Padrón 60th Anniversary Staff Review
The first shipments of Padrón 60th Anniversary cigars have been trickling in, and they’ve been selling out as fast we get them. I’m smoking this impressive Salomon in the Maduro wrapper leaf for today’s review. The Padrón brand has released several legendary cigars to commemorate big milestones over its sixty-year history, and the 60th Anniversary is blended and aged to stand out as one of the best.
If you’ve had the chance to smoke other coveted anniversary Padrón cigars, like the 40th, 50th, and 80 Years, Padrón 60th Anniversary is in the same class but shows off distinctive hallmarks. First, it’s rolled in a round shape as opposed to the brand’s famous box-pressed format. And because it’s a Salomon, the shape gently tapers from a 56-ring gauge at its thickest point to a 48-ring gauge at its thinnest. Not only is Padrón 60th a visually striking cigar, but a Salomon is an incredibly difficult cigar to roll, requiring the talents of the most skilled cigar rollers at the Padrón factory in Nicaragua. They’re patiently produced in very small batches.
The packaging is among the most elaborate the company has designed for its anniversary cigars. Padrón 60th cigars come in stunning boxes of ten with a brown piano-gloss finish. Each cigar is secured in its own shiny, gold coffin. Retailing for $75 apiece, there’s no question this is a cigar you’ll want to save for a special occasion. My expectations are raised when I select a coffin from a newly opened box and extract the cigar inside from its cellophane sleeve.
The 60th exudes a luxurious aroma of chocolate, cedar, and leather when it comes out of the box. The cigar is dressed in a pair of white-and-brown cigar bands with gold accents. Padrón fans will relish the ritual of choosing and opening up one of these rarities. After clipping the cap and savoring the cold draw, luscious notes of chocolate layer the palate with hints of nuts, wood, and spice.
Due to the cigar’s bulbous stature, the initial draws are compressed as I toast the tip of the foot of Padrón 60th Anniversary. Lighting a Perfecto requires patience. Don’t expect big wafts of smoke to pour out from either end of the cigar in the beginning. A Salomon like the 60th can burn for several minutes before you reach the thickest point of the cigar when the draw can fully open, but that’s intentional. Essentially, a Salomon is a large Figurado, and it’s meant to be smoked slowly, often lasting well over an hour. Silky notes of cocoa powder, cedar, and walnut gradually come into focus.
The airflow increases after twenty minutes while I gently hit the foot a few more times with my torch lighter. Intense notes of black pepper resonate when I push the smoke out through my nose. As it fades, an undercurrent of molasses and dark chocolate emerges across my palate. Padrón 60th Anniversary is full of subtle nuances. Hints of cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon recall tasting notes you’ll encounter in many classic Padrón cigars. The 60th Anniversary is an ideal smoke to pair with vintage Scotch because it's so intricate and savory.
As the second half unfolds, a steady climax of pepper and molasses layers the palate. Notes of coffee bean, cocoa powder, and earth gather in the final phase after I’ve removed the cigar bands. The finish is pure perfection and takes the cigar past an hour and forty minutes before it gracefully expires.
Brand founder José Orlando Padrón opened his first cigar factory in 1964 in Miami following the Cuban revolution when his family’s tobacco farms were confiscated by Fidel Castro. What began as a humble operation has blossomed into one of the leading cigar brands in the world over the past six decades. Put Padrón 60th Anniversary on your radar and don’t hesitate to purchase one when they’re in stock. It’s one of the best new cigars of 2024 you’ll smoke.
