Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Padrón No. 89 Natural that was re-released as a TAA Exclusive. This is a cigar line we assessed back in June 2016.

 

Wrapper: Not Disclosed, other than “Natural”
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
Corona Gorda: 6 x 46

On January 29, 2016, South Florida retailer Smoke Inn hosted a cigar event with José O. Padrón in attendance in its Boynton Beach, Florida store. The event was an early celebration for Mr Padrón’s 90th birthday, which was later in the year on June 10th. That evening a commemorative cigar was made available to attendees known as the Padrón No. 89 (some have referred to it as the Padrón Black Label because of the banding). According to Smoke Inn, part of the reason No. 89 was chosen (as opposed to 90) is that Mr. Padron was actually still 89 years of age when the event occurred. Par for the course with Padrón releases, the Padron No. 89 was offered with both a natural and maduro offering. Fast forward to 2018, and the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA) announced that both the natural and maduro offerings would be a part of the 2018 TAA Exclusive Series to commemorate the organization’s 50th birthday. But it wouldn’t be until 2019 when the Padrón No. 89 cigars slated for the TAA would arrive in stores. Today we take a closer look at one of those cigars, the Padrón No. 89 Natural.

The TAA Exclusive Series consists of cigars made by leading manufacturers that are exclusively sold at TAA member retailers. The TAA is a small group of retailers. At press time the number of retailers is approximately 80. The TAA has defined itself as:

The Tobacconists’ Association of America, Ltd. is a trade organization established in 1968 by visionary retail tobacconists. By providing education, communication, research, advocacy, and member discount programs, The TAA works with our members and the industry they support to offer the tools and relationship building opportunities needed to maximize professionalism and success.

Since 2018 was the 50th anniversary of the Tobacconist Association of America, there were a large number of releases as part of the 2018 TAA Exclusive Series:

TAA Exclusive Series 2019

TAA Exclusive Series 2018

Padron has played an extensive role in the TAA Exclusive Series. There have been a total of five installments and ten cigars:

* Released in 2019

Much of the details of both the Padrón No. 89 Natural and Maduro blends are a mystery. Other than the wrapper being natural or maduro, there isn’t much else than has been disclosed about the blends. Both the No. 89 Natural and No. 89 Maduro are rounded 6 x 46 Corona Gordas. The cigars are sold in ten-count boxes.

The Padrón No. 89 Natural started out with a mix of sweet natural tobacco, baker’s spice, cedar, earth, and black pepper. Early on the natural tobacco sweetness and baker’s spice dominated with the cedar earth, and pepper secondary. As the cigar experience progressed, the earth and cedar notes increased in intensity. Shortly before the final third, the spices (pepper, cedar, and baker’s spice) took control of the flavor profile.

The flavors produced by the Padrón No. 89 Natural are medium-bodied and this is countered by medium strength. The body has a slight edge over the strength.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

In terms of the smoking experience, while the flavors are still medium-bodied, I still found this cigar was a bit overpowered by the spices – particularly during the second half. While this wasn’t a bad cigar, I still found the Padron No. 89 Natural to be a cigar that struggled to find a new balance of flavors. If you are looking for a cigar on the spicier side, this is a cigar that could satisfy. However at $16.50, this is not an inexpensive cigar, so it’s one I’d recommend trying it first and seeing if it’s in your wheelhouse.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Baker’s Spice, Earth, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Minus
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Try a Sample
Score: 89

References

Previous Assessment: Padrón No. 89 Natural (Jose O. Padrón 90th Birthday Cigar for Smoke Inn)
News: Padrón Black No. 89 Heading to TAA Retailers
Price: $16.50
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Padrón

Photo Credit: Cigar Coop