problems aside, the flavor was excellent. A very intense maduro, with lots of flavor profiiles. Hopefully I'll get to distinguish them all with my next stick.
Comments
I had the same issue, the taste was great when you could get any, but it was like trying to suck a bowling ball through a garden hose...people have told me to let it sit out, I have done that and the draw was still terrible...it is a shame because they are not bad in flavor. Some people tell me to poke holes in the end with a skewer, why should I do that...for that reason, and them not being advertised on here or anywere as overtight cigars, I won't be ordering them again...I just wish I had known before I got them in the first place....to bad you can't get refunds for false advertising or bad products.
i had taste issues.
I guess it all depends on whatever feeds your monkey.....
+4 I havent tried to drybox yet so that might help. Its really hard for me to smoke a stick again that has already been bad when I have so many others to try.
Personally, I think Padilla just has quality control problems. I've had similar problems with the Obsidian. I love the flavor of the 1968, but most of the ones I've smoked have been on the other end of the spectrum -- pretty seriously under-filled. Oddly enough, the one Padilla I've found consistently well-made is the Achilles.
edit: I just read Alex's post about AJ and it looks like the Habano was made by Oliva, then Fernandez, now back to Oliva. Can't go wrong either way there...
So I have a few Habanos in my humidor and decided that last night I would try one out. The taste was good, and there was no draw issues with this cigar, despite all my other experiences with Padilla I was pleased. Pleased that is until it hit the jet fuel/two stems on one side of the stick and despite my best efforts wouldn't be controlled until the last third of the stick. I was disappointed by this but I am holding out hope for the others in my humidor...hopefully they will just be tobacco not tobacco and tree.
Now I am starting to think that maybe there is something wrong with the way I smoke/light/hold/look at my Padilla sticks! What have I done to offend them so???
PS-A crappy Padilla is still better than the best Graycliff... :-)
You might as well smoke the nearly $5 this POS retails for - you're likely to have less burn issues if you do. No BS, I actually ran my Bugatti OUT correcting burn issues.
Glad I could save you. :-D
I like Graycliff 1666 though, I see why people might not like them, but they are NO OBSIDIAN!
As for the Graycliff 1666, it's not horrible, but I'm not going out of my way to find one, either.