Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 52
Ring : 52
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$15 each
More info about purchasing Padron 1964 cigars...
There’s a seemingly endless debate as to whether this cigar is superior to its sister 1926 line of stogies. For comparison, I smoked both on the same afternoon. Unfortunately, the pure pleasure I experienced with a ’26 #2 maduro did not spill over into this smoke. To be fair, I lit another to give a second shot a week later... it missed the mark again.
Appearance : 
The maduro wrapper is a dark, beautiful brown. This torpedo, like its sibling, is a wonderful example of a perfectly sized, well-made cigar. Simply put, the appearance of this cigar is beyond reproach.
Construction :
Like appearance, there are no issues with regard to the construction of this cigar. Other manufacturers should aspire to such perfection. The draw was spot on... the burn unwavering.
Flavor : 
Pre-light, this torpedo exhibited only a faint smell of tobacco. This is a big deal to me... I like a whiff of the foot to be full of aroma. Strike one. The stogie lit nicely and the first 10 puffs or so were very nice. At the start, it appeared fairly sweet, with a hint of chocolate that faded quickly. I didn’t notice as much spice as expected.
Strike two came about an inch or so in, when the taste changed to a dull wood taste that seemed to predominate the middle portion of the smoke. To be honest, the 2nd third was a dud... mainly just a smoky taste. If this weren't such a highly regarded stick and about $15, I would have ditched it.
Luckily, I refrained from tossing it. To its credit, the last third was very nice. The spice started to pick up a bit and had a nice, but very subtle, coffee taste to compliment. The end saved this stick as an average smoke for me.
Value :
Strike three comes here. I have had numerous smokes in the $5 range that would rival this cigar. Numerous $10 smokes blow it away. You can pick up an Ashton VSG, Tatuaje, Gurkha or Fuente and find much fuller, more robust flavors and strength. At $15 a pop, this stick needs to be robust and full of flavors. The ’26 is... the ’64 is not.
Overall Rating :
I can’t stress enough how disappointed I was with this cigar. I have often heard remarks to the effect that it is as good or a better smoke than the ’26 series. That comparison seems far-fetched to me. However, to be fair, I like a strong cigar, and the ’26 is fairly strong... much stronger than the ’64. Unfortunately, the ’64 not only fails to live up to its strength rating, but falls short of exhibiting the robust flavor that is expected from this type of smoke. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a decent smoke, but not what I would consider a premium smoke. If you want a taste of Padron, save your money and pick up a 2000... you’ll get a similar (or better) profile from it and save about $10.
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