Padron

The Padron 2000 Maduro is the short robusto of the Padrón Series: five inches by a fifty ring, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro in a darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper. The series José Orlando Padrón founded in 1964 now runs fifteen sizes, from the Cortico to the Magnum. This is the compact one. Strength is medium to full. The maduro is the same sun-grown Cuban-seed blend as the natural 2000, taken further in the ferment so the cover leaf darkens.

Padrón ages this line a minimum of two and a half years and rolls it from sun-grown tobacco only. The house calls the result a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke — the everyday brown-label idea, not a four-year 1964 or a five-year 1926. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company. He left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 92 (December 2019) and 90 (April 2016). Those are magazine numbers for this vitola. A nationwide survey of U.S. retailers once ranked the brown-label Padrón third in demand after Opus X and Arturo Fuente.

The 2000 Maduro is the dark-wrapper pocket robusto of that balanced, two-and-a-half-year line: medium-full, Nicaraguan, long-filler, and built for the daily rotation rather than a commemorative box.

“A pressed cigar with a dark wrapper and wrinkled cap. The combustion is even and the draw is lush, showing an earthy, cedary smoke with hints of toasted marshmallow, vanilla and black coffee.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 92 in April 2023.

The Padron 2000 Natural is the same five-by-fifty robusto in the paler sun-grown wrapper. It is a long-filler Nicaraguan puro of Cuban-seed tobacco, medium to full, one of fifteen sizes in the Padrón Series that runs from the Cortico to the Magnum. Where the maduro 2000 spends extra time in fermentation to darken the cover, this one keeps the sun-grown leaf closer to the color it came off the plant.

The line is aged at least two and a half years and rolled entirely from sun-grown tobacco. Padrón frames it as a beautifully balanced, full-bodied everyday smoke — quality and value in the brown label, not the four-year 1964 or the five-year 1926. José Orlando Padrón told Tobacco Business he longed for the cigars he had learned to smoke in Cuba, could not find that taste in Miami, and so began making his own. He left the island in 1961 and started rolling in 1964. The family still owns the company; growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 92 (December 2019) and 90 (April 2016). Among the numbered brown-label sizes, this is the small one in the lighter wrapper: two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, long-filler, and built as a daily smoke.

“The draw of this box-pressed robusto is open and easy, showing a hearty palate of oak, coffee bean, cocoa and almond. Touches of fruit and red pepper spice lead to a leathery finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 91 in June 2025.

The Padron 3000 Maduro is a five-and-a-half by fifty-two robusto from the Padrón Series, dressed in a dark, longer-fermented maduro wrapper. The series is fifteen long-filler sizes, medium to full, aged at least two and a half years, and rolled from sun-grown tobacco only. The 3000 sits in the middle of that range — a step up in ring from the 2000, short of the thicker 5000. The maduro cover is the same Cuban-seed blend as the natural 3000, taken further in the pilón so the leaf darkens.

Padrón calls the line a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. On this dark 3000 the named notes are cedar, black cherry, and nut, on a medium body that comes across rich and creamy, with an even burn and draw. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and settled growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company and still watches the fields and the roll.

Cigar Insider printed 90 for this maduro in November 2001. The 3000 Maduro is the dark-wrapper middle robusto of the two-and-a-half-year brown label: cedar, black cherry, and nut under a fermented cover, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built for the regular rotation.

“Pressed and dark, with few flaws, this cigar burns and draws well. It's very cedary, with notes of black cherry and nuts, and some harshness.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 85 in February 2002.

The Padron 3000 Natural is the same five-and-a-half by fifty-two robusto in the sun-grown paler wrapper. It belongs to the Padrón Series: fifteen long-filler sizes from Cortico to Magnum, medium to full, aged a minimum of two and a half years, hand-rolled from sun-grown tobacco. Padrón calls that blend a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. Where the maduro 3000 wears the darker fermented cover, this one keeps the natural leaf closer to the sun.

Cigar Aficionado scored the 3000 a 91 in February 2003 and 88 in October 2006. Cigar Insider has also printed 91 (July 1998) and 90 (November 2001). Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan Cuban-seed tobacco. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company.

José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and started rolling in Miami in 1964. The 3000 Natural is the numbered brown-label robusto that is neither torpedo nor gordo: two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, long-filler, and built as a daily smoke in the lighter cover.

“This cigar draws and burns evenly, delivering predominantly rich cocoa flavors with some wheaty, grainy notes and a woody finish.”

Cigar Insider scored this a 89 in June 2007.

The Padron 4000 Maduro is the toro of the Padrón Series: six and a half inches by a fifty-four ring, long-filler, Nicaraguan, medium to full, in a darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper. The series founded in 1964 now runs fifteen sizes, from the Cortico to the Magnum. The 4000 is the longer everyday stick — more length and ring than the 2000 or 3000, short of the nine-inch Magnum. The maduro is the same sun-grown Cuban-seed blend as the natural 4000, taken further in fermentation so the cover deepens.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and rolls it from sun-grown tobacco only, aiming at a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

Cigar Insider had the 4000 at 90 in April 2000. A nationwide survey of U.S. retailers once ranked the brown-label Padrón third in demand after Opus X and Arturo Fuente. The 4000 Maduro is that line as a dark toro: two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built for a full sitting rather than a short robusto.

