Match M2 placed two deeply personal Nicaraguan cigars across from one another. The Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto celebrated six decades of the Padrón family's cigar-making legacy. My Father Le Bijou 1922 honored José 'Pepín' García's father, who was born in 1922.
Padrón entered the matchup at 1-0 after defeating Ashton VSG in the tournament opener. Le Bijou was making its first Group A appearance, bringing a dark Habano Oscuro-Oscuro wrapper, full-bodied strength and the signature intensity expected from My Father Cigars.
The matchup was not a choice between quality and power. Both cigars delivered premium craftsmanship and considerable complexity. The question was which one could manage its strength with greater balance from the opening draw through the finish.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Padrón 60th Anniversary | My Father Le Bijou 1922 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Padrón | My Father Cigars |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan Sun-Grown Natural | Habano Oscuro-Oscuro |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Vitola | 6½ x 56 Perfecto; tapers to about 48 | Toro, 6 x 52 |
| Strength | Medium-Full to Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 30.0/30 - Legendary | 27.5/30 - Superior |
| M2 result | Winner | Loss |
The Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto opened with dark cocoa, toasted cedar, espresso and measured black pepper. As the perfecto widened, mocha, walnut, earth and natural sweetness joined the profile. Its strength built gradually, but the cigar remained composed and precise.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro announced itself more forcefully. Pepper, cedar, cocoa and sweet tobacco on the cold draw led into dark chocolate, earth and toasted wood. Espresso, leather, nutmeg and a molasses-like sweetness added depth through the middle portion.
Le Bijou's closing section intensified with black pepper, dark-roasted coffee and charred cedar. It was bold, warming and persistent—an unapologetically full-bodied performance built for smokers who enjoy strength with dark, concentrated flavor.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Both cigars received full marks for construction and flavor complexity. Le Bijou produced abundant smoke, a dependable burn and the kind of layered dark flavor that made it a legitimate tournament cigar. Padrón did not win by simply being stronger or richer.
Padrón won because it controlled every element more completely.
The published Ashology assessment gave Padrón 5 out of 5 in all six categories. Le Bijou earned 5 for construction and flavor complexity, 4.5 for draw, burn and finish, and 4 for balance. Those are strong marks, but they reveal exactly where separation appeared.
Padrón's draw remained effortless, its burn stayed straight and its flavors progressed without a single component dominating. Le Bijou's pepper, dark roast and charred cedar became more commanding late in the smoke. That intensity gave the cigar character, while Padrón's greater balance produced the more complete head-to-head performance.
Official Result: Padrón Wins Match M2
The Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto defeated My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro and moved to 2-0 in Group A. It later beat CAO Arcana Firewalker to finish group play undefeated at 3-0 and advance as the group winner.
Le Bijou fell to 0-1 after M2. It later lost to Ashton VSG, then closed group play with a victory over CAO Arcana Firewalker. Its 1-2 record was not enough to reach the Top 16, but its 27.5-point Superior rating showed that elimination did not erase the quality of the cigar.
For Padrón, M2 was the second step in a perfect tournament. The cigar would finish 7-0, win the championship and establish its blend of strength, craftsmanship and control as the competition's standard.
Final Ashology Verdict
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro delivered exactly what its reputation promised: full-bodied Nicaraguan strength, dark complexity and dependable craftsmanship. Its flavor profile was memorable, and its official score placed it firmly within premium competition grade.
The Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto matched that complexity while adding flawless draw, burn, balance and finish. In a matchup filled with family history and powerful tobacco, Padrón's control made the difference.
Match M2 proved that championship cigars do more than deliver flavor and strength. They bring every part of the experience together—and Padrón did that more completely from beginning to end.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.