7 Best Padron Cigars (All Tastes and Budgets)

Padron is one of those cigar brands that everyone has at least heard of. These handmade, Nicaraguan beauties are some of the best value-for-money smokes in the world, with an iconic chocolatey/coffee streak that captivates beginners and aficionados alike.

I’ve yet to find the same consistency in terms of flavor and build quality, so I’ll always recommend the best Padron cigars a must-try for anyone looking to fill out their humidor.

I was lucky enough to have a friend send me a sample pack, so thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce you guys to the range.

If you’re a beginner, check out the Londres Series. This affordable range is made with a medium-bodied blend with enough personality from notes of honey and leather to keep things interesting.

For smokers who want something with a little more bite, check out the Maduros 2000 and 3000. These darker, more complex stogies demand proper time and attention to be enjoyed properly – but they really are a treat for the senses.

From humble beginnings, Padron has earnt their place as one of the cornerstones of the cigar community:

 “When Padron is on the label, quality is a matter of family honor.”

And they’re still doing the family proud to this day.

Let’s check out some of the best Padron cigars. 

The 7 Best Padron Cigars

Padron Series Londres – Best Padron Cigar for Beginners

The Londres series is probably my favorite day-to-day smoke from Padron. The classic Nicaraguan tobacco I’ve grown to love from Padron is allowed to speak for itself in this uncomplicated, creamy stogie.

Compared to other Padrons it’s a little milder, and the best pick for anyone looking to get a baseline for the world of Padron cigars. It’s as smooth as a mild cigar with hints of sweet honey, but with enough prickly pepper and earthy leather to keep things interesting

Construction is top-notch, with firm ash and consistent for the whole duration. Okay, maybe the last inch gets a little sharp, but you get the idea

Londres is inexpensive, but still brings out the quality you expect from a brand like Padron. You really could charge 3 – 4 times as much for a cigar like this.

• Check out my guide to the best cigars for beginners for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Corona
Size	5 1/2 x 42
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Natural
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Principe – Best Short Padron Cigar 

This is a slender stick, but no slouch when it comes to taste. Made with all-Nicaraguan leaf that’s been aged for 4 years, the Padron 1964 Maduro is incredibly hard to beat at its price point.

This bold blend is earthy, slightly sweet, and harbors hits of prickly pepper that will keep you engaged for the whole smoke. It’s a complex palate with a nutty aftertaste that manages to maintain its smoothness throughout.

The Principe size is perfect for when you don’t have a bunch of time to invest in enjoying a quality smoke. It’s the perfect duration for a nightcap after a long day at work, with an easy draw and consistent burn.

If you’re looking for a rich and velvety smoke that is a little more than medium, look no further.

• Check out our full guide on the best small cigars for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Corona
Size	4 1/2 x 46
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padron Serie 1926 80 Years Maduro – Best Premium Padron Cigar

This is one for the high rollers. Blended with Padron’s rarest vintage leaves, the 1926 80 Years Maduro is an exquisite smoke.

They are everything an aged Nicaraguan should be – deep hits of dark cocoa, espresso, and an alluring nutty aftertaste.

I have never had a bad one of these. Construction is flawless, with glassy-oil sheen wrappers and enough white smoke to justify its own weather report.

1926 80 Years are serious smokes that deserve time and attention to be enjoyed properly. Not for beginners by any stretch of the imagination.

Make sure you have a couple of hours, peace and quiet, and a proper companion drink to hand.

It’s one of the best smokes I have ever had, but they are expensive. If you’ve got the money, you will not be disappointed.

Strength	Full
Shape	Figurado
Size	6 3/4 x 54
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padrón Family Reserve 45 years – Best Coffee Padron Cigar

This pick uses a blend of Nicaraguan tobacco that’s been aged for a full decade – and it shows in the palate. Family Reserves are incredibly smooth and well balanced, and even won Famous Smokes’ Cigar of the Year back in 2009.

This is a full-bodied, long smoke that deserves to be taken slowly. With inflections of coffee and leather, it has enough oomph to be a smoke you discover without being overwhelming.

Yes, it’s a $25 cigar – but it’s also a world-class cigar.