“Though slightly coarse and rustic in appearance, this is a delicious smoke showing a sweet earth and gingerbread character with notes of cedar, coconut and nutmeg. The finish reveals an unusual yet precise note of bananas foster.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 92 in April 2025.

The Padron 4000 Natural is the same six-and-a-half by fifty-four toro in the paler sun-grown wrapper. It is a long-filler Nicaraguan puro, medium to full, one of fifteen Padrón Series sizes that run from the Cortico to the Magnum. Where the maduro 4000 wears the darker fermented cover, this one keeps the natural leaf closer to the color it took in the sun. Padrón ages the line a minimum of two and a half years and uses sun-grown tobacco only, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke.

Among hand-rolled Nicaraguan cigars, this house is the standard other makers are measured against. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964, chasing the cigars he had known on the island. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Cuban-seed tobacco grown in Nicaragua.

Cigar Insider had the 4000 at 90 in April 2000. The 4000 Natural is the longer brown-label stick in the lighter wrapper: a true toro, two and a half years of age, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built for a longer session than the 2000 or 3000 robustos.

“A rustic cigar wrapped in a gritty cover leaf. It smokes evenly showing chocolate and baking spices, some malty, woody notes and a flinty finish. Tastes better than it looks.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 89 in April 2020.

The Padron 5000 Maduro is a thick five-and-a-half by fifty-six from the Padrón Series, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro in a deep, dark maduro wrapper, medium to full. Orlando Padrón grows those maduro wrappers himself and hand-picks the Cuban-seed leaves in the family’s fields, then gives them to Cuban-trained torcedores. After the roll, the 5000 maduros sit at least three years under watch before they are boxed — extra rest on top of the series’ two-and-a-half-year aging of the leaf.

The Padrón Series is fifteen sizes, Cortico to Magnum, sun-grown tobacco only, blended as a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. The 5000 is the gordo of that everyday line. The maduro cover is the same blend as the natural 5000, taken further in fermentation so the wrapper darkens; the three-year box rest is on top of that. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and settled the work in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

Cigar Aficionado scored this maduro a 90 in April 2003. The 5000 Maduro is the dark, extra-rested gordo of the brown label: medium-full, Nicaraguan, long-filler, and built for a slow, thick smoke rather than a commemorative anniversary box.

“Dark and pressed with a streaky wrapper and lots of rich smoke on the draw. It's woody and piney with a fresh tobacco character and an allspice finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 89 in June 2012.

The Padron 5000 Natural is the same five-and-a-half by fifty-six vitola in the paler sun-grown wrapper, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro of Cuban-seed tobacco, medium to full. Some boxes still carry the old EMS mark. The Padrón Series ages the leaf at least two and a half years and rolls only sun-grown tobacco, aiming at a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. The wrapper can look a little rough; the argument of the cigar is the blend and the roll.

On this natural 5000 the named notes are leather, pepper, and cream, and the smoke gains in the last third. That is this vitola’s own profile under the paler cover: a thick everyday Padrón that starts in balance and builds as it burns. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. Piloto Cigars, the private company behind the brand, was founded in Miami on 8 September 1964 by José Orlando Padrón. Growing and manufacturing have been centered in Estelí since 1970. The family still owns the house.

Cigar Aficionado later scored the 5000 a 91 in August 2024. The 5000 Natural is the pale-wrapper gordo of the numbered series — leather, pepper, and cream on a two-and-a-half-year sun-grown blend, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built as a daily smoke.

“A toasty, nutty smoke with a dry quality and floral finish. This dark cigar draws and burns evenly throughout. Fairly simple and straightforward.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 87 in August 2022.

The Padron 6000 is the only torpedo in the classic Padrón Series: five and three-quarters by a fifty-four ring, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro in the sun-grown natural wrapper, medium to full. It is finished with a smooth draw and an even burn. Among the fifteen sizes that run from Cortico to Magnum, this is the one that tapers. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Cuban-seed tobacco grown in Nicaragua.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and uses sun-grown tobacco only, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. This is the everyday brown label as a figurado, not a four-year 1964 Pyramide and not a five-year 1926 No. 40.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 93 (April 2017) and 91s in January and November 2021. Cigar Insider had it at 91 in July 2004. The 6000 Natural is that balanced two-and-a-half-year line as a sun-grown taper: medium-full, Nicaraguan, long-filler, handmade, with a draw and burn that stay even down the shape.

“This pointy torpedo draws and burns evenly. Its sweet, spicy and woody notes leave a rich barbecue flavor on the palate, along with notes of leather, vanilla and almond. Bold and tasty.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 93 in October 2024.

The Padron 6000 Torpedo Maduro is the dark-wrapper twin of the classic-series figurado: five and three-quarters by fifty-four, long-filler, rolled in Nicaragua, medium to full. It remains the only torpedo in the brown-label lineup. The maduro is the same sun-grown Cuban-seed blend under a darker, longer-fermented cover — extra time in the pilón so the wrapper deepens — rather than the paler leaf of the natural 6000.

The Padrón Series is fifteen sizes, Cortico to Magnum, aged a minimum of two and a half years, hand-crafted from sun-grown tobacco, and blended as a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company and still oversees the fields and the roll.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 93 (April 2017). A nationwide retailer survey once put the brown-label Padrón third in U.S. demand after Opus X and Arturo Fuente. This 6000 is that line as a dark figurado: a tapered fifty-four-ring smoke in a fermented maduro, two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built for the daily rotation.

