A Little History On The Padron 1926 Cigar

The Padron 1926 No.9 cigar wasn’t created “just because.” It was rolled out to honor José Orlando Padrón’s 75th birthday — the man behind one of the most respected cigar families out there. The series uses well-aged Nicaraguan tobacco (five years or more), and every cigar carries a number on its band to keep counterfeits at bay. It’s one of those rare lines that really does feel handmade in spirit, not only in marketing.

We’re traveling back in time to 2007

“Yes that’s a AI Image I got side tracked. ADHD, naturally”

The Padron 1926 No. 9 Natural was awarded a 97 rating and Cigar of the Year in 2007 by Cigar Aficionado, and it’s that good.

Why The Padron 1926 No.9 Stood Out in 2007

Craftsmanship: Every stick is flawless. Draw, burn, ash—solid. Nothing left to chance.
Flavor: It evolves. First half: roasted, earthy, a little coffee bitterness. Middle: creamy leather, warm spices. Final part: A little sweetness, nutmeg, and Nicaraguan spice to finish it off.
Balance: Full-bodied but refined. Bold but controlled. That’s tricky to pull off.
Legacy: Honors José Orlando Padrón’s decades of dedication to cigars. Every puff feels like respect for the craft.

It earned 97 points. That’s not luck. That’s meticulous attention to leaf, fermentation, rolling, and aging. Every factor had to line up perfectly—and it did.

Why It Matters Today

Even eighteen years later in 2025, pulling a Padron 1926 No. 9 from your humidor feels like a treat. Collectors, enthusiasts, casual aficionados—they all respect it. It’s a standard. A reminder of what premium Nicaraguan craftsmanship can achieve and should.

Padron 1926 No.9 Natural My First Impressions

You pick up the Padron 1926 No.9 Natural and immediately notice the box-pressed shape. It fits in the hand like it belongs there — almost like someone sanded the corners down just enough. The wrapper is a smooth, milk-coffee brown with little seams showing. Nothing flashy. Just classy in that quiet way Padrón does so well.

Lighting Up — Padron 1926 No.9 Flavor Notes

The first few puffs hit with a warm espresso bitterness… but not the kind that pushes you away. More like the first sip from a café you trust. Then you get cedar, a subtle sweetness, and this roasted-nut thing that hangs around longer than you expect.

Somewhere in the middle, the cigar settles into a creamy, leathery groove. The sort of moment where you stop talking and just enjoy the rhythm of the smoke. Every now and then a flicker of spice jumps in — nothing wild, but enough to remind you it’s a full-bodied stick with an opinion.

Toward the final third, the sweetness comes back, darker this time. Think chocolate, maybe a little cherry skin. The flavors get denser, but the smoke stays smooth. No harshness unless you push it too hard.

Padron 1926 No.9 Construction

Nearly flawless. The draw is smooth without being airy, and the burn stays straight almost the entire way. Ash hangs on longer than you’d expect for a box-press. Whether you smoke once a week or every day, you’ll notice the craftsmanship.

Strength & Experience

Medium-to-full. Definitely not something I’d hand to someone on their second cigar ever, but it’s far from aggressive. It’s powerful in a controlled, mature way — like someone who doesn’t need to talk loudly to get attention.

Padron 1926 No.9 Rating (Our Take)

Flavor: 9.6/10
Construction: 9.8/10
Value: 8.7/10 (it is pricey)
Overall: 9.8/10

Pros

Deep, evolving flavors
Practically perfect construction
Smooth power; never overwhelming
Consistent from cigar to cigar

Cons

Pricey (and never on “cheap smoke lists”)
Needs patience; rush it and bitterness creeps in
Full-bodied enough to intimidate newcomers

Final Thoughts

The Padron 1926 No.9 Natural isn’t a “grab because you’re bored” cigar. It’s a sit-down, pour-something-nice, let-the-evening-slow-down kind of experience. If you already enjoy Nicaraguan profiles — especially ones with depth rather than just raw strength — this one feels like a quiet masterpiece.