Cigar Review: Padron 1926 40th Anniversary

Padron 40th

After suffering a sprain of my left foot last night I decided to drown my  pain in the Padron 1926 Serie, 40th Anniversary Natural cigar. The Padron 40th Anniversary Torpedo is part of the exclusive Padron 1926 line and is even more rare, with only 16,000 released every year. Cigar Aficionado made the Padron 40th Anniversary Torpedo the “Cigar of the Year” for 2004 and claims it, “may be the best cigar Padron has ever made.”

Cigar: Padron 1926 Serie 40th Anniversary
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6.75 x 54 (Torpedo)
Wrapper: Nicaragua “Natural”
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction (19/20): There are two sides to this box pressed cigar. On the top and bottom the cigar is silky smooth with a few oil showing on the natural wrapper. The sides of the box press reveal a different look, one that is quite toothy with many bumps and ridges. The label features the classic look Padron 1926 Serie, with a secondary band denoting “40 Years”. The cigar has a nice weight, no soft spots, and a perfect pre-light draw.

Flavor & Notes (29/30): The prelight draw reveals notes of earth and a touch of chocolate. As we continue smoking the first third, notes of cocoa and coffee develop both of which are extremely pleasing to the palette. The second third continues to be a journey of rich cocoa and pleasing spices that are incredibly pleasing to the palette that is quickly making this one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. As we reach the final third of our journey cocoa remains with some coffee and leather notes.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): The ash is medium gray in color and it reveals little magnesium pimples as well which is very common for a Padron cigar. The draw can be described with just one word, “Fantastic”. The thing that prevents this section from being perfect is the wavy burn line which I did not expect for a cigar in the price range despite it being box pressed.

Overall (22/25): The price of this smoke brings down the rating some but despite the number this is one of the best cigars I ever smoked. It is easy to see how it once won cigar of the year. While too pricey to be an every day smoke, this cigar deserves to be in your repertoire for special occasions.

Rating: 94
Price: $25.00 a stick at Cigars Direct

Cigar Review: Padron Principe 1964

Before I begin let me say this cigar is considered to be my personal all time favorite cigar. In my mind there is no better cigar on the market today.

So with the break in the heat wave, and the temperature at 6:45 am being 78 degrees I placed this baby in my shirt pocket and headed over to my smoking spot. It’s getting to be a ritual for me, which I like. So with the birds chirping and showing their first signs of life in a few days I clipped this baby by doing a no-no. I couldn’t find my cutter and I capped it with my teeth. I got just the cap and it was cleaner then most cuts so I was happy that I didn’t ruin the cigar by going old school.

Pre-light: The pre-light draw was smooth and clean as always with this cigar. I believe the cigar had been sitting in my humidor for about 2 months. The draw was full of cedar and what tasted like vanilla to me. The cigar had no imperfections and was begging to be smoked.

Smoke: With the early morning joggers and dog-walkers passing me by, and the occasional distant rumble of a jet taking off for destinations unknown, I struck the match and gently drew the flame to my smoke of the day. The light was quick, and clean. A perfect burn was beginning and I was able to sense from the get go that this cigar would be a finger burner.

As I smoked the first third of the cigar flavors of cocoa and a light pepper enveloped my palate with each draw. The smoke was smooth and creamy. As I enjoyed this smoke I looked out to the empty beach which would soon be filled with the sun worshipers. Finches landed on the ground searching for their morning breakfast. Squirrels hopped along the concrete with one stopping along side my car looking up at me. He was soon joined by another, and for a second I wish I could talk to the animals ala Dr. Doolittle as I am sure they had many stories to tell.

The cigar had a nice tight white ash as I reached the second third of the cigar. The cocoa remained and the light pepper was replaced by a nuttiness which suits my personality at times. The final part of the cigar, which I smoked til it burned my fingers was a little bit peppery, but not much. The flavors remained, and the cigar did not get hot to the touch. The cigar remained lit throughout, and had no burn issues what so ever.

Afterwards I was relaxed and fulfilled. The cigar quenched my desire for a morning smoke, and its creaminess remains with me more then an hour after the smoke is finished. I am relax, and calm and looking forward to the day ahead.

Price: $10.50
Rating: 100 (Out of 100)

Just a little note on the rating. This is my favorite cigar, and if the cigar does not get a perfect score when it is my favorite, what would. In reality the cigar would get a 94-96. But for me there is none better, so it deserves perfection, for that is what the cigar is.