“Punctuated by an elongated pointy tip, this box-pressed belicoso leaves big, assertive impressions of dark chocolate along with earth and espresso, all sweetened by an underlying thread of caramel. Rich and balanced.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 91 in December 2021.

The Padron 7000 Maduro is a lightly box-pressed Padrón Series cigar with a textured, oily wrapper, six and a quarter inches by a sixty ring. It is a long-filler Nicaraguan puro of sun-grown Cuban-seed tobacco, aged at least two and a half years, medium to full. The maduro cover is the same blend as the natural 7000, taken further in fermentation so the leaf darkens and the oil shows. Production is limited, which is how the cigar stays consistent year after year.

Padrón frames the series as a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. On this dark 7000 the named notes are cocoa and coffee. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and settled growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. Among the fifteen brown-label sizes, the 7000 is one of the larger sticks, short of the nine-inch Magnum.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 93 (October 2012), 92 (August 2014), and 91 (December 2015). The 7000 Maduro is the dark, box-pressed expression of that numbered size — oily wrapper, cocoa and coffee, two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and held to a small run so the blend does not wander.

“A thick and veiny cigar that appears to be slightly pressed on only two sides. The easy draw offers some notes of chocolate, leather and some spice. The finish is a bit fruity.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 90 in December 2024.

The Padron 7000 Natural is the sun-grown twin of that box-pressed 7000: six and a quarter by sixty, lightly pressed, oily wrapper, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro of Cuban-seed tobacco. Strength is medium to full. Where the maduro 7000 wears the darker, longer-fermented cover, this one keeps the paler sun-grown leaf, still with enough oil to show on the surface. The Padrón Series ages the tobacco at least two and a half years and uses sun-grown leaf only, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke.

The named notes on this natural 7000 are cocoa bean and coffee. Limited production is the reason the cigar stays consistent from year to year. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company and still watches the fields and the roll.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 93 (October 2012), 92 (August 2014), and 91 (December 2015). The 7000 Natural is the pale, box-pressed numbered Padrón: oily, medium to full, cocoa bean and coffee on two-and-a-half-year sun-grown tobacco, Nicaraguan, and kept to a small enough run that the blend holds.

“Thick, spotty and lumpy with even combustion and an open draw. First puffs are woody and nutty, but the smoke becomes tangy with a citrus quality that carries onto the finish, along with a mineral aftertaste.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 87 in February 2025.

The Padron Churchill Maduro is a six-and-seven-eighths by forty-six Churchill in the dark, longer-fermented wrapper, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro, medium to full. It is the same everyday Padrón Series blend as the natural Churchill, taken further in fermentation so the cover leaf darkens. The series founded in 1964 runs fifteen sizes from Cortico to Magnum; this is the long, slender one. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and rolls only sun-grown tobacco, aiming at a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. The family watches the cigar from seed in the ground through the roll. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and settled growing and manufacturing in Estelí. This Churchill sits well below the four-year 1964 Diplomatico and the five-year 1926 in aging, and well above a short robusto in how long it will take to smoke.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 92 (October 1998) and 90 (October 2011, February 2007, April 2001). Cigar Insider printed 91 in June 2007. The Churchill Maduro is the brown label at length, in the dark wrapper: a true 46-ring Churchill, two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built for a long sitting.

“Exceedingly strong at first puffs, this long, dark cigar settles down to show a sweet palate of maple and nougat.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 88 in April 2013.

The Padron Churchill Natural is the same six-and-seven-eighths by forty-six Churchill in the paler sun-grown wrapper, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro of Cuban-seed tobacco, medium to full. It is softly box-pressed, with an even draw and an even burn. Where the maduro Churchill wears the darker fermented cover, this one keeps the natural leaf closer to the color it took in the sun. The Padrón Series ages the leaf at least two and a half years and uses sun-grown tobacco only, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke.

On this natural Churchill the named notes are earth, dried fruit, cinnamon, and a little chocolate — a long brown-label stick that runs spice and fruit over earth, with chocolate at the edge. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 92 (October 1998) and 90 (October 2011, February 2007). Cigar Insider had it at 91 in June 2007. The Churchill Natural is the long, slender everyday Padrón in the lighter wrapper: earth, dried fruit, cinnamon, and chocolate on two-and-a-half-year sun-grown leaf, medium-full, handmade, and built for a full sitting.

“The milk chocolate color of this cigar foreshadows the recurring cocoa notes that underscore the smoke. It’s rich with freshly-roasted coffee bean, slightly piquant in its spiciness and fruity as it hints of dried berries. The draw and burn are consistently even.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 93 in October 2025.

Padron Corticos are the small long-filler cigars of the Padrón Series: four and a quarter inches by a thirty-five ring, finished in the sun-grown natural wrapper and packed in tins. The series José Orlando Padrón founded in 1964 now runs fifteen sizes from this Cortico to the nine-inch Magnum. They are Nicaraguan puros of Cuban-seed tobacco, medium to full, handmade in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and rolls only sun-grown tobacco, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. On the Corticos the named notes are coffee and cacao — the everyday blend concentrated into a short sitting, not a flavored cigar. Where a maduro Cortico would wear the darker fermented cover, this natural keeps the paler sun-grown leaf.

He left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí. Corticos sit at the other end of the size chart from the Magnum: a small long-filler Padrón, two and a half years of sun-grown tobacco, medium-full, natural wrapper, with coffee and cacao as the named notes.