Because of the price, I don’t smoke these all the time, but when I do I always ask myself, “Why don’t I smoke these all the time?”. So there you go.

Strength	Full
Shape	Toro
Size	6 x 52
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padrón Damaso – Best Mild Padron Cigar 

Personally, I find Damaso’s a little too mild most of the time – but this is a great cigar for friends or clients who are only smoking because everyone else is.

A great cigar for clients who are smoking only because everyone else is. Easy to handle, deliciously sweet through the middle, with zero maintenance or touch-ups required. Razor-sharp burn line in this Vitola.

It will never overpower you, so it suits the height of the day in summer when a thick Maduro is going to be too much. 

Damasos would be a staple of my humidor if they were just a little bit cheaper – but if you prefer milder cigars, you’ll find these represent good value. I just prefer something fuller, personally.

• Check out our full guide on the best mild cigars for more.

Strength	Mellow
Shape	Toro
Size	6 x 52
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Natural
Wrapper Origin	Ecuadorian
Wrapper Leaf	Connecticut Shade

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Padron 2000 Maduro – Best Maduro Padron Cigar 

Another Maduro from Padron, but the 2000 is a little pricier and more complex.

While lighter than the 3000, it brings in more elements like nougat, espresso, and a heavier tint of chocolate. The pleasure here is not in the strength but in the impeccable balance.

As you reach the halfway point, you’ll notice the emergence of a prickle of pepper and a sweet, caramel sense. It’s more moderate and textured than the 3000 and evolves more along a flavor journey.

It’s a lovely after-dinner Maduro made for occasions where the 3000 would be too overpowering to smoke casually. I like to pair it with Bourbon as one of my go-to digestifs.

The veiny, dark brown wrapper burns down perfectly, with lots of thick smoke and an effortless draw. This is one of those stogies you’ll find yourself smoking down to the 1-inch nub.

• Check out our full guide on the best Maduro cigars for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 x 50
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padrón 3000 Maduro – Best Padron Cigar Under $10

These box-pressed Maduros are made with sun-grown Nicaraguan tobacco, packed with rich earthy notes of cocoa and spice. A full-bodied smoke that prickles and challenges with an “edgy” flavor, without ever tasting bitter.

Be aware – this is a strong stogie. Be prepared to sit back for over an hour or two and enjoy this smoke leisurely. This is not the sort of smoke you want to play a round of gold with, or you might find yourself being carried home in the buggy.

The 3000 Maduro wrapper looks beautiful, with a slightly longer-than-Robusto shape. It has a subtle dark chocolatey aroma, which carries over to the flavor palate too.

It pairs beautifully with rum, so set aside some time with a buddy and crack open a bottle. It’s virtually impossible to find a finer Maduro for $4.

• Check out our full guide on the best budget cigars for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 1/2 x 52
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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What You Should Know About the Best Padron Cigars

The History/ Story Behind Padron Cigars

Having grown up tending the tobacco fields in Cuba with his family, Jose Orlando Padron had been involved in cigar production all his life. Back then, his family would make $7 for every 45kg of tobacco they harvested.

When their farm was nationalized by Fidel Castro, the family moved to Miami and brought their generational knowledge with them. It was there where Jose worked as a carpenter to save the $600 he needed to start his own business – Padron cigars.

To this day, the hammer logo on all Padron cigars symbolizes the hard work he had to put in to get his venture off the ground.

The company now operates out of a large factory in Nicaragua and takes advantage of the region’s fertile soil and year-round sunshine to produce top-tier tobacco blends.

What’s the best place to buy Padron cigars online?

It’s hard to believe with over 17 million cigar smokers just in the US that there are little more than a dozen credible places to buy cigars online. Now of course there are small shops all over that sell online cigars, but just don’t come up on any broad google search.

Most will let you down somewhere – if they have good shipping, they’re expensive. If they’re the right price, you’ll lack a proper guarantee.

My favorite online cigar store – Famous Smoke Shop -strikes a great balance, and most importantly – they’re reliable.

There’s nothing worse than your cigars arriving late, not showing up at all, or receiving dried-out stogies in terrible condition.

FAQs about the Best Padron Cigars

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