Padrón 50th Anniversary Staff Review
Today I’m reviewing a coveted cigar in the legendary Padrón portfolio, the 50th Anniversary Maduro, which is rolled in a single size, a 6.5-by-52 box-pressed Toro. This impressive smoke debuted back in 2014 to commemorate the brand’s fiftieth anniversary. The cigars were originally only available in an elaborate white humidor that contained 50 cigars, in either a Natural or Maduro wrapper, and the whole package sold for $5,300. Just 1,000 humidors were produced. Back then, it would have been tough to get your hands on a Padrón 50th Anniversary cigar unless you knew a fellow Padrón fan who purchased a humidor.
Nowadays you can find Padrón 50th Anniversary cigars for sale without committing to an entire box, though they’re still rare and fairly pricey, going for over $46 apiece. Like most milestone anniversary cigars from Padrón, 50th Anniversary cigars were released in very small quantities for the first few years until the family could produce enough to supply more of their retail accounts. Padrón 50th Anniversary cigars come in a long rectangular box of 50 that costs just over $2,300. Unless you’ve got an unlimited budget for cigars, you’re probably not in the market for a full box. Luckily, you can snap up a single or two without taking out a loan. For most of us, Padrón 50th Anniversary is a special occasion cigar.
Padrón 50th Anniversary cigars come in elegant white bands with the brand’s logo and an accompanying serial number to discourage counterfeiting, which was an issue for the company at one time years ago. The 50th Anniversary Maduro is finished in a particularly dark Nicaraguan wrapper, and underneath is an exclusive blend of premium Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos aged for a minimum of ten years. An enchanting aroma of chocolate, nutmeg, and spice comes from the foot of the cigar I’ve chosen from a recently opened box of perfectly uniform Padrón 50th Anniversary cigars. Tasting notes of cedar, baking spices, and dark cocoa powder set the stage with a delicious cold draw after I slice the cap with my guillotine cutter.
Now that it’s winter, smoke this cigar inside. It’s too nice and too expensive to attempt to smoke outside in cold weather. Plus, you’ll miss out on the incredible room note of a Padrón 50th Anniversary. A robust profile of black pepper fills my nose once the foot is fully lit while cedar, molasses, and chocolate roll over my taste buds in the first minutes. Padrón cigars are known for being spicy, but they’re balanced by sweet nuances. In the first fifteen minutes, each draw is punctuated by hearty doses of red and black pepper.
Tasting notes of cinnamon and clove add to the cigar’s complexity as I near the midway point. The 50th Anniversary burns perfectly, as you might have guessed. A stable, razor-sharp white ash develops at the foot of the cigar. Brand owner Jorge Padrón takes the legacy of his family and father, legendary cigarmaker and brand founder José Orlando Padrón, seriously. A small number of the most talented cigar rollers at the Padrón factory are entrusted to produce prestigious releases, like the 50th Anniversary. That’s why you won’t see them everywhere. Prioritizing quality over quantity is at the core of the company’s philosophy.
If you’ve got a special bottle of bourbon or Scotch you’ve been saving, Padrón 50th Anniversary Maduro makes a great pairing. Once the cigar band is off, a mouthwatering finish of chocolate malt, black pepper, and cedar mingles with hints of vanilla and spice while a strong undercurrent of coffee bean carries the cigar to its close. After an hour and ten minutes, this collectable smoke earns a 94-point rating with my unequivocal stamp of approval. Add one to your next order and treat yourself.