The Padron Londres is the slender size of the Padrón Series: five and a half inches by a forty-two ring, a short corona, long-filler, rolled in Nicaragua, medium to full. The series founded in 1964 runs fifteen sizes from the Cortico to the Magnum; the Londres is the thin everyday corona in that lineup, more modest in ring than the 2000 robusto, shorter than the Palmas. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Cuban-seed tobacco grown in Nicaragua.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and uses sun-grown tobacco only, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company and still oversees the fields and the roll. The recipe is the same Cuban-seed idea he chased when he could not find, in Miami, the cigars he had known on the island.

A nationwide survey of U.S. retailers once ranked the brown-label Padrón third in demand after Opus X and Arturo Fuente. The Londres is that balanced two-and-a-half-year line in a thin corona: medium-full, Nicaraguan, long-filler, handmade, and meant for a quicker smoke than a Churchill or a Magnum.

“Slightly pressed, this toothy cigar starts off earthy and strong but evens out to show its cocoa and coffee bean character. Sweet notes of dark toffee segue into the cedary finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 90 in August 2020.

The Padron Magnum is the long one in the Padrón Series: nine inches by a fifty ring, a long-filler Nicaraguan puro of Cuban-seed tobacco, medium to full. The series founded in 1964 runs fifteen sizes from the Cortico to this Magnum. If the 2000 is the pocket robusto of the brown label, this is the other extreme — the everyday blend stretched into a true magnum. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and rolls only sun-grown tobacco, aiming at a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and settled growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. This is the daily-line rest, not the four years of a 1964 Diplomatico or the five years of a 1926.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 94 (August 2001) and 93 (October 2002). Cigar Insider has printed 93 (June 1997) and 91s around the turn of the century. The Magnum is the brown label at full length: a fifty-ring smoke that will take a sitting, two and a half years of sun-grown leaf, medium-full, Nicaraguan, and built as the long everyday Padrón.

“Though dark and gritty with a rustic wrapper this cigar is sweet on the first puff, delivering notes that range from of rock candy and refined chocolate to anise and cherry-liquor.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 92 in February 2014.

The Padron Palmas is a six-and-a-quarter by forty-two palma from the Padrón Series, a long, thin long-filler Nicaraguan puro of Cuban-seed tobacco, medium to full. The series founded in 1964 runs fifteen sizes from Cortico to Magnum; the Palmas is the classic palma in that lineup — more length than the Londres, the same slender forty-two ring, built for a longer, thinner smoke than the fifty-ring 2000. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua.

Padrón ages the line at least two and a half years and uses sun-grown tobacco only, blending for a beautifully balanced, full-bodied smoke. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered the work in Estelí. The family still owns the company and still oversees growing and manufacturing.

Cigar Insider scored the Palmas a 90 in July 1998. A nationwide survey of U.S. retailers once ranked the brown-label Padrón third in demand after Opus X and Arturo Fuente. The Palmas is that two-and-a-half-year line in a long corona: medium-full, Nicaraguan, handmade, and meant for the daily rotation rather than a commemorative 1964, 1926, or Family Reserve box.

“Rumpled and coarse with a flat head. Straightforward notes of toast, cedar and cashew are uncomplicated and simple, as is the bit of honey sweetness on the finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 88 in October 2021.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Corona Natural is a six by forty-two corona, box-pressed, in the sun-grown 1964 wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua, medium-full. The 1964 line was introduced in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth anniversary: sixteen sizes, natural and maduro, all tobacco aged four years for a smooth, complex flavor, pressed in the Cuban manner. A one-piece numbered guarantee band is on the cigar. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. Where a brown-label Londres rests two and a half years, this corona holds the leaf four.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 91 (January 2021, June 2016, February 2013). Cigar Insider printed 91 in September 2012. The cigar is flavor-forward from the first third and runs smooth on that four-year-old tobacco. The natural wrapper is sun-grown, not the darker, longer-fermented maduro cover used elsewhere in the 1964 range.

José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964 — the year this line commemorates — and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. The Corona Natural is the classic corona of the 1964 series: a slender six-inch smoke, box-pressed, four-year-aged, smooth and complex, Nicaraguan, and built a step above the everyday brown label.

“First puffs of this easy-drawing cigar show a range of Middle Eastern spices like cumin, cardamom and red, white and black pepper balanced by a sweet note of dried fig. The tangy finish is a bit metallic.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 89 in April 2025.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Diplomatico Natural is the long 1964: seven inches by a fifty ring, a Churchill, box-pressed, finished in the sun-grown natural wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua. The line was introduced in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth year: sixteen sizes, four-year-aged Cuban-seed tobacco, smooth and complex, pressed in honor of Cuban tradition, with a numbered one-piece guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. Construction on this Diplomatico is described as flawless; the flavors as smooth and complex.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 94 (February 2014, January 2013) and 93 (January 2020). Cigar Insider printed 93 in August 2019. The 1964 blend sits between the two-and-a-half-year brown label and the five-year 1926. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964, the year this series marks. The family still owns the company; growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí.

Among 1964 sizes, the Diplomatico is the long one — more length than the Imperial toro or the Exclusivo robusto. It is the anniversary line at its most stretched: four-year-aged, box-pressed, sun-grown, Nicaraguan, smooth and complex, built for a long sitting.

