Padron Family Reserve 46 Years Maduro

What do you smoke the day after Tom Brady leads a come from behind victory to advance to the Super Bowl and you feast on jambalaya left overs from the game? We opted for the Padron Family Reserve 46 Years Maduro. It’s a limited production cigar from Nicaragua, that features aged tobacco that is 10 years old and was released in 2010 while Jose Orlando Padron was celebrating his 46th year in the cigar industry.

Cigar Review: Padron Family Reserve
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.5
Ring Gauge: 56
Size: Robusto Extra

The Look: Packaged in 10 count boxes, the Padron Family Reserve line is a nice compact box of cigars that doesn’t take up a lot of room on a retailers shelf, or in your humidor at home. Inside the cigars are lined up in 2 rows of 5 cigars. The Maduro wrapper has a lot of tooth to it and a significant amount of oils. There are three bands in play, with the first being a red and gold with the Padron logo. The second band is the counterfeiting deterrent band which was an issue for the company in the past. The third band denotes 46 Years in red over a gold.

The Notes: Before we cut and light the cigar the weight to this smoke is quite noticeable and there is no doubt that this cigar is loaded with tobacco. Once the cap is clipped the cold draw serves up notes of earth and hay. The aroma off the wrapper is very different from that of the cold draw as we are treated to a bouquet of cocoa, coffee and a subtle pepper that tingles the nostrils ever so slightly.

Once the cigar is lit the aromas from the cold draw make their way to the palate with notes of coffee which is dominant along with touches of cocoa and spice, especially on the retrohale. The cigar is exceptionally creamy and smooth, with a moderate finish. I’ve spoken to people who prefer a short finish and those who prefer a long finish. Leave us a comment below and let us know which you prefer and why. For me it’s short to moderate as I don’t want to cigar to stay with me much past the experience at hand.

The second third remains incredibly smooth as the cigar develops some cedar notes as the cocoa notes slides into the background. Around the half way point of the smoke a nuttiness develops and the cigar has a creamy finish. Notes on the finish include coffee and earth. So far I liken this cigar to a meal prepared by the best chef in the world who placed the perfect measurements of a recipe so each note is well defined and easily enjoyed

The last third of the Padron Family Reserve 46 Years is a continued work of art. The notes of wood, coffee and nuts dance on the palate and totally engage the smoker. Some cocoa appears on the finish of the cigar, and there is some pepper notes on the aroma and retrohale. It’s smooth, and never over powers. It’s hard to put down even as there is nothing left to hold on to.

The Finish: The 46 Years is a cigar best enjoyed in the Maduro format. It’s meant to be smoked slow and so you to cherish the time spent together. It felt like everything around me slowed down as I truly got lost in the cigar. I’ve yet to meet a Padron I didn’t like, but then there are cigars like this that stand out in an amazing portfolio and history. Every cigar smoker should have a box of these at there disposable.

Score: 95
Price: $26.80 / $267.99