This morning David Garofalo posted to Facebook that he was smoking a Padron 50 Years with the caption of have something special today… just because. Well my just because moment is for a cigar review. Driving in this morning, I was smoking a sample from Cigar Journal magazine that was to be honest, a dog rocket. Looking at David’s post, I felt like Charlie Brown on Halloweeen, “I got a rock.”
The Padron 50th Anniversary is available to those who bought the limited edition Padron Humidor which has a retail price of $5300. Two Guys still has one for sale, and you can reach them at 1-888-224-4272 if you have that kind of dough laying around, which I don’t. The humidor was designed by Nelson Alfonso who does the packaging for Habanos S.A. and is the mind behind Atabey, Byron and Bandolero.
Cigar Review: Padron 50th Anniversary
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Natural)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Vitola: Toro
Cutter: Lotus Jaws
Lighter: Black Label Domininator
The Look: The cigars come packaged in one of 1,000 individually numbered humidors. As owner of the humidor, you get the option of refilling the humidor twice a year at the cost of $2,000 per refill of 50 cigars. The Padron 50th band is different from other Padron cigars with its eggshell white background, gold embossing and some crimson. A secondary band is still present due to counterfeiting issues Padron had many years ago. In the hand the wrapper of the Padron is slightly coarse with a fine sandpaper like feel. To the naked eye there is a subtle oily sheen. Its rolled and box pressed to perfection. In the hand the cigar is balanced and firm with no soft spots and a nice weight.
The Finish: The cold draw of the Padron 50th Anniversary Limited Edition a sugar like sweetness that reminds me of Frosted Flakes. Hints of corn, cedar and a soft cocoa dance on the palate. The nose of the 50 Years is similar though much more subtle.
With a cigar of this magnitude it is important to take your time toasting it and getting a correct light. Once this is obtained the first draw of the cigar is a subtle spice that is synonymous for me and Nicaraguan tobacco. The spice dissipates rather quickly with some sweetness that is reminiscent of cocoa, and some sweet corn like components. The retrohale of the cigar has notes of nutmeg and wheat.
The second third sees some notes of coffee begin to develop with an abundance on cedar and a subtle cocoa like sweetness. The finish of the cigar sees hints of earth while the retrohale sees subtle notes of pepper and wheat.
The last third continues to be as smoothed and balanced as the first two thirds. The cigar continues to deliver notes of roasted coffee and cedar. The subtle sweetness has left while the retrohale continues to offer elements of spice, wheat and wood notes on this incredible cigar.
The Finish: The Padron 50th Anniversay is one of those special cigars. Everything about it from the draw to the burn, to the complexity to the finish. It’s refined and distinguished much like the Padron family themselves. This is a cigar that is worthy of those special moments in life or when want to have something special… just because.
Score: 95
Price: $40.00
Padron 50th Anniversary Natural
Padron 50th Anniversary Natural Burn
