This is the last cigar I will smoke before I go in for surgery on Thursday to have my gallbladder removed. While it is a routine surgery, this could be my very last cigar and until recently I had never seen the 1964 “A” Size. Normally out of my price range I decided to splurge on something that should be memorable.
According to Padron, “The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series line was introduced in 1994 to commemorate our company’s 30th anniversary. This line consists of eleven sizes that are all available in sun-grown natural and maduro wrappers. All tobacco used in this limited production series is aged for four years, creating a smooth and complex flavor. In honor of the age-old Cuban tradition of box-pressing cigars, the 1964 Anniversary line was introduced as a box-pressed series. For the protection of our customers we have introduced measures to safeguard against counterfeiting with a specially designed double band featuring an individually numbered guarantee label. The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series is consistently ranked by industry experts as one of the top brands in the world.”
As for the specific size Padron goes on to say, “All tobacco in this limited production cigar is sun-grown and aged for four years, creating a smooth and complex flavor. This box-pressed cigar is available in natural or maduro wrapper.”
Cigar: Padron 1964 Anniversary Series
Size: 8.25 x 50 (“A”)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Sun Grown (Aged 4 Years)
Filler: Nicaragua (Aged 4 Years)
Strength: Medium
Source: Two Guys Smoke Shop
The Look: Looking at the cigar I find it hard to believe that it is a 50 ring smoke, as it comes off more like 46 of the Principe which is my favorite going into this smoke. Despite being the Maduro the cigar looks like a Natural which isn’t strange for Padron as at times the visible separation between the wrappers small. In the hand the cigar is light with no soft spots.
The Notes: The cold draw serves up notes of oats and grain reminding me Cheerios before you add the milk. There is a sweetness as if some sugar was added as well and the aroma off the foot is that of earthy tobacco.
After the cigar is toasted the initial notes are just that, toast. It close to an inch before the note that is the perfect representation of a perfectly toast slice of homemade bread is joined by some nuts and wood.
As we smoke into the second third of the 1964 Anniversary A the notes of toast are replaced with coffee and a continued nuts and wood. The cigar also becomes slightly earthy with a nice finish of espresso.
The final third is by far the most complex with notes of mocha joining the mix. The wood remains with some coffee notes and nuts but there is also slight orange zest note present just before the removal of the band. The finish on the cigar has elements of leather.
The Burn: I have to tell you I was damn impressed with the burn of this cigar as it was perfect for the entire 8″ of the 8.5″ that I smoked before I put it down. The draw was iconic, and the light color ash held on for close to two inches at a time. Given the length of the cigar I was almost positive I would see something go off-center, but it never happened.
The Finish: The question is, is the cigar worth the price of $33.50 a stick and the answer isn’t as cut and dry as one would think. Would I buy one on a regular basis, no. Would I like to keep a few in my humidor for an occasional lazy afternoon in the hammock, definitely.
Score: 91
Price: $33.50 / $334.99
Padron 1964 Anniversary “A”
Padron 1964 Anniversary “A” Foot
Padron 1964 Anniversary “A” Burn
