Padron 40th Anniversary Maduro Staff Review

I am reviewing Padron 40th Anniversary Maduro, a prestigious 6.5 x 54 box-pressed Torpedo. In 2004, the blend received Cigar Aficionado’s very first ‘#1 Cigar of the Year’ award (for the Natural wrapper). Since then, Padron has amassed a total of three ‘#1 Cigar of the Year’ titles. Let’s revisit this exclusive and classic cigar.  

When Padron 40th Anniversary debuted in 2004, it was available in highly limited quantities. Late family patriarch José Orlando Padron and his son, Jorge Padron, blended 40th Anniversary in a Maduro and a Natural wrapper from special reserves of well-aged Nicaraguan tobaccos. The family honors their deep Cuban cigar-making roots in each of the anniversary cigars they create.

Opening up a box of Padron 40th Anniversary can take your breath away. The cigars are absolutely stunning. They look like Torpedo-shaped gourmet chocolate bars. An oily, dark-chocolate-brown Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper exhibits a ton of tooth. Underneath the succulent wrapper is a premium blend of extensively aged Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos grown by the Padron family. Pre-light aromas of hay, espresso, leather, and black pepper tingle the nose while the cold draw adds depth with hints of nuts and dark chocolate.

Upon lighting the cigar, it’s clear why so many cigar smokers love Padron. Bold notes of dark chocolate, espresso beans, and cedar enchant the senses with a woody sweetness. Tinges of cinnamon, black pepper, and citrus penetrates the nose. The profile intensifies but the spices mellow. The citrus flavor on the retrohale is more defined with an orange peel note. By the halfway point, notes of leather and cedar dominate the flavor profile. A perfect balance of pepper, espresso, and cocoa follows. The finish is long and sweet with a ton of chocolate and cedar notes emerging in the last inch. It’s a succulent and satisfying cigar from head to foot.

The cigar’s construction is amazing. The draw offers the perfect resistance. The burn was razor sharp and produced a sturdy, light-gray ash that held on for a minimum of two inches. Padron 40th Anniversary Maduro is a cigar I highly recommend smoking after dinner. The blend starts off full-bodied and does not lighten up a pinch.

I wish I could smoke two Padron 40th cigars back-to-back. The price point is a bit high for a daily go-to cigar at just over $27, but for a celebration, I would not hesitate. If you have a wedding, graduation, or other special occasion coming up, a Padron 40th Anniversary makes perfect sense. If you’re in the market for a fantastic gift, Padron also offers a ‘Cigars of the Year’ Sampler, which includes the 40th Anniversary in a Natural wrapper. The Padron portfolio is packed with great cigars if you want to ease your way up to a top-shelf rarity like the 40th Anniversary.