Padron 1964 Imperial Maduro
BnB Price: About $15 a stick
Review by Ken York
I love a box pressed cigar, not sure why, but I do. But that’s what cigar selection is about – what is it that makes you enjoy one cigar over another. Padron has been making cigars since 1964 and this cigar was introduced in 1994 to commemorate Padron’s 30th anniversary. The Padron 1964 Imperial Maduro has a lot going for it. These cigars are made with tobacco that has been aged for four years, creating a smooth and complex flavor. This cigar is definitely smooth with the spiciness both varying and increasing as the cigar hits multiple notes. From the first puff, you know you are smoking quality. When I smoked this cigar I had a hard time identifying specific flavors to attribute to the cigar. More of a short-coming on my side than the cigar’s. It was extremely enjoyable from that first puff, but other than some coffee spice I was unable to mentally separate out specific flavors.
The burn was excellent with a solid white ash. A unique aspect of this cigar is that Padron created a double band featuring an individually numbered label as a protection against counterfeiting – something that unfortunately does happen and can ruin your impression of the authentic cigar. One time in St. Thomas I asked a cigar dealer if he had any Cubans. He gives me a conspiratorial wink and pulls back a curtain for me to gaze upon multiple boxes of Cubans – illegal in St. Thomas. I take a closer look and they are all counterfeit, but it helps to get the price down way below what they’re charging on the cruise ship, so I buy a box of fake Cohiba Pirámides. When I’m back on the ship I don’t tell anyone they’re fakes, and have numerous passengers trying to buy a few off of me. I’m magnanimous and give them to my new friends. I have most of them coming back saying that it was the best cigar that they’ve ever smoked. Although these were high quality fakes, they will never taste like the original. And, the Padron 1964 Imperial Maduro is worth tracking down and enjoying.
This cigar pairs well with a single malt scotch whisky. I go with a Balvenie PortWood aged 21 years. The combination of the Padron Anniversary cigar and whisky make the day truly exceptional!
|
Factor |
Description |
Possible Score |
Score |
| Construction | Fresh out of the humidor, how does the cigar look? Are large veins evident in the wrapper? Does the cigar have a firm feel to it? |
1-15 |
15 |
| Band | Is the band an embarrassment that you wouldn’t want to smoke in public? |
1-5 |
5 |
| First Puff | How satisfying is the very first puff of the cigar? |
1-10 |
9 |
| Draw | Can the cigar be smoked without strain? Does it burn up too quickly? |
1-15 |
15 |
| Flavor | Does it achieve all three notes? Does the flavor come through to the smoker sufficiently? |
1-20 |
18 |
| Aroma | Is the aroma of the cigar while burning fragrant or offensive? |
1-10 |
9 |
| Ash/Burn | Does the cigar produce a solid ash? Is it flaky? Does it canoe? |
1-10 |
10 |
| Value | Bucks per puff. For the enjoyment is the cigar reasonably priced? |
1-15 |
13 |
|
Possible Score |
100 |
94.00 |
Check out my other review on Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature.