ReviewsMaduro & Dark Wrappers
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro Review
Reviewed cigar
Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro
- Brand
- Padrón
- Line
- Family Reserve
- Vitola
- No. 45 Maduro
- Wrapper
- Nicaraguan Maduro
- Binder
- Nicaraguan
- Filler
- Nicaraguan
- Size
- 6 inches × 52 ring
- Strength
- Full
- Origin
- Nicaragua
- Price
- $26–33
- Smoking Time
- 80 min
August 15, 2026
By Marcus Hale
Last updated: August 15, 2026
The anniversary toro of Padron's top tier
The Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro is a full-bodied toro - 6 by 52 - in an extra-aged Nicaraguan maduro wrapper over long-aged Nicaraguan filler, an anniversary release in Padron's top-tier Family Reserve line. It smokes bittersweet cocoa, dark espresso, oak, leather, black pepper and dried fruit, sharing the lean 52-ring proportion of the No. 44 Maduro while feeling a touch more polished and rounded. This is Family Reserve power dressed in years of aging.
What sets it apart is refinement. The anniversary blend and long aging give the No. 45 a slightly more polished, rounded character than the 44 - the same concentrated, layered espresso-cocoa-oak profile, but with the edges softened a shade further while keeping full body. The lean 52 ring keeps the smoke focused and intense rather than sprawling, and the aging carries genuine strength velvet-smooth. Construction is flawless top-tier Padron: perfect draw, razor burn, a long tight ash.
My reservations are honest. This is a genuinely full cigar - not for a light palate, a beginner, or an empty stomach, and it rewards attention rather than casual smoking. And at roughly $26-33 a stick it's a serious splurge, top-tier money justified only if you value the aging and polish over the everyday lines - and the difference from the 44 is subtle. If you want the same profile fatter and richer, the 46 or 50 Maduro; if you prefer natural, the No. 45 natural is the cross-shop. For a polished, powerful maduro toro, though, this is a benchmark.
Where it fits is the contemplation evening for an experienced smoker who wants Padron at its refined peak - full strength, deep complexity, a shade more polish than the 44. It's a special-occasion reward smoke, not a daily. As a top-tier maduro toro, it stands with the best Padron makes.
Frequently asked questions
How is the No. 45 Maduro different from the No. 44?
They share the 6 by 52 toro proportion and top-tier blend. To my palate the 45 feels a shade more polished and rounded, the anniversary release softening the edges a touch further. The difference is subtle - if budget matters, the 44 gets you nearly the same cigar for a little less.
Is the Family Reserve worth the splurge over the 1964?
If you value complexity, yes. The extra-long aging gives the Family Reserve a depth and velvet smoothness the 1964 doesn't quite reach. But the 1964 is superb and much cheaper - the Family Reserve is the top-tier splurge, not the everyday step up.
Is it too strong for me?
If you smoke mild or medium cigars, likely yes - it's genuinely full-bodied and best on a full stomach. The aging makes it smooth for its strength, but it demands an experienced palate. Beginners should start with the Damaso or a 1964.
Maduro or natural in the No. 45?
The Maduro brings deep cocoa, chocolate and dried-fruit sweetness; the natural is drier, oakier and spicier. Both are full and superb. If you want richness, the Maduro; for a leaner, more peppery profile, the natural. It's a taste choice at this tier.
How should I smoke a cigar this good?
Give it time and attention - clear an evening, pair it with coffee or an aged spirit, and smoke it slowly on a full stomach. At this price and complexity it rewards contemplation, not a rushed light. Let it develop and don't hurry the draw.
Community tasting notes
No community notes yet. Be the first to share how this smoked for you.
Log in to share your tasting notes and photos.