The Padron Family Reserve Cigars are stronger than typical Padróns and are an intense smoke jammed with rich, hearty, coffee notes and a heady amount of spices. The Padróns are tobacco hoarders, keeping stocks of tobacco for years, and these cigars are made with some of their oldest leaves. Company president Jorge Padrón says the leaves inside are as old as 10 years.

The first of the Padrón's Family Reserves were torpedos made from very old tobaccos, served only for special occasion dinners and never sold at retail. While the majority of Padrón Family Reserve cigars are made with maduro wrappers, some are wrapped in natural leaves. The cigars come in tidy boxes of 10, the cover of which bears the signature of the Padrón clan. "This is something you carry in your blood," says José Orlando Padrón about making cigars. "I was born in the middle of all that and that is why I love it so much."

There are three blends available within this series, the Padron Family Reserve 44, 45 and 46. The No. 45 cigar was rated Cigar of the Year in 2009 by Cigar Aficionado and continues to be a favorite amongst aficionados. The numbers represent the anniversary of Padron's founding, so it would have been 45 years since the company's founding when that blend was first introduced.

This dark, oily, pressed pyramid has a lush and even draw. The flavor is rich, with balanced impressions of vanilla, wood, black cherry and earth. Rated 92.

This dark, oily, pressed pyramid has a lush and even draw. The flavor is rich, with balanced impressions of vanilla, wood, black cherry and earth. Rated 92.

No 44 Natural. This box-pressed torpedo has an excellent draw and burn, imparting a balance of savory, meaty notes, nutty flavor, and sweet cocoa and vanilla impressions. Rated 92

No 44 Natural. This box-pressed torpedo has an excellent draw and burn, imparting a balance of savory, meaty notes, nutty flavor, and sweet cocoa and vanilla impressions. Rated 92

The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro first reached cigar shops on September 8, the 45th anniversary of the creation of Padrón Cigars Inc. by José Orlando Padrón. The 83-year-old Cuban émigré is the embodiment of the American dream, having come to the United States in the early 1960s with nothing more than a few hundred dollars, a solid work ethic and the burning desire to make cigars that tasted as good as the ones he smoked as a young man in Cuba. The image of a hammer on this special release commemorates a most precious gift given to him by a friend when he was virtually penniless-the tool allowed him to eke out a living as a carpenter, money he saved to form a small cigar company. The cigar smokers of the world owe that benefactor a great debt, for the Padrón family continues to give us one brilliant cigar after another. No company has dominated the ratings in the way Padrón Cigars has. This is the third time it has been named Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year, an honor that has only existed for six years. The No. 45 is stronger than typical Padróns and is an intense smoke jammed with rich, hearty, coffee notes and a heady amount of spices. The Padróns are tobacco hoarders, keeping stocks of tobacco for years, and this cigar is made with some of their oldest leaves. Company president Jorge Padrón says the leaves inside are as old as 10 years. The first of the Padrón's Family Reserves were torpedos made from very old tobaccos, served only for special occasion dinners and never sold at retail. While the 45 shares the original's old tobacco, it's a slightly different blend and an entirely different shape, being a severely pressed parejo. While the majority of Padrón Family Reserve No. 45s are made with maduro wrappers, some are wrapped in natural leaves. The cigars come in tidy boxes of 10, the cover of which bears the signature of the Padrón clan. "This is something you carry in your blood," says José Orlando Padrón about making cigars. "I was born in the middle of all that and that is why I love it so much." Rated 95. Cigar of the Year 2009

The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro first reached cigar shops on September 8, the 45th anniversary of the creation of Padrón Cigars Inc. by José Orlando Padrón. The 83-year-old Cuban émigré is the embodiment of the American dream, having come to the United States in the early 1960s with nothing more than a few hundred dollars, a solid work ethic and the burning desire to make cigars that tasted as good as the ones he smoked as a young man in Cuba. The image of a hammer on this special release commemorates a most precious gift given to him by a friend when he was virtually penniless-the tool allowed him to eke out a living as a carpenter, money he saved to form a small cigar company. The cigar smokers of the world owe that benefactor a great debt, for the Padrón family continues to give us one brilliant cigar after another. No company has dominated the ratings in the way Padrón Cigars has. This is the third time it has been named Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year, an honor that has only existed for six years. The No. 45 is stronger than typical Padróns and is an intense smoke jammed with rich, hearty, coffee notes and a heady amount of spices. The Padróns are tobacco hoarders, keeping stocks of tobacco for years, and this cigar is made with some of their oldest leaves. Company president Jorge Padrón says the leaves inside are as old as 10 years. The first of the Padrón's Family Reserves were torpedos made from very old tobaccos, served only for special occasion dinners and never sold at retail. While the 45 shares the original's old tobacco, it's a slightly different blend and an entirely different shape, being a severely pressed parejo. While the majority of Padrón Family Reserve No. 45s are made with maduro wrappers, some are wrapped in natural leaves. The cigars come in tidy boxes of 10, the cover of which bears the signature of the Padrón clan. "This is something you carry in your blood," says José Orlando Padrón about making cigars. "I was born in the middle of all that and that is why I love it so much." Rated 95. Cigar of the Year 2009

The Padrón family has created quite the tradition by coming out with a new Padrón Family Reserve every year to commemorate the company's history. The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro was the 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 Padrón family has done in our Top 25-three times the company has had a Cigar of the Year, and the Padróns have never failed to have a cigar in the top five. It's an impressive show of consistency that no other company can claim. Rated 94.

The Padrón family has created quite the tradition by coming out with a new Padrón Family Reserve every year to commemorate the company's history. The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro was the 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 Padrón family has done in our Top 25-three times the company has had a Cigar of the Year, and the Padróns have never failed to have a cigar in the top five. It's an impressive show of consistency that no other company can claim. Rated 94.

A dark toro with a dead-even burn and full draw. There's a bold array of coffee and woody flavor sweetened by touches of black cherry and caramel notes. Rated 91.

A dark toro with a dead-even burn and full draw. There's a bold array of coffee and woody flavor sweetened by touches of black cherry and caramel notes. Rated 91.

The toothy wrapper of this box-pressed toro has an alluring cocoa color. The even draw layers the palate with intense nutty flavors, plus coffee and a touch of cocoa. Rated 92.

The toothy wrapper of this box-pressed toro has an alluring cocoa color. The even draw layers the palate with intense nutty flavors, plus coffee and a touch of cocoa. Rated 92.

Rated 91 points. Humidor Selection. Wrapped in a near-black, oily cover leaf, this pressed cigar starts with notes of dried dark fruit, taking on black pepper notes and a touch of coffee.

Rated 91 points. Humidor Selection. Wrapped in a near-black, oily cover leaf, this pressed cigar starts with notes of dried dark fruit, taking on black pepper notes and a touch of coffee.

Measures 7½" square with 4 cigar rests.