To celebrate our 34th anniversary, my wife and I enjoyed the Padron 50th Anniversary Maduro. This special cigar, originally released in limited edition 50-count humidors in 2014, is made to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary. Refills are available annually to humidor owners.

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Toro 6 1/2 x 50 box-pressed

The cigar features a slightly toothy, evenly colored dark chocolate brown wrapper with minimal veins and no soft spots. The band slides smoothly up and down the body. The draw is good, offering plenty of barnyard and cocoa notes on the cold draw, with hay and barnyard aromas at the foot.

Upon lighting, the cigar delivers strong notes of unsweetened dark chocolate, dark coffee, earth, and black pepper. The retrohale is very peppery, while the finish is creamy with dark chocolate and hints of black cherry sweetness in the background. The burn is razor-sharp, and the ash is white and free of flaking. This cigar starts off as medium-plus to full-bodied. The ash held for about an inch and a half before naturally falling off.

The cigar smooths out in the second third, with sweeter chocolate notes and white pepper in the retrohale. The finish is cocoa and earthy, very smooth and creamy. The cigar maintains a medium-plus strength with a super even burn.

In the final third, the flavors transition to charred oak, dark unsweetened cocoa, and earth, with a bit of black pepper on the finish. The sweetness ramps back up with mocha notes. The burn remains even and flawless.

Padron is known for its trademark peppered mocha flavor profile, something no other company has been able to duplicate. The 50th Anniversary Maduro embodies this profile in a medium-plus to full-bodied blend that transitions from creamy and sweet to dark and bold, and back again. It is a well-balanced and satisfying blend that leaves you convinced you were not just blowing smoke but having an experience! Highly recommended.