Stogie Reviews: Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro

5 Nov 2009

There were many sought-after new releases at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show, but perhaps none as anticipated as Padrón’s newest creation. Unlike most cigarmakers, Padrón doesn’t always put out a new cigar every year. When the company does, though, it’s usually in high demand.

Padron45

That was certainly the case with the new Padrón Family Reserve No. 45. Released in two versions (natural and maduro) with one size (six inches with a 52 ring gauge), it celebrates the 45th anniversary of Padrón Cigars. The cigar comes in boxes of 10, and individual cigars sell for around $25 each.

For that price you’d expect a well-made cigar, and the Padrón 45 certainly has the look of a well-made smoke. The Nicaraguan puro features an oily, dark maduro wrapper carefully pressed into an ultra-firm toro shape.

The Padrón Family Reserve starts out medium-bodied but soon becomes a full-bodied treat. It has a combination of rich espresso, cocoa, and a spicy, woody edge.

Despite that powerful combination of flavor, the defining characteristic of the new Padrón is how remarkably smooth it is from start to finish. It’s an amazing intensity of balanced flavor without a bit of edge.

Surprisingly, the two samples I smoked both had unexpected construction issues, as the wrapper on each became slightly detached from the binder. The other physical properties were excellent, however, with the densely packed smoke creating a long, sturdy ash.

Back in June, Jorge Padrón told me that he plans to make the Family Reserve an annual release. Ideally, around September 8 each year (the anniversary of the company’s founding) they will release a new limited release in just one size.

And of course I’m looking forward to that natural version of the No. 45. Until then, though, we just have the Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro, an extremely decadent cigar that earns a rating of four and a half stogies out of five.