Today, we take a look at the Padrón Family Reserve No. 96 Maduro. At the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Padrón Cigars showcased what would be the seventh installment of its Family Reserve line, the Padrón Family Reserve No. 96. Like most Padrón Cigars, the Family Reserve No. 96 was offered in Natural and Maduro blends. The “96” is significant because it commemorates what would have been the 96th birthday of the late José Orlando Padrón. The Family Reserve No. 96 was offered exclusively to those retailers that attended the 2022 PCA Trade Show. This past spring, both blends of the Padrón Family Reserve No. 96 made their way to retailers.

Padrón Family Reserve No. 96 Maduro – Agile Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

The Padrón Family Reserve features some of Padrón’s oldest and most exceptional tobaccos. Both the Natural and Maduro options feature 100% Nicaraguan tobacco.

• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
• No. 96: 5 3/4 x 54

The following are the installments of the Family Reserve Series. As with most Padrón Cigars, each is offered in natural and maduro blends. With the exception of the No. 96 and No. 95, all are box-pressed offerings.

• Family Reserve No. 44: 6 x 52 (Torpedo)
• Family Reserve No. 45: 6 x 52 (Toro)
• Family Reserve No. 46: 5 1/2 x 56
• Family Reserve No. 85: 5 1/4 x 50
• Family Reserve No. 50: 5 x 54
• Family Reserve No. 95: 4 3/4 x 60 (Parejo)
• Family Reserve No. 96: 5 3/4 x 54 (Parejo)

Like many Padrón Cigars, the cigars represent milestones in Padrón family history. No. 44, No. 45, No. 46, and No. 50 refer to the anniversary of the company (1964), and No. 85, No. 95, and No. 96 commemorate birthdays of company founder José Orlando Padrón.

PERFORMANCE

The Padrón Family Reserve No. 96 Maduro opened up with notes of mocha, earth, and cedar. The mocha notes were a classic fusion of coffee and chocolate. These notes were joined by black pepper and a slight bing cherry note. Early on, the mocha notes moved to the forefront. The retro-hale delivered a mix of mixed pepper, cedar, and touches of the bing cherry. By the second third, earth notes moved into the forefront with the mocha. Then the mocha came apart, with the chocolate notes dissipating and the coffee notes receding to the background. The earth notes remained in control for the final third. The coffee, cedar, pepper, and cherry notes rounded things off – with the pepper and cedar a little more prominent. The cigar finished with a soft, cool nub.

The Family Reserve No. 96 Maduro delivered medium-bodied notes combined with medium strength. Both the strength and body had a slight increase in intensity along the way, but both remained in the medium range of the spectrum. Constuction was excellent, and this was reflected in the burn and draw. The burn required minimal touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. The draw had a satisfying touch of resistance.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Last year I thought the No. 95 Maduro release was disappointing, so I was a bit guarded with this release. My first experience with the Padrón Family Reserve No. 96 Maduro was off the truck, and I felt it needed more time. Now, the No. 96 Maduro seems to have come into its own. I liked the mocha flavors the No. 96 delivered in the first third.  While the remaining two-thirds weren’t at that first third level, they were still pretty good.

While I’d reach for a box of the No. 46 Maduro or No. 45 Maduro anytime, the No. 96 is a cigar I would smoke again – and it’s one I’d recommend to any cigar enthusiast. Coming in at 90 points, this earns our Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation. For a PCA Exclusive, anything under a Standard of Excellence designation is a failure in my book, so it’s good to see this cigar perform well.

Summary

Key Flavors: Mocha (Coffee/Chocolate), Earth, Cedar, Bing Cherry, Pepper
Burn:  Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Buy One
Score: 90
Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence

REFERENCES

Previous Assessment: Padrón Family Reserve No. 95 Maduro
News: Padrón Family Reserve No. 96 to Launch at PCA 2022
Price: $30.50
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Padrón

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop

Note: 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.