148 | Cigar | $20 to $50, 86 or higher

"The Padron family has created quite the tradition by coming out with a new Padron Family Reserve every year to commemorate the company’s history. The Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro was [Cigar Aficianado's] 2009 Cigar of the Year—this is the natural version of that very same cigar. It has the same dimensions and suggested retail price, but the lighter wrapper gives the cigar a different flavor. While the considerable kick of the maduro is informed by hearty, resonant coffee, cocoa and spice flavors that saturate the palate, the natural is a bit more mellow, with flavors of cocoa bean and earth on the palate. The cigar is quite balanced and exceptionally flavorful. It’s impossible to exaggerate how well the Padron family has done in [Cigar Aficianado's] Top 25—three times the company has had a Cigar of the Year, and the Padrons have never failed to have a cigar in our top five. It’s an impressive show of consistency that no other company can claim."

Reviewed by: Cigar Aficionado 95pts

This cigar was named #4 of Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2010.
Visit a Binny's Humidor to find other selections from Cigar Aficianado's 2010 Top 25:

24 Casa Magna Colorado Churchill
23 Ashton VSG Eclipse
20 Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro
19 Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Toro
18 Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial
17 Brick House Robusto
16 My Father No. 2 Belicoso
15 C.A.O. La Traviata Divino
8 E.P. Carrillo Elencos Edición Limitada 2010
6 La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico
4 Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 (Natural)

"A neatly box-pressed cigar whose complex smoke starts with an earthy, herbal character. Flavors become both sweet and savory with black cherry and black truffle."

"This cigar has a nice shape and good oils. The smoke is creamy, rich and a bit earthy, with some chalky notes." 05-01