Cigar Review: Padron No. 89 Natural (TAA 2018 Release)

• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• 6” x 46 ring gauge
• ~$17
• Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Background

I published my review of the Padron No. 89 Maduro last week; that review has a bunch of background details that really don’t need to be repeated. Instead of trying to reword it, I’ll just copy and paste the pertinent parts:

The Padron No. 89 was originally released for Jose Orlando Padron’s 89th birthday and was a shop exclusive for Smoke Inn. In 2018, it was announced that another run of No. 89s would be produced for the exclusive group of retailers known as the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA). Padron has done several TAA releases, including the 1964 Anniversary Series Toro and Belicoso, as well as the 1926 Serie No. 47 and 48. Of those previous releases, the 1964 Toro and 1926 48 are still in production as TAA-exclusives. The 1964 Belicoso has been discontinued to my knowledge and the 1926 No. 47 is now available to all Padron retailers. It has been stated that this No. 89 release is a “one and done”…once they are gone, they will not see the light of day again. I’m experienced and cynical enough in the cigar industry by now to not automatically believe anyone saying “we’ll never make this cigar again.”

The blend was announced at the March 2018 TAA convention in the Dominican Republic and it was expected to ship in the summer of 2018. It was later reported that the civil unrest in Nicaragua had delayed the shipment of the cigars and they did not actually start making it to retailers until February 2019. I’m going to openly call BS on the claim that the civil unrest delayed the cigars, though…if that was the reason for the delay there was really no excuse at all for not shipping complete orders to stores that have been waiting 11 months for these cigars.

The Naturals came in about a week after the Maduros first showed up. We still haven’t received our entire order, but we are getting there. The blend is said to be all Nicaraguan—filler, binder, and wrapper. 

You will need to find a TAA store to buy these. Come to Burns in Chattanooga (or call at 423-855-5200)…or check out the TAA website for the closest store near you. This review is based on the second one of the Natural versions I smoked.

Prelight

The box and bands are the same here as they were with the Maduro. The box is a 10-count, same as the Family Reserve lines, although a little smaller because of the smaller size of the cigar within. The bands are unique among Padrons…basically a black version of the “1000s series” layered with the serial number bands of the 1964 Anniversary Series. Against the lighter colored Natural wrapper, the black looks quite nice.

The wrapper leaf of this cigar was a peanut butter brown color with a very nice oiliness under the fingers and a light wood and hay aroma coming from it. The foot of the cigar had a rich earthiness, with sweeter chocolate notes in the mix.

The prelight draw was excellent and featured flavors of cedar, natural tobacco, sweet hay and a touch of earth.

Flavor

Once lit, the Padron No 89 Natural started off with upfront notes off earth and cedar, along with a fairly pervasive white pepper heat and an underlying sweetness that really helped to balance the whole thing. Not only as it hard to remember a Padron this well-balanced and complex right out of the gate—it may have only been the second or third time that I’ve had a Natural-wrapped Padron that I felt this way about. As the first third continued I got steady cedar flavor with a nice increasing sweetness. The pepper in the mix was still mild, but very steady, providing a great accent. The retrohale had tons of roasted peanut flavor, as well as more cedar and white pepper.

Getting into the second third, the nuttiness became evident on the palate, where it mixed well with the mild sweetness. There was still a strong woodiness and a good amount of pepper heat, but the earthiness had dropped off considerably.

In the last third, the pepper ramped up to more of a red pepper spice while there was still plenty of sweet nuttiness and cedar.

Construction

I had a great draw, very even burn line and solid ash.

Value

Excellent cigar with a price tag about in the middle off the 1964/1926 ranges (when combined) makes for very good value.

Conclusions

I can count on one finger the number of Padron blends that I have liked in the Natural version more than the Maduro—the Family Reserve. Now that number is two…unless this No 89 is actually part of the Family Reserve line, then the fact that I like the Natural more is just…well…natural. I haven’t seen anyone say this is part of the same line, but it wouldn’t surprise me. The Number 89 Natural was sweet and woody, with progressive pepper and nutty notes that kept my interest the entire way. This is one I’ll definitely try to grab some more of before they are gone…in case they are indeed gone forever after this run.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10