“Milk chocolate notes meld harmoniously with undercurrents of leather, coffee and oak. The smoke takes a dried fruity turn, revealing figs and dates before a nutty, almond finish. The draw is open while the burn remains dead even.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 92 in February 2026.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro is the 1964 robusto: five and a half by fifty, box-pressed, in the darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper. The line was created in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth year: sixteen sizes, sun-grown natural and maduro, all tobacco aged four years for a smooth, complex flavor, pressed in the Cuban manner, with a numbered guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. Strength is given as full, and also as medium-to-full for the range.

On this maduro Exclusivo the named notes are cocoa, coffee, and a hint of earth, with a smooth, balanced finish. Flavor is there from the first third and evolves as the cigar burns. The maduro cover is the 1964 blend taken further in fermentation so the wrapper darkens; the natural Exclusivo wears the paler sun-grown leaf instead. The cigar was created by José Orlando Padrón and is made at the factory in Estelí.

Cigar Aficionado also printed 94 in February 2012 (Top 25 of 2011). Cigar Insider printed 94 in May 2005. The Exclusivo Maduro is the dark robusto of the 1964 series: four-year-aged, box-pressed, cocoa and coffee over a little earth, Nicaraguan, and built a clear step above the brown-label 3000 of the same general size.

“Perfectly box-pressed with a dark, silky wrapper. This starts as a bold meaty smoke that remains savory, taking on coffee bean notes and an herbal finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 94 in December 2011.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Natural is the same five-and-a-half by fifty robusto, box-pressed, in the sun-grown paler wrapper. The 1964 blend is Cuban-seed tobacco aged four years, released in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth anniversary: sixteen sizes, smooth and complex, pressed in the Cuban tradition, with a numbered one-piece guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. Where the maduro Exclusivo wears the darker fermented cover, this one keeps the natural leaf closer to the sun.

Cigar Journal ranked it number 3 cigar of the year for 2012. Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 94 (February 2012, December 2011). Cigar Insider printed 94 in May 2005. Those are magazine facts. The cigar is flavor-forward from the start and runs smooth on four-year-old tobacco, medium to full, handmade in Estelí.

José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Nicaragua. The family still owns the company. The Exclusivo Natural is the pale robusto of the 1964 series: four-year-aged, box-pressed, Nicaraguan, a step above the everyday brown-label 3000 in aging and in the anniversary blend.

“A box-pressed toro that produces a flaky ash. Its sweet foundation of cocoa powder and vanilla are balanced by equally bold notes of dark-roasted coffee bean. The draw is opulent, the smoke, chewy and rich.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 93 in December 2019.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Imperial Natural is the 1964 toro: six inches by a fifty-four ring, box-pressed, sun-grown natural wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua, medium-full. The blend is Cuban-seed tobacco aged four years, released in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth year — sixteen sizes, smooth and complex, pressed in honor of Cuban tradition, with a numbered guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. Flavor is there from the first third, and the smoke runs smooth on that extra-aged leaf.

Cigar Aficionado scored the Imperial a 91 in December 2008. Cigar Insider has also printed 90 (November 2015) and 92 (March 2009). The natural wrapper is sun-grown, not the darker, longer-fermented maduro used on the Imperial Maduro. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

Among 1964 sizes, the Imperial is the toro — more ring than the Monarca or the Corona, shorter than the Diplomatico Churchill, not a figurado. The Imperial Natural is that size in the paler cover: four-year-aged, box-pressed, Nicaraguan, medium-full, smooth and complex, and built for a full sitting in the thirtieth-anniversary blend.

“A slightly-pressed cigar with a full draw and even burn. Notes of leather, coffee bean and cocoa nib meld richly with touches of vanilla and sweet wood.”

Cigar Insider scored this a 93 in April 2017.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Imperial Maduro is the same six by fifty-four toro, box-pressed, in the darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua. The 1964 blend is Cuban-seed tobacco aged four years, medium-to-full, first sold in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth anniversary: sixteen sizes, smooth and complex, pressed in the Cuban manner, with a numbered one-piece guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. The maduro is the same recipe as the Imperial Natural, taken further in fermentation so the cover leaf deepens.

Flavor is there from the start, and the four-year-old leaf runs smooth. Cigar Insider printed 93 for this maduro in August 1999. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964 — the year this series marks — and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

The Imperial Maduro is the dark toro of that line: six inches, fifty-four ring, box-pressed, Nicaraguan, medium-to-full, four-year-aged, and built for a longer smoke than the Exclusivo robusto. It is the 1964 in a fermented wrapper, not a five-year 1926 and not an everyday brown-label 4000 of similar shape.

“Big notes of chocolate set the tone for this box-pressed maduro, which carries hints of licorice, peanuts and dark toast before an earthy finish refined by a cocoa-powder sweetness. Balanced and delicious.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 93 in August 2020.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Monarca Natural is a six-and-a-half by forty-six filed as a corona, box-pressed, sun-grown natural wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua, medium-full. The 1964 blend is Cuban-seed tobacco aged four years, released in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth anniversary: sixteen sizes, smooth and complex, pressed in honor of Cuban tradition, with a numbered guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. Flavor is there from the first third, and the smoke runs smooth on that extra-aged leaf.

