Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Review
The Padron Family Reserve No. 45 is a cigar people overlook. Everyone talks about the Maduro — Cigar Aficionado's 2009 Cigar of the Year. Fair enough. But the Natural is the quieter sibling that rewards patience. I lit one on a slow Tuesday afternoon and was genuinely caught off guard by how composed it is.
In short
The Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Natural is a 100% Nicaraguan puro built from tobacco aged a minimum of ten years — it scored 95 at Cigar Aficionado and landed No. 4 on their 2010 Top 25 list. A box of 10 runs $294 →, which stings, but this is not an everyday smoke — it's a marker.
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 size, specs & box options
Dimensions & Vitola
6 inches × 52 ring gauge — a classic Toro format, box-pressed. The square edges aren't just cosmetic; they slow the burn slightly and even out heat across a long, 60-plus minute smoke.
Construction
A true Nicaraguan puro: sun-grown Nicaraguan natural wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler tobaccos aged a minimum of ten years at the Tabacos Cubanica S.A. factory.
Pack Sizes & Price
Sold in boxes of 10 — intentionally smaller than the standard 25-count box, which keeps the stock fresh and the occasion special. Grab yours for $294.
What does the Padron Family Reserve No. 45 taste like?
What the Padron Family Reserve No. 45 tastes like across the smoke — Cedar-kissed Nicaragua leaf aged a full decade, landing somewhere between roasted espresso, dry cocoa, and toasted nuts with a faint white pepper kick that stays disciplined the whole way down.
Cedar Box and Morning Espresso
The light reveals dry cedar right away, like splitting a fresh box of kindling. Under that sits a solid shot of dark-roast espresso and a gentle white pepper tingle on the back of the tongue.
Cocoa and Toasted Almond
Cedar steps back and unsweetened baking cocoa moves in, paired with something close to toasted almond skin — nutty but not sweet. There is a dried fruit note, maybe raisin or dried fig, that floats behind the main body without ever taking over.
Leather and Long Pepper Finish
The finish gets earthier — dry leather, a touch of aged wood, and that pepper resurfaces with more authority. It never turns bitter or hot even when you push the nub. The retrohale shows a clean cedar and spice combo that ties the smoke together.
The Overlooked Half of a Legend — Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Natural Reviewed
Scored across 5 dimensions from a full hands-on burn.
Is the Padron Family Reserve No. 45 the best in its class?
Flawless construction
The extreme box-press is razor-even, the draw is effortless, and the burn line holds without a single touch-up in testing.
Premium price, smaller box
At ~$26–27 each and sold in boxes of just 10 (not the standard 25), the cost adds up fast.
Who reaches for this
Best suited for the experienced smoker who wants a full-bodied Nicaraguan puro with real age behind it and doesn't need sweetness to feel satisfied.
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Natural vs. the Competition
Two heavyweights worth stacking up
| Cigar | Size | Strength | Per box | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padron Family Reserve No. 45This review | 6 × 52 | Full | $294 | Espresso, Cocoa, Cedar, White pepper, Pepper, Leather |
| Padron Damaso No. 17 | 7 x 54 | — | $356 | — Sibling |
| Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto | 5.25 x 52 | — | $385 | — |
| Perdomo 30th Anniversary Maduro Robusto | 5 x 54 | — | $302 | — Best value |
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Natural vs. Padron 1926 Serie No. 6 Natural
The 1926 Serie No. 6 is rounder and more polished: cocoa, espresso, quiet sweetness that never quits. The Family Reserve No. 45 hits harder: thick leather, dark earth, black pepper settling into baking spice. Both use sun-grown Nicaraguan tobacco aged at least four years, but the No. 45 wears its power more openly.
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Natural vs. Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado
The Melanio is the value challenger: complex, full-bodied, about half the price. Dried fruit, cedar, a creamy finish that punches above its cost. The No. 45 edges it on raw depth and construction: near-flawless box press, straight-line burn. Special occasions: Padron. Weekly smoking: Melanio.
The pick: Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Natural — for milestone moments where only the best Nicaragua has to offer will do.
What to drink with the Padron Family Reserve No. 45
What to drink while you smoke
Aged Rum (15+ years)
The vanilla and caramel in a well-aged rum like Zacapa 23 or Ron Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva mirror the cedar-spice core of this cigar without fighting it.
Double Espresso
A no-nonsense double shot amplifies the dark chocolate and roasted coffee notes that come out in the second third. It keeps your palate sharp.
Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, bold vintage)
Big tannins match the full body. The dark fruit in a Napa Cab plays off the earthiness in the wrapper and adds a layer of richness to the finish.
When Should This Cigar Be Lit Up
This isn't a Tuesday-after-work cigar. Here's where it earns its place.
Big Birthdays & Milestones
A 40th, 50th, or retirement deserves something that feels genuinely significant. The No. 45 smokes for over an hour and every third brings something new.
Closing a Deal
When a handshake needs to be followed by something memorable, pull this out. The box-pressed format looks sharp, and it signals that you took the occasion seriously.
A Quiet Evening Alone
Sometimes the occasion is just you. Give yourself 70 minutes, and a pour of something aged. The No. 45 rewards patience and a slow pace above almost anything else.
The bottom line on the Padron Family Reserve No. 45
The Maduro version takes the headlines, but the Natural is the one that rewards a slow evening. A decade-aged Nicaraguan puro that moves from cedar and espresso through cocoa and toasted almond into leather and a disciplined pepper finish.
The box press is razor-even and the burn line holds from light to nub without a touch-up.
At around $26 a stick it isn't a rotation cigar, and it's deliberately more restrained than its Maduro sibling. Give it a Toro-length hour, something aged in the glass, and no reason to hurry.
Hand-reviewed and scored from a full burn — not AI-generated, not sponsored.
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 FAQ
Is this the best Padron cigar?
That depends on what you want. The Family Reserve No. 45 is bolder and more complex than the Anniversary lines. The 1926 Serie edges it in refinement. For sheer power and presence, many smokers — myself included — put the No. 45 at the very top of the lineup.
Padron Family Reserve No. 45 vs Padron 1926 Serie — which is better?
The 1926 Serie is smoother and more polished, great for those who prefer elegance. The Family Reserve No. 45 hits harder with more leather, earth, and pepper upfront. Both use 4-year-aged tobacco. Your preference in body and intensity should make the call for you.
Is it a good cigar for a celebration or milestone?
Yes — it's one of the best choices for exactly that. The price point signals occasion, the smoke time stretches past an hour, and the complexity gives you something to talk about the whole time. It feels earned rather than ordinary.
How long does it take to smoke?
Plan for 60 to 75 minutes at a relaxed pace. The 6x52 Toro format with a box press burns slowly and evenly. Rush it and you lose the nuance. Take your time and it reveals new notes in each third.
James Peasley is the General Manager at Online Cigars, with a passion for fine cigars that goes back to 2010. He spent a decade at C.Gars Ltd in the UK as Marketing General Manager and cigar reviewer, hosting tasting events along the way, and trained with the prestigious Hunters & Frankau - the UKs Cuban cigar importers. A devoted fan of Cuban cigars, James has a particular soft spot for Trinidad and Cohiba, especially the Trinidad Topes and Cohiba Siglo II. He brings that depth of experience and genuine enthusiasm to every review.
