Cigar of the Year 2009 is....

[BigAsh]

The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro ....

MADE BY: Padrón Cigars Inc.
FACTORY LOCATION: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua
PRICE: $25.00
RING GAUGE: 52
LENGTH: 6"
RATING: 95

Quite the leap from last year's Casa Magna!

[TripleF]

Cool. How'd you find out already?

[BigAsh]

Cool. How'd you find out already?

C'mon Scott....Big City bigshot like me...I got my sources...Like the email I just got :r
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Top_25/Top_25_Display/0,4320,2009_1,00.html

[elderboy02]

Interesting. I haven't had it yet.

[hotreds]

Mucho dinero for that one!

[Starscream]

For $25, they can keep them. But that's just me.
At least Padron won it this year.:tu

[MedicCook]

For $25 a cigar it will not be on my radar to try any time soon.

[TripleF]

C'mon Scott....Big City bigshot like me...I got my sources...Like the email I just got :r
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Top_25/Top_25_Display/0,4320,2009_1,00.html

Hmmmmmmm. Well ain't you a bigshot? :r

BTW, I bought 2 of 'em just before EPIC HERF II. We did a Puff Puff Pass. Wasn't impressed. Don't think anybody really was.

[DPD6030]

Yeah nothing to speak greatly of. Typical Padron imo. Thanks for sharing the cigar at EPIC II Scott :D

[GreekGodX]

Siglo V tubo should have been #1. I can't believe the 45th is #1. I didn't think it was anything special at all and am kinda upset I didn't buy some better cigars for $25

[JJG]

My local b&m said they got one box and it was gone within hours. Even if they did have some left, I'm not sure I would have forked over the $$$ to try one. but yeah like someone said, at least Padron won.


edit: ...just looked at the list. Only two CCs in the top 10? :hm

[Skywalker]

Nice to see a lot of classics on the list!!!:tu

[BigAsh]

I have 1 in my humi picked up as part of a sampler from Rob @ Taboo....got on a great deal....doubt I would've paid $$$ for it....Some nice sticks in the top 10 though!

[SNKBYT]

interesting list, would have thought VSG would have done better:2

[CasaDooley]

Read the email this mornin. 25.00 per stick...:hm A 5er of Padrons or a box of cc,s. Tough choice.:r

[icantbejon]

I haven't really heard much good about this smoke. A few friends have tried them and said they are pretty much in line with the 64s. No one has been blown away yet. As I hear it, Padron's don't get much better with age, so I'm thinking they won't get much better than they are now. Therefore, with my $25 I'm buying a couple smokes I know I'm gonna like.

That all being said, I know I'm in the extreme minority that doesn't really care for Padron's. They don't wow me much.

[RevSmoke]

Mucho dinero for that one!

For $25, they can keep them. But that's just me.
At least Padron won it this year.:tu

For $25 a cigar it will not be on my radar to try any time soon.

My local b&m said they got one box and it was gone within hours. Even if they did have some left, I'm not sure I would have forked over the $$$ to try one. but yeah like someone said, at least Padron won.


edit: ...just looked at the list. Only two CCs in the top 10? :hm

Reminds me of that other thread, about what is our affordable range. Maybe I should start another thread, something about how much would you spend to try a stick from...

Hmm, there's a thought.

[newlifetaxidermy]

I haven't tried this one. I have smoked several of the 1926 (nat and mad), 64s, and the 80th maduro. The most I would pay for any of them is $10. They are good, but IMO there are many smokes that are better and cost less. Maybe the 45th would change my mind, but at $25 I think I'll pass. As far as last year, the 1st release Casa Magna was much better than subsequent releases, but again, not what I would consider COTY.

[icantbejon]

As far as last year, the 1st release Casa Magna was much better than subsequent releases, but again, not what I would consider COTY.

That was my thought. Seems like the past two years the winner hasn't been all that well received. I was able to try the casa magna and it was very ho-hum to me. The first half was good, but the second half had very little personality.

[kelmac07]

The 45th looks like a fine maduro (right up my alley)...but the $ 30 pricetag is keeping me away.

[JJG]

I think it's important to keep in mind that the Family Reserve is a special, limited release cigar and that's part of what you're paying for. sure, it may taste identical to a 64, but taste isn't the only factor that can determine a cigar's worth.

In the lower price ranges, it's easy to say, "this $6 cigar is twice as good as this $3 cigar" because you can taste the difference in quality. but when you are talking about a premium cigar vs. a limited release, I think it's unfair to make the same comparison. If you have the expectation that a $25 Padron should taste twice as a good as a $12 64 ani, you will surely be disappointed.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with paying more for special releases either. and it may impossible to quantify, but there is definitely an extra little bit of excitement/enjoyment you get out of smoking a special cigar.

[Brooks W]

Hmmmmmmm. Well ain't you a bigshot? :r

BTW, I bought 2 of 'em just before EPIC HERF II. We did a Puff Puff Pass. Wasn't impressed. Don't think anybody really was.

I disagree.

The 45th maduro is the best Padron I have smoked (better then the '64, albeit not by much) and is WELL worth the money they are charging. It is truly the total package. (and is #2 in MY cigar of the year list)...

Is it an everyday stick? Of course not. But as a special stick to pull out every once in a while, it is wonderful...

Just my humble opinion, of course...

~brooks

[Starscream]

I disagree.

The 45th maduro is the best Padron I have smoked (better then the '64, albeit not by much) and is WELL worth the money they are charging. It is truly the total package. (and is #2 in MY cigar of the year list)...


If it's not better than the '64 by much, then why such a price difference? I can get '64 Principes for around $8, but I am not paying $25 for a cigar that is only a bit of an upgrade from the '64.

[Brooks W]

If it's not better than the '64 by much, then why such a price difference? I can get '64 Principes for around $8, but I am not paying $25 for a cigar that is only a bit of an upgrade from the '64.

Because it IS better, (again, IMHO) and you pay for that....

**Shrug**

~brooks

[Starscream]

Because it IS better, (again, IMHO) and you pay for that....

**Shrug**

~brooks

But a little bit better is not $17 worth to me. If I'm going to pay an extra $17 it better be a WHOLE LOT better. Not knocking it, just wondering.

[Brooks W]

But a little bit better is not $17 worth to me. If I'm going to pay an extra $17 it better be a WHOLE LOT better. Not knocking it, just wondering.

No worries, that is what makes the world go round :D:D

~brooks

[Starscream]

I think it's important to keep in mind that the Family Reserve is a special, limited release cigar and that's part of what you're paying for. sure, it may taste identical to a 64, but taste isn't the only factor that can determine a cigar's worth.

In the lower price ranges, it's easy to say, "this $6 cigar is twice as good as this $3 cigar" because you can taste the difference in quality. but when you are talking about a premium cigar vs. a limited release, I think it's unfair to make the same comparison. If you have the expectation that a $25 Padron should taste twice as a good as a $12 64 ani, you will surely be disappointed.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with paying more for special releases either. and it may impossible to quantify, but there is definitely an extra little bit of excitement/enjoyment you get out of smoking a special cigar.

But does that warrant making it the cigar of the year? If it's so close to the profile of another cigar?

[jmsremax]

This is on my list to try :dr

[Steelergar]

At least it wasn't casa magna that stuff was garbage. The best cigar I tried this year was a Diamond Crown Maximus I got in a blind taste test.

[Doctorossi]

As with most stuff, as you head toward the higher end, you're probably going to hit a point of diminishing returns. The better stuff is, the less room is left for improvement and the more expense is required to find/facilitate that improvement. A $40k Ducati "R" is not going to perform 300% as well as a $13k standard Ducati; it's going to perform 118% as well.

[jmsremax]

As with most stuff, as you head toward the higher end, you're probably going to hit a point of diminishing returns. The better stuff is, the less room is left for improvement and the more expense is required to find/facilitate that improvement. A $40k Ducati "R" is not going to perform 300% as well as a $13k standard Ducati; it's going to perform 118% as well.

My expertise in cigars isn't nearly as great as in cars/bikes but I will say the money you spend on a limited production vehicle/bike will appreciate. Your standard duc or any other vehicle will probably depreciate. The extra performance isn't why people buy these rare toys. Just my :2

Sorry for jumping off topic a bit.

[icehog3]

Read the email this mornin. 25.00 per stick...:hm A 5er of Padrons or a box of cc,s. Tough choice.:r

;)

[Clampdown]

This list and how they come about choosing is one of the many reason I don't even waste my time with that magazine.

[duckmanco]

Read the email this mornin. 25.00 per stick...:hm A 5er of Padrons or a box of cc,s. Tough choice.:r

This is getting outright ridiculous... $25.00 cigars in this economy should read like a slap in the face IMO. I know I'll catch hell for this opinion, and there is always someone willing to justify these prices for any number of stupid reasons, but to me, this ain't what the Padron brand used to represent. Of course, they still have their classic line and its somewhat fairly priced, but still.... at some point its just leaves...

[RazzBarlow]

My local B&M had these recently and I'm a big fan of the Padrons, so I just had to try it. But I didn't pay $25.00...I paid $39.95. (California Tobacco taxes, Cigar "Lounge" markup etc...)

I'm a relative cigar noob and I don't have the sophisticated palate that I read about in some of the cigar reviews. But I know what I like and it was a damned fine smoke! I'm not itching to run out and drop another 40 bucks on one! There are several $10 and under sticks that I want to try first. But to pay 40 bucks for a 2 hour pleasurable experience? Yeah, it was worth it.

[chenvt]

Most overrated cigar magazine top 10 list is.....


Cigar Aficionado

[Starscream]

My local B&M had these recently and I'm a big fan of the Padrons, so I just had to try it. But I didn't pay $25.00...I paid $39.95. (California Tobacco taxes, Cigar "Lounge" markup etc...)

I'm a relative cigar noob and I don't have the sophisticated palate that I read about in some of the cigar reviews. But I know what I like and it was a damned fine smoke! I'm not itching to run out and drop another 40 bucks on one! There are several $10 and under sticks that I want to try first. But to pay 40 bucks for a 2 hour pleasurable experience? Yeah, it was worth it.

More power to ya, Marshall.