Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Torpedo

Well, I will let my nerd flag fly. This Friday was the premiere of Season 4 of the new Battlestar Galactica, and I was excited. We went over to Curt's house to enjoy the giant 52" HDTV and the company, and it was a great time. (Editor: So... while pridefully flying your "flag" you went to "Curt's house" to enjoy his "Giant TV", and had a "Great Time".)

Before the show started, we decided it was time for a cigar. So Curt made some manhattans using Woodford Reserve, which was just awesome. (Editor: At least he bought you a drink first...) And then I grabbed this Padron 1964 maduro and Curt went for a Torano (don't remember which one).

I got this stick as a part of a secret santa thing back in November, and I have been looking forward to it. Well, I have to say that it definitely delivers. Just a kick in the ass of strong and complex flavors. The taste was really strong, any stronger and it would have crossed over into harsh. It had a nice spice to it, but there were spikes of sweetness that appeared from time to time. The draw was on the loose end of perfect, I was smoking everyone out with the giant clouds billowing out of this thing.

I really liked how the cigar changed constantly, it made for a really interesting smoking experience. The manhattan complemented it well, and overall I had a wonderful time.

Now, the big caveat here is the price. Like I said, I got this as a gift. But if you want to buy this fella you are looking at at least $14 per stick. That is pretty darn high. The last time I reviewed a stick that high (the Cohiba), I said it wasn't worth it to me. Well, this one is, but just barely. I really loved it, and it had the complexity that I find so interesting in higher-end cigars. I will get one again, but it will be a while. And I definitely won't be getting a box. So while I can't give it a full 10 rating, I liked it enough to push past the price and bestow it with a strong Hoff.

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Torpedo
Size: Torpedo (6" x 52 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: Insane
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Strong tobacco, spice, some cocoa and nut
Overall Rating:

Definitely a KITT not a KARR.

Padron 1926 Serie No. 9

I'm in Miami for the next couple of days on business - still full from lunch at a great Cuban place, I decided to be creative with my dining per diem for dinner - I swung by a cigar bar, picked up a few nice cigars, priced more than I would generally pay for such, and a large shot of Colada - a wonderfully sweet Cuban espresso that completely pervades Miami - every gas station you walk into has a commercial espresso machine just to make this stuff for under a buck a shot.

Anyway, my first buy was the Padron 1926 Serie No. 9. I don't give a great deal of credence to Cigar Aficionado's ratings - since we all know there are some pretty terrible cigars out there, and I've never seen a CI review lower than an 80... but this cigar was their top rated smoke for 2007. At 18 dollars a stick, it isn't one I'm likely to pick up again, but I can say I'm glad I tried it.

Let me set the scene - early April, Miami - sitting poolside at my hotel, legs kicked up on a couple of teak chairs, with a nice warm breeze blowing in off the coast.

Add in one of the best cigars I've had in a long time, and it takes the sting out of some of the annoyances of business travel.

The cigar started out smooth - and stayed that way throughout. The draw was nice and clean - and while the flavors were incredibly rich, they were never overpowering, and always smooth. The fact that Padron ages their tobaccos for these cigars for up to 5 or 6 years really shines through in the overall mellowness of this stick. The natural espresso notes of this cigar paired well with the sweet Cuban Colada I opted to drink with it.

When I first started smoking cigars - 10 or more years ago, I had my first Cuban - an old style RyJ which was so mild, so perfectly creamy that I spent the next several years trying to find a (legal) cigar that personified that mellow-but-powerful style. I think eventually I gave up - even later Cubans disappointed, as the cigar industry itself started to uproot itself and leave. My tastes turned toward increasingly potent, full-bodied cigars and I left that search behind.

I'm not sure that this compares to that original - I'm not sure anything ever will - but this cigar is a prime example of how strong and complex a milder cigar can be.

I give this 9 gets a 9, as I'm Walken out the door...


Padron 1926 Serie No. 9
Size: Corona (5 1/4" x 56 ring)
Taste: Mild (Medium)
Draw: Excellent
Burn: Even
Flavors: Rich, earthy, coffee tones.
Overall Rating: