Padron Damaso No. 17 (Robusto) Review

The Padron Damaso No. 17 looks like an unfamiliar Padron. The wrapper is light caramel-tan, dramatically lighter than every other Padron in the catalog. This is Ecuadoran Connecticut Shade, and it makes the Damaso instantly recognizable as the brand's mild offering.

The construction reads as pure Padron. The box press is firm and uniform. The cap is cleanly applied. The cigar feels well-packed without being heavy. The double band, the white-and-gold Padron band over a separate Damaso band, is a departure from the simpler standard Padron banding.

The cold draw pulls at moderate resistance. Pre-light flavors are subtle: cream, cedar, light hay, faint butter. The aroma at the foot is delicate, lighter than any other Padron, sweet cedar, light tobacco, faint nuttiness. The Damaso is built to be approachable rather than aggressive.

The first third opens with the cedar-and-cream core that defines Connecticut Shade smoking. Within three draws, cedar, butter cream, light almond, and a thin pepper accent settle in. The body sits at mild medium, never crossing into full.

The smoke output is moderate, less dense than the maduro Padrons but consistent. The burn line is razor-sharp from the start, the Padron hallmark across all price tiers. The ash holds in tight light-gray banding.

The retrohale is gentle. Soft white pepper, sweet cedar, light cream finish. The retrohale here is markedly softer than the [1964 Anniversary Natural](https://cigarfinder.com/reviews/padron-1964-anniversary-natural-robusto-review). This is the Padron retrohale dialed back for newer palates.

For smokers stepping up from very mild beginner cigars (Macanudo, Romeo y Julieta 1875), the Damaso is a natural progression. It introduces the Padron family construction at a body level that does not overwhelm.

The second third deepens slightly. Cedar holds steady. The cream thickens into something closer to butter or shortbread. A subtle hazelnut emerges. A faint sweetness appears that reads more like honey than dried fruit.

The body shifts marginally toward medium but never crosses. This is the Damaso's design, restraint without thinness. Where the [Padron 3000 Maduro](https://cigarfinder.com/reviews/padron-3000-maduro-review) pushes toward solid medium, the Damaso stays comfortably in mild medium territory.

The complexity here is genuinely refined for a Connecticut Shade cigar. Three or four distinct notes are available on any single draw, and the integration is seamless. Many Connecticut Shade cigars at this price tier feel one-dimensional. The Damaso does not.

Construction continues flawless. No touch-ups. The draw is unchanged. The ash drops cleanly.

The final third stays in the Damaso's elegant zone. Cedar holds. The cream and almond core does not collapse. A faint vanilla or honey emerges late, signaling the Connecticut Shade wrapper's natural sweetness.

This is where the Damaso surprises. Many Connecticut Shade cigars get bland or harsh in the final inches. The Damaso stays balanced. The flavors do not collapse. The retrohale stays clean.

The pepper, mild throughout, becomes slightly more present in the final third but never aggressive. The cigar warms slightly in the last inch but does not become harsh. Total smoke time runs 50 to 70 minutes at a relaxed pace.

The Padron Damaso is the brand's beginner-friendly offering. Released in 2015 as Padron's first Connecticut Shade cigar, the Damaso fills a gap in the catalog, the brand's first cigar designed for milder palates and morning coffee smoking.

What the Damaso does better than most Connecticut Shade cigars at the price tier is construction. The 1964 Anniversary, 1926, and Family Reserve are all rolled with Padron's signature precision. The Damaso is rolled with the same precision. The wrapper is different, the filler is shorter-aged, but the construction quality is identical.

For Padron newcomers who want to start with the brand's lighter offerings before working up to the maduro lines, the Damaso is the obvious entry. The progression from there to a Padron loyalist runs Damaso, then [3000 Maduro](https://cigarfinder.com/reviews/padron-3000-maduro-review), then [1964 Anniversary Natural](https://cigarfinder.com/reviews/padron-1964-anniversary-natural-robusto-review), then the maduro lines.

For experienced smokers who want a milder Padron for morning coffee or breakfast smoking, the Damaso is also the answer. The cedar-and-cream profile pairs beautifully with coffee in a way that the maduro lines do not.

Pricing is $8 to $10 per stick, slightly above the [Padron 3000](https://cigarfinder.com/reviews/padron-3000-maduro-review) but below the [1964 Anniversary lines](https://cigarfinder.com/reviews/padron-1964-anniversary-natural-robusto-review). Widely available at major online retailers. [Compare pricing across 18 retailers](https://cigarfinder.com/coupons) before any box purchase. For more on Connecticut Shade cigars, read [best Connecticut wrapper cigars 2027](https://cigarfinder.com/blog/336-best-connecticut-wrapper-cigars-in-2027-8-mild-premium-picks).

Final score: 87/100.

Best paired with morning coffee, light bourbon (Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark), Speyside Scotch (Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12), Champagne, or aged white wine. The Damaso's cedar-and-cream profile pairs broadly across mild and medium spirits. For more pairing strategy, read [best cigars for coffee pairing](https://cigarfinder.com/blog/325-best-cigars-for-coffee-pairing-in-2027-7-morning-and-afternoon-matches).