Padrón

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.

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.