The history that stands behind the success of Padrón Cigars is an inspiring one. It is rife with vision, determination, hard work, and dedication. One might say it takes as much - and many more unspoken ideals - to create cigars worth of the repute that Padron enjoys.
José Orlando Padrón, a name which is well known today among those who appreciate the cigars that bear it, was born in Cuba in 1926. He grew up on his family’s tobacco farm, where he would learn many of the skills that he used later in life to cultivate the Padrón name that is famous here in the United States and around the world.
In 1961, at the age of 35, José Padrón fled Cuba. Like many Cubans, his livelihood was destroyed after Castro nationalized all private businesses. Unfortunately, many Cubans were left with no choice but to leave their home soil in the hopes of a better life elsewhere. Many of them came to the United States; that is where the next chapter of Padrón’s life begins.
José Padrón found himself in Miami, Florida, in 1961, with practically nothing at all. Lucky for him, he was enterprising and resourceful, and with a little bit of help from a friend, he was able to get on his feet. That friend gave him a hammer, which as anyone who has ever visited Padrón’s website will know, is an enduring symbol of success and determination.
With that hammer, his life experience, and his hope for success, José Padrón started a carpentry business. He managed to save what many would call a meager sum - 600 dollars - and invested it into a factory where he could once more begin making cigars, as he once did at home in Cuba.
In 1964, José Padrón founded the factory that would grow into the Padrón business that we know and love today. With his savings, he hired a roller, or a torcedor, with whose help he would produce a few hundred cigars per day. At first, his operation was only able to produce one type of cigar, a “fuma” such as those found in Cuba; these cigars were made entirely from Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco and Padrón’s resources were limited. Still, with the same grit and tenacity that had defined him, he continued to produce.
Luckily for José Padrón and Padrón cigars, shortly after his operation began a representative of a Nicaraguan tobacco company approached him. He was in search of a buyer to whom he could sell his Nicaraguan tobaccos.
Although the Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco that Padrón had been using was popular, it was time-consuming to age. Padrón traveled to Nicaragua where he developed a penchant for the local tobaccos. He moved his tobacco business to Estelí, Nicaragua in 1970, and Padrón continued to produce his cigars by hand.
By this point, demand was growing, and Josa Padrón could barely keep up with it. In the years since the operation moved to Nicaragua, Padrón has been wrought by various forms of strife including political turmoil, fires, and embargoes. Nonetheless, the demand continued to grow, and today Padrón Cigars are some of the most highly esteemed in the world.
Today, Padrón produces in four series, although they come in many shapes and sizes. The Padro Series is Padrón’s most affordable line, made with sun-grown Habano tobaccos that are aged for two and a half years - these are medium to full-bodied.
The Padrón 1926 Series are handmade, box-pressed cigars, crafted from Cuban-seed tobacco that has been aged for five years. The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series are also carefully handmade with tobaccos that are aged for four years. These are very smooth cigars, but still full-bodied. Padrón additionally produces Padrón Family Reserve Cigars, which have been called some of the finest ever produced. They are carefully handmade from Nicaraguan tobaccos that have been aged ten or more years. Full-bodied and complex, they are in a league of their own.
Also, Padrón periodically produces special releases and limited edition cigars. Still, today, the tobaccos from which the Padrón series of premium cigars are made are picked, packed, and hand wrapped. There are many generations of skill in growing, grading, and aging tobacco in the Padrón Family, and leaning on that expertise - and hard work - they have produced and continue to produce some of the finest cigars the world has ever known.
See the links above to learn more about the lines of Padrón Cigars we offer here at Atlantic Cigar, but if you want to get a person’s take, get in touch with our customer service team. You can reach out to us at 800-887-7877 and a member of our team would be glad to help you. Call to learn more about Padrón or get a special recommendation - we love to hear from our customers.