Padrón Cigars: History, Lines & Ratings

The story

Padrón is a Nicaraguan legend whose name is synonymous with consistency and some of the highest-rated cigars in the world. Founded in 1964 by José Orlando Padrón, a Cuban exile who started out literally with a hammer and a crate of tobacco. Today the family keeps production firmly in its own hands, and its anniversary lines regularly collect the highest scores in the entire industry.

The box-pressed Nicaraguan legend — a benchmark of quality.

Origins

After leaving Cuba, José Orlando Padrón arrived in Miami with no money. A refugee program gave him a hammer, which he used to earn a living until he had saved enough for his first tobacco. In 1964 he rolled his first cigars and the brand was born — driven by grit and a conviction that quality must never change.

History

The company weathered hard times, including fires and threats tied to exile politics, but the family never sold the brand to a big corporation. In 1994 came the 1964 Anniversary line for the 30th anniversary, and in 2002 the even fuller 1926 Serie — both instantly joined the very top tier of premium cigars and remain among the most awarded ever made.

How & where it's made

Padrón is made in the Nicaraguan city of Estelí from 100% Nicaraguan tobacco aged for several years before it ever goes into a cigar. You can spot the brand at a glance by its box-pressed (squared-off) shape. The anniversary lines also come in a Maduro version with a dark, oily wrapper that deepens the sweetness even further.

Style

On the palate Padrón is full and dense, with pronounced notes of cocoa, espresso, nuts and sweet spice. It is a cigar for those who love a rich, "dessert-like" flavour and aren't afraid of a substantial body. That very richness makes it a favourite alongside a strong coffee or a bourbon.

Did you know

Every cigar in the anniversary lines carries a serial number on its band — an anti-counterfeit measure, because Padróns are among the most frequently faked cigars on the market. So when you buy a genuine Padrón Anniversary, you can literally verify that it's real.

Padrón

Highlights from the Padrón range