Match M49 opened the Top 16 and changed the tournament from round-robin positioning to direct elimination. Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto arrived as the undefeated 3-0 winner of Group A. Warped Corto entered at 2-1 after placing second behind Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado in Group B.
The matchup paired Padrón's 6 1/2 x 56 perfecto with Warped's compact 4 1/2 x 46 box-pressed X46. Both were made in Estelí from Nicaraguan tobacco, but their expressions differed: Padrón used a sun-grown natural Nicaraguan puro, while Corto centered on Jalapa Corojo '99 with Corojo '99 and Criollo '98 filler.
Corto produced a genuine elimination-round challenge by matching Padrón's perfect 5.0 scores for draw and flavor complexity. Padrón separated itself in the other four categories, winning each 5.0 to 4.5. Four half-point advantages produced a 30.0 to 28.0 victory and the first place in the Grand 8.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Padrón 60th Anniversary | Warped Corto |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Padrón | Warped Cigars |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan Sun-Grown Natural | Nicaraguan shade-grown Jalapa Corojo '99 |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Corojo '99 and Criollo '98 |
| Factory | Padrón Factory, Estelí, Nicaragua | TABSA, Estelí, Nicaragua |
| Vitola | Perfecto, 6 1/2 x 56, tapering to about 48 | X46, 4 1/2 x 46, box-pressed |
| Strength | Medium-Full to Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 30.0/30 - Legendary | 28.0/30 - Excellent |
| M49 result | Winner - advanced to Grand 8 | Loss - Top 16 finisher |
Padrón began with cocoa, cedar and roasted coffee through an easy, controlled draw. Dark cocoa, toasted cedar, espresso and measured black pepper formed a rich opening. Coffee became mocha as walnut, earth and natural sweetness broadened the center before dark chocolate, espresso, seasoned oak and refined pepper closed the cigar.
Corto opened with cedar, hay, citrus peel and sweet tobacco. Bright cedar and white pepper led into cream, toasted bread and subtle citrus. Almond, earth, light coffee and honey-like sweetness developed through the middle, followed by stronger pepper, cedar, roasted nuts and espresso in the final third.
Both cigars moved clearly and confidently. Corto felt brighter and more energetic, using citrus, cream, honey and white pepper to animate its compact format. Padrón carried more weight and continuity through cocoa, mocha, walnut, dark chocolate and oak, turning each transition into part of one composed progression.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Draw and flavor complexity tied 5.0 to 5.0. Corto's controlled airflow allowed the X46 to perform freely, and its lively movement earned the same perfect complexity mark as Padrón. Those two ties confirmed that Warped belonged in the elimination round and could match the eventual champion in important areas.
Padrón won four categories; Warped won none; two categories tied.
Construction and burn both went to Padrón 5.0 to 4.5. Its perfecto shape, effortless resistance, straight combustion and dense ash delivered flawless technical execution. Corto remained Outstanding and dependable, but Padrón converted the more difficult format into two half-point advantages.
Balance and finish produced the same 5.0 to 4.5 result. Padrón kept richness, sweetness, earth, wood and pepper integrated while extending them through a long, smooth and luxurious close. Corto finished clean and lively, but its medium-length conclusion could not equal Padrón's persistence.
The arithmetic was decisive: two perfect-score ties kept Warped competitive, while Padrón collected four half-points everywhere else. The final margin was exactly two points, 30.0 to 28.0.
Official Result: Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto Wins Match M49
Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto defeated Warped Corto 30.0 to 28.0 and became the first cigar to advance from the Top 16 into the Grand 8. The victory improved Padrón to 4-0 and set M57 against My Father Cigars Blue Label.
Padrón continued through My Father Blue, E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic and Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share, finishing 7-0 as the 2026 Cigar of the Year. M49 was the first elimination step in that undefeated championship run.
Warped Corto completed the tournament at 2-2 as an official Top 16 finisher. Its perfect draw and flavor complexity scores, along with a 28.0 Excellent evaluation, preserved a strong result even against the only Legendary 30.0 cigar in the field.
Final Ashology Verdict
Warped Corto brought clarity, personality and genuine boutique energy to M49. Cedar, citrus, cream, honey, nuts, coffee and pepper moved through an exceptional draw, and its perfect complexity score proved the compact X46 could challenge the tournament benchmark.
Padrón answered with completeness. It tied Warped's two best categories, then added perfect construction, burn, balance and finish. The result was not a dismissal of Corto; it was a demonstration that Padrón left no category available for an opponent to exploit.
M49 opened the Top 16 with the standard every remaining cigar would have to face. Warped delivered an Excellent performance. Padrón delivered a Legendary one and advanced with its perfect record intact.
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.