Tasting Note

Padrón Cigars are the overachievers of the cigar world. The company has been named Cigar of the Year a record four times, and Padróns are no strangers to our Top 25. The Padrón story began in the most unassuming way, with founder José Orlando Padrón selling cigars for a quarter apiece from a modest storefront in Miami in 1964. Sixty years later it’s an industry leader known for unmatched quality. Jorge Padrón, who leads the company today, likes to say that he has only one brand, but there are differences among the Padrón cigars. The Dámaso line is milder than the rest, the core Padrón brand provides good value, the 1964 Anniversary Series has a creamy, cocoa character. Then there’s the Serie 1926, named for the year the founder was born. The 1926 is among the strongest of Padrón blends, and one that has earned our highest praise. (Two of the Padrón Cigars of the Year have come from the Serie 1926.) The No. 6 is the second-smallest cigar in the line, but it packs impressively big flavor, with complex notes that bathe the palate in a chocolatey smoke, along with notes of espresso, coffee and an earthy character backing up that sweetness.