Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Natural Exclusivo is light brown and has a network of fine veins. The seams are smooth but fairly easily visible due to the light color of the wrapper. The caps and head area are a bit wrinkled. There are two bands which are the sub band that carries the serial number and then the over band that carries the company logo and denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is nearly non-existent, just a light wood. The foot brings a creamy wood and light black pepper. The pre-light draw is a light and airy cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a full profile of toasted wood and black pepper. At a half inch in, the wood starts showing some nice depth while the black pepper floods in to deliver the finish. The retrohale begins with a light wood and then a big dose of black pepper comes through with a heavy zing. At an inch and a quarter, the toast note has become quite heavy. As the third comes to a close, some dry earth joins the profile of heavily toasted wood and black pepper. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the heavily toasted wood and dry earth are even up front while the black pepper is slightly behind. At a half inch in, the heavy toast transitions to light char. The retrohale has lost the black pepper and is now toasted wood and dry earth. At an inch and a quarter, the char picks up a bit while some light bitterness joins in and the black pepper has departed. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The final third continues on with the charred wood, dry earth and light bitterness. At a half inch in, the bitterness begins picking up. The retrohale remains toasted wood and dry earth. As the cigar wraps up, the charred wood was fairly heavy with dry earth right behind along with a decent amount of bitterness. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy, but always kept up with itself. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar was focused around toasted wood and black pepper. The toast level continued to increase until it transitioned to char. Some dry earth joined in and the pepper faded away. Construction was great and required no attention. While the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Natural Exclusivo is a cigar that has gained a number of accolades, to me, it just starts on a bit of a down note with the full toasted wood that builds up. It’s not a complex profile and plenty of smokers enjoy this profile, but it’s just not for me. I could use something else in the profile to break up the monotony of the toasted/charred wood focus.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.30

Cost/Point

$2.40

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Natural Exclusivo