A Tribute in Smoke — The Most Ambitious Padrón Black Ever Made

Numbers carry weight in the cigar world. A 93 rating from Cigar Insider turns heads. A 95 gets framed. But the number 99 on the band of a Padrón cigar carries a different kind of significance entirely.

The Padrón Black PB99 Maduro was released in honor of what would have been the 99th birthday of José Orlando Padrón — the Cuban-born founder who arrived in Miami in 1964 with almost nothing, launched a cigar company from a converted filling station, and went on to build what many consider the greatest Nicaraguan cigar operation in the world. He died in 2017, but the family he left behind — his son Jorge, the tobacconists, the rollers at Tabacos Cubanica S.A. — they haven't slowed down. They've gotten better.

The Padrón Black series is the brand's most closely held secret. It isn't listed on Padrón's website. It doesn't get the same shelf space as the 1964 Anniversary or the Serie 1926. It shows up in small batches, often through select retailers and industry events, and when it does, aficionados move quickly. The PB-97 — the Torpedo predecessor — scored 93 points from Cigar Insider. The Black line as a whole earned the highest brand average of any multi-cigar brand in Cigar Insider's entire 2025 ratings year.

The PB99 is the biggest cigar in that lineage by a wide margin. A 6.75 × 60 gordo extra — one of the largest cigars Padrón has ever produced — wrapped in a near-black Nicaraguan maduro that arrives oily to the touch, almost jet-dark, with the kind of tactile quality that tells you the leaf had time. Real-time. Properly fermented. Properly aged.

Jorge Padrón has described the Black series as sitting above the Serie 1926 in terms of intensity, but the PB99 Maduro is not a cigar that beats you over the head with strength. It's a cigar that commands your attention for three hours and gives you something different every time you look down at the ash.

Tasting Notes

The cold draw opens on earth, unsweetened cocoa, and a whisper of dried fig — immediately distinctive from the standard Padrón profile. Once lit, thick aromatic smoke arrives alongside an immediate burst of black pepper and roasted coffee. The draw is controlled, just enough resistance to set a measured pace.

The retrohale is where the maduro wrapper earns its reputation — a wave of molasses sweetness on the finish that lingers well after the smoke has cleared. Both body and strength cross fully into the full category in the final third, which is a signal that this cigar deserves the right setting: an evening, a comfortable chair, and something worth drinking alongside it.

Love the Black? Explore More Padrón

The Padrón Black PB99 Maduro exists at the outer edge of the portfolio. Here are three blends that form the essential Padrón foundation any serious collection should include:

Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro — The decorated flagship of the Padrón portfolio. If the PB99 has captured your attention, the 1964 Anniversary Maduro is where the Padrón legend was truly cemented — multiple Cigars of the Year, consistently 95+ rated, and endlessly drinkable. This is the cigar that made Padrón a household name.

Padrón Serie 1926 — Named for the birth year of José Orlando Padrón, the Serie 1926 is the benchmark for full-bodied Nicaraguan luxury. Jorge Padrón has described the Black line as sitting above the 1926 in terms of strength — so if you love the PB99, the 1926 is essential context for understanding exactly how high Padrón has raised the bar.

Padrón Family Reserve — The pinnacle of the regular Padrón lineup and the closest the catalog comes to the intensity of the Black series. Ultra-limited, aged Nicaraguan tobaccos are consistently rated among the finest cigars produced anywhere in the world. If you've made your peace with the PB99, the Family Reserve is the next logical destination

At CigarsDirect, every Padron cigar is sourced directly from authorized distributors, stored in precision-controlled humidors, and inspected by experienced tobacconists before shipping. We guarantee the authenticity and condition of every cigar with our 100% Money-Back Promise — and provide free shipping on orders over $99 — ensuring your experience matches the excellence Padron intended.

Padrón Black PB99 Maduro FAQs

What makes the Padrón Black PB99 Maduro different from other Padrón cigars?

The PB99 exists in a different universe from Padrón's everyday portfolio. While blends like the Padrón 1964 Anniversary and Serie 1926 are full-time catalog staples, the Padrón Black series is a rare, small-production line that isn't even listed on Padrón's own website. The PB99 specifically was born as a tribute to what would have been José Orlando Padrón's 99th birthday, making it a one-of-a-kind commemorative release. Add to that its massive 6.75 × 60 gordo extra format, round vitola (Padrón is almost exclusively box-pressed), and deeply fermented maduro wrapper, and you have a cigar that is unlike anything else in the Padrón catalog.

How would you describe the flavor profile of the Padrón Black PB99 Maduro?

Think dark, complex, and layered — this is not a one-note cigar. The maduro wrapper opens with black pepper and roasted coffee, a characteristic pepper blast that is a Padrón signature. The second third transitions into richer, sweeter territory: baker's chocolate, sourdough, oak, cinnamon, and tree bark. The final third is where the PB99 distinguishes itself most — molasses sweetness arrives on the retrohale, milk chocolate rounds out the profile, and the finish is long, earthy, and deeply satisfying. Both body and strength cross into full territory by the finish, which is appropriate for a cigar of this stature. Budget two and a half to three hours.

Is the Padrón Black PB99 Maduro suitable for newer or occasional cigar smokers?

It's a cigar we'd recommend to experienced aficionados rather than newcomers. Jorge Padrón himself has positioned the Black line between the Serie 1926 and Family Reserve in terms of fullness, meaning it is deliberately built for smokers who want power and depth, not an easygoing smoke. The PB99 delivers full-body and full-strength in its final third, and its sheer size (nearly three hours of smoking time) demands the right setting and the right palate. If you're newer to Padrón and looking to work your way up, the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro is an excellent starting point before graduating to the Black.

What awards or ratings has the Padrón Black series received?

The Padrón Black has earned some of the most notable recognition of any boutique sub-brand in the cigar world. Cigar Aficionado's Cigar Insider gave both the natural and maduro versions of the Padrón Black PB-97 a 93-point score — and the Padrón Black line went on to record the highest brand average of any multi-cigar brand rated by Cigar Insider across all of 2025 at 93 points. Padrón as a whole was also named the 2025 Factory of the Year by halfwheel, and the sister release — Padrón's A Hammer & A Dream — took both the #1 and #3 spots on halfwheel's Top 25 Cigars of 2025. The factory behind the PB99, Tabacos Cubanica S.A., is operating at the very peak of its powers right now.

How should I store the Padrón Black PB99 Maduro, and does it benefit from resting?

Like all premium Nicaraguan handmades, the PB99 should be stored at 65–70% relative humidity and between 65–70°F. Given the density and size of the cigar — a 6.75 × 60 gordo extra packed with substantial long-filler tobacco — allowing at least two to four weeks of humidor rest after delivery will noticeably improve the smoking experience, evening out the draw and allowing the flavors to settle. Some reviewers have found that rested examples show greater sweetness integration in the final third compared to freshly shipped cigars. If you're planning to cellar a box, the PB99's fully fermented maduro wrapper means it will age gracefully — give it six months to a year and the complexity will reward your patience.