Cigar Insider had the Monarca at 90 in June 2001. The natural wrapper is sun-grown, paler than the maduro covers used on other 1964 sizes. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

Four years of age puts this cigar above the everyday brown-label Palmas of similar slender shape, and below the five-year 1926 blend. The Monarca is the long, thinner 1964: more length than the Corona, less ring than the Imperial toro, box-pressed, Nicaraguan, medium-full, and built as the palma of the thirtieth-anniversary line.

“A richly-hued, box-pressed toro with an excellent draw and even burn. The delightful palate of macadamia nut, cocoa powder and sour cherry all hint of dark chocolate and resonate on the finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 93 in October 2021.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Pyramide Maduro is the 1964 figurado: about 6.8 inches, ring listed as 52/42, box-pressed, in the darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua, medium-full. The blend is Cuban-seed tobacco aged four years, released in 1994 for the company’s thirtieth year: sixteen sizes, smooth and complex, pressed in the Cuban manner, with a numbered one-piece guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. The maduro cover is the anniversary recipe taken further in fermentation so the leaf darkens down the taper.

Earlier scores include Cigar Insider 93 (March 2009) and 91 (April 2019), and Cigar Aficionado 92 (June 2015). Flavor is there from the start, and the four-year-old tobacco runs smooth. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

The Pyramide Maduro is the dark figurado of that anniversary line: a true pyramid rather than a straight torpedo, four-year-aged, box-pressed, Nicaraguan, medium-full, and built for a tapered smoke in the thirtieth-year blend rather than the two-and-a-half-year brown-label 6000.

“As interesting in character as it is in appearance. The foot flares out like a cow bell, and the draw delivers rich, complex layers of gingersnap, leather, fudge and black cherry all building to a finish of chocolate-covered almond.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 95 in April 2026.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Torpedo Natural is a six by fifty-two torpedo, box-pressed, in the sun-grown paler wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua. The 1964 blend is the thirtieth-anniversary line from 1994: sixteen sizes, Cuban-seed tobacco held four years for a smooth, complex flavor, pressed in honor of Cuban tradition, with a numbered guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. The natural wrapper is sun-grown, not the darker fermented maduro used on the Pyramide.

Cigar Aficionado named this 1964 Anniversary Torpedo Cigar of the Year for 2021. Earlier scores include 94 (August 2021, June 2001). Cigar Insider has printed 93s (March 2009, May 2005).

José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. Among 1964 sizes this is the straight torpedo — shorter than the Pyramide, thicker in ring than the Corona. Four years of age puts it above the brown-label 6000 of similar shape and below the five-year 1926 No. 40. The Torpedo Natural is the paler figurado of the thirtieth-year line: box-pressed, Nicaraguan, smooth and complex, and the 1964 that took Cigar of the Year.

“Box-pressed and attractive, it starts with a woody, nutty core that gradually becomes more complex. Notes of hazelnut are uncannily precise and segue into a rich, opulent smoke of cocoa bean that settles onto the palate like the fine confections of a chocolatier.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 97 in January 2022.

The Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 1 is a six-and-three-quarters by fifty-four in the 1926 Serie, box-pressed, full-bodied, rolled in Nicaragua. The series premiered in 2002 for José Orlando Padrón’s seventy-fifth birthday: ten sizes, tobacco aged five years, then blended for an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, full-bodied flavor. Natural and maduro wrappers are both sun-grown Cuban-seed leaf; a numbered one-piece guarantee band is on the cigar. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua.

Five years of age puts the 1926 above the four-year 1964 and well above the two-and-a-half-year brown label. The No. 1 is the long size in the line — more length and ring than the No. 2 or the No. 40, far longer than the short No. 6. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. The 1926 line takes his birth year as its name and his seventy-fifth year as its occasion.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 90 (October 2024), 88 (August 2022), and 92 (June 2018). Cigar Insider printed 92 in February 2004 and September 2002. The No. 1 is a five-year, box-pressed 1926: full, smooth, complex, balanced, Nicaraguan, and built as one of the rarer Padróns rather than a daily numbered brown-label stick.

“In between the bold notes of cedar and espresso is a sweet smoke of maple, marzipan and cocoa powder, all in rich balance and all harmonizing on the opulent finish. The draw and burn of this large, softly-pressed cigar are both open and even.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 94 in August 2025.

The Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 1 Maduro is the same six-and-three-quarters by fifty-four No. 1, box-pressed, in the darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper, full-bodied, rolled in Nicaragua. The 1926 Serie premiered in 2002 for José Orlando Padrón’s seventy-fifth birthday: ten sizes, five-year-aged tobacco, blended exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full. The maduro is that birthday blend under a darker cover — extra time in fermentation so the wrapper deepens — rather than the paler sun-grown natural leaf. A numbered guarantee band is on the cigar.

Five years of age is longer than the four-year 1964 rest. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan. The No. 1 is the long 1926: a fifty-four-ring smoke at nearly seven inches, not a brown-label 4000 of similar girth and not a 1964 Imperial.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 94 (February 2024), 93 (April 2020), and 92 (June 2021). Cigar Insider printed 92 in February 2004. The No. 1 Maduro is the dark, long 1926: five-year-aged, box-pressed, full, smooth, complex, balanced, Nicaraguan, and one of the scarcer cigars the house makes.

“Large and imposing, this pressed Churchill has an even burn and an opulent draw that immediately leaves precise impressions of fudge, cocoa powder and Valhrona chocolate. A refined note of marzipan and underlying woodiness accentuate the smoke.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 93 in June 2026.

The Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 2 is a five-and-a-half by fifty-two in the 1926 Serie, box-pressed, full-bodied, rolled in Nicaragua. The series premiered in 2002 for José Orlando Padrón’s seventy-fifth birthday: ten sizes, tobacco aged five years, then blended for an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, full-bodied flavor, in sun-grown natural and maduro, with a numbered one-piece guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. The family still owns the company; growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí.

Among 1926 sizes, the No. 2 is the middle robusto: shorter than the No. 1, a little thicker than the short No. 6, not a torpedo. Five years of age puts it above the four-year 1964 Exclusivo of similar size and well above the brown-label 3000. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964. The 1926 line takes his birth year as its name and his seventy-fifth year as its occasion.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 96 (January 2018), 94 (August 2017), and 92 (April 2022). Cigar Insider had it at 93 in September 2002. The No. 2 is the 1926 you reach for when you want the seventy-fifth-birthday tobacco in a classic robusto: five-year-aged, box-pressed, full, smooth, complex, balanced, Nicaraguan, and scarce.

“The earthy, toasty core of this box-pressed belicoso is beautifully accented by layers of chocolate-covered almond, concentrated dried fruit and pure milk chocolate before the spicy finish. Rich and complex.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 94 in February 2023.

The Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 40 is a five-and-a-half by fifty-two torpedo, box-pressed, full-bodied, an all-Nicaraguan puro of tobacco aged five years. It belongs to the 1926 Serie, premiered in 2002 for José Orlando Padrón’s seventy-fifth birthday: ten sizes, blended exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full, in sun-grown natural and maduro, with a numbered guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. Five years of rest is longer than the four-year 1964 and well beyond the two-and-a-half-year brown label.

Cigar Aficionado named it Cigar of the Year for 2004. Later CA scores include 98 (October 2018), 94 (August 2016), and 93 (February 2005); Cigar Insider printed 93 in May 2006. The named notes on this No. 40 are dark chocolate, coffee, a hint of spice, and a creamy finish, evolving as it burns. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

The No. 40 is one of the rarer cigars Padrón makes: a five-year-aged figurado in the fuller 1926 blend, box-pressed, Nicaraguan, handmade, and not the everyday brown-label 6000 of similar shape. Dark chocolate, coffee, and spice under a creamy finish — that is the No. 40, the 1926 that took Cigar of the Year.

“Rich and nutty from first puff to last, this box-pressed torpedo also delivers complex layers of chocolate, almond, coffee bean and a touch of black pepper. A delicious smoke.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 94 in June 2024.

The Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 6 is a short four-and-three-quarters by fifty robusto in the 1926 Serie, box-pressed, full-bodied, rolled in Nicaragua. The series premiered in 2002 for José Orlando Padrón’s seventy-fifth birthday: ten sizes, tobacco aged five years, then blended for an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, full-bodied flavor. Natural and maduro wrappers, numbered guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are grown in Nicaragua. The family still owns the company; growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí.

Among 1926 sizes, the No. 6 is the compact one — shorter than the No. 2, far shorter than the No. 1, not a torpedo. If the 2000 is the pocket stick of the numbered series, the No. 6 is the pocket stick of the 1926s, and much the scarcer cigar. Five years of age puts it above the four-year 1964 Principe of similar short format. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964.

Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 94 (December 2024) and 95 (January 2020). Cigar Insider had it at 94 in September 2002. The No. 6 is a short sitting in the fuller anniversary blend: five-year-aged, box-pressed, full, smooth, complex, balanced, Nicaraguan, and built well above a daily brown-label robusto.

“The No. 6 is the second-smallest cigar in the line, but it packs impressively big flavor, with complex notes that bathe the palate in a chocolatey smoke, along with notes of espresso, coffee and an earthy character backing up that sweetness.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 96 in January 2025.

The Padron Family Reserve 46 Year Maduro is a 5.5 by 56 robusto gordo in the darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua. Family Reserve was once exclusive to the Padróns; it now commemorates family anniversary dates in seven sizes — 44, 45, 46, 85, 50, 95, and 96 — packed in ten-count boxes. The tobacco is aged ten years, then blended for an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, full-bodied flavor, in sun-grown natural and maduro, with a numbered one-piece guarantee band. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan Cuban-seed tobacco.

The draw is sure, the body is plentiful, and the named notes are earth, cocoa bean, and coffee, each arriving on its own before they join. That is the 46 Maduro’s profile: a thick, ten-year Padrón in a fermented cover, hearty rather than delicate. The maduro is the Family Reserve blend under the darker leaf; the natural 46 wears the paler sun-grown wrapper instead. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company.

Cigar Aficionado also scored this maduro a 92 in February 2011. Cigar Insider printed 92 in July 2020 and 91 in October 2010. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961 and began rolling in Miami in 1964. The 46 Year Maduro is that extra-aged idea as a dark robusto gordo: ten years in the leaf, earth, cocoa, and coffee, full, Nicaraguan, and not a cigar from the everyday numbered series.

“Softly pressed, this thick toro burns evenly and forms a flaky ash. The easy draw shows a strong core of anise, hearty wood and toast layered with mideastern spices before the strong herbal finish.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 92 in October 2020.

The Padron Family Reserve 46 Year Natural is the same 5.5 by 56 robusto gordo in the paler sun-grown wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua, full-bodied. Family Reserve, once kept for the family, commemorates anniversary dates with tobacco aged ten years, blended exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full, in seven sizes packed ten to a box, with a numbered guarantee band. Where the 46 Maduro wears the darker fermented cover, this one keeps the natural leaf closer to the color it took in the sun. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan.

The draw is sure, the body is plentiful, and the named notes are earth, cocoa bean, and coffee, each arriving on its own before they join. That is the 46 Natural’s own profile under the paler wrapper: the same hearty combination, full rather than medium, ten years in the leaf. José Orlando Padrón left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company.

Cigar Aficionado scored this natural a 92 in February 2011. The 46 Year Natural is that commemorative line as a sun-grown robusto gordo: ten-year-aged, earth, cocoa bean, and coffee, full, handmade, and built well above a daily numbered Padrón.

“Box-pressed with a bumpy, wrinkled head. It’s a woody, spicy smoke with a note of malted chocolate and touches of dried fruit and raisin before a spicy finish. The draw is even.”

Cigar Insider scored this a 91 in September 2024.

The Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro is a five by fifty-four robusto gordo in the darker, longer-fermented maduro wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua for the company’s fiftieth year. Family Reserve was once exclusive to the Padróns; the tobacco is aged ten years, then blended for an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, full-bodied flavor, in sun-grown natural and maduro, with a numbered guarantee band, packed ten to a box. José Orlando Padrón had started in Miami selling fumas for twenty-five cents; this box is the other end of that story. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan.

Family Reserve began as a box-pressed torpedo poured only at events where a Padrón was present, then went into a few commercial sizes. Cigar Aficionado put the maduro 50 Years on its 2014 list. In 2015 the magazine wrote that these cigars show the house’s signature traits: box pressing, a sure draw, plenty of body, and earth, cocoa bean, and coffee, each note arriving on its own before they join. Those adjectives stay with the magazine. Later Cigar Aficionado scores include 94 (January 2015, Top 25 of 2014).

Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company. The 50 Years Maduro is the dark fiftieth-anniversary robusto gordo: ten-year-aged, Nicaraguan, commemorative, smooth, complex, balanced, and full — a long way from the two-and-a-half-year brown-label 2000.

“Solid to the touch, this box-pressed robusto draws lushly, producing thick, heavy smoke redolent of dark chocolate buttressed by notes of minerals, pepper and wood. The finish leaves a rich, enveloping impression of chocolate-covered coffee-bean on the palate.”

Cigar Insider scored this a 91 in July 2020.

The Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Natural is the same five by fifty-four robusto gordo in the paler sun-grown wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua for the company’s fiftieth anniversary. Family Reserve ages the tobacco ten years and blends it exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full, in seven commemorative sizes, ten-count boxes, numbered guarantee band. Where the 50 Years Maduro wears the darker fermented cover, this one keeps the natural leaf closer to the sun. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan.

Cigar Aficionado placed this natural 50 Years on its 2015 list — the year after the maduro version had made the 2014 list — and scored it 94 in January 2016. The 2015 column described box pressing, a sure draw, plenty of body, and earth, cocoa bean, and coffee arriving one after another before they join. Those notes stay with Cigar Aficionado. The same piece recorded that a Padrón cigar had been named Cigar of the Year three times and had made the Top 10 every year in that streak.

Family Reserve started as a box-pressed torpedo offered only at events where a Padrón was present. Growing and manufacturing remain in Estelí; the family still owns the company. The 50 Years Natural is the paler fiftieth-anniversary robusto gordo: ten-year-aged, Nicaraguan, commemorative, and not a cigar from the everyday numbered series.

“Enrobed in a tannish cover leaf, this box-pressed cigar smokes well, showing the rich qualities of wood and chocolate balanced by lighter hints of herbs and spice.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 92 in April 2019.

The Padron Family Reserve 85 Years Natural is a limited robusto, 5.5 by 50, in the paler sun-grown wrapper, rolled in Nicaragua. It marks José Orlando Padrón’s eighty-fifth birthday. Family Reserve, once exclusive to the family, commemorates anniversary dates with tobacco aged ten years, blended exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full-bodied, in sun-grown natural and maduro, with a numbered guarantee band, packed ten to a box. The natural cover is sun-grown, not a darker fermented maduro. Wrapper, binder, and filler are Nicaraguan.

On this 85 the named notes are cedar, leather, oak, and cocoa, with a sweet caramel finish the smoke wears like velvet. That is this vitola’s own profile: wood and cocoa leading, caramel at the end, on the ten-year Family Reserve blend. Earlier Cigar Aficionado scores include 93 (August 2025, April 2024) and 94 (February 2013). Cigar Insider printed 93 in May 2012.

He left Cuba in 1961, began rolling in Miami in 1964, and later centered growing and manufacturing in Estelí. The family still owns the company. The 85 Years Natural is the birthday robusto of that scarce line: ten years in the leaf, cedar, leather, oak, cocoa, and caramel, Nicaraguan, and not an everyday numbered Padrón.

“The bold and clear Scotch-like impressions of this box-pressed robusto are reminiscent of an Islay malt—a bit peaty and a touch smoky. It all uplifts the hearty cocoa-powder core and woody finish, which also carries a wisp of vanilla.”

Cigar Aficionado scored this a 94 in June 2026.