Scratching The Padron ’64 Itch

When I think of a cigar that sets the bar for all others, it’s the Padron ’64 in either Natural or Maduro wrapper. While I adore the ’64 Maduro in any vitola, the Natural in Principe (Corona) size is spectacular. No need to go through the tasting experience here. This is a familiar profile to me having had at least one or two a year for the last twenty or so years.

This sets the standard for all cigars for me, and though I never mention it in my posts, I silently measure other sticks against this.

But here’s rub: Smoking one of these sticks wrecks cigar smoking for me. Ever since I had my first one in 1999 (yes, I remember the day and the ’64 Maduro I smoked at a contract signing), I knew right then and there that it would be the archetype for me; what I would imagine to be the definition of a cigar.

Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But when I’m smoking perfection, it’s hard not to look at other sticks as paling in comparison. So, I don’t smoke these very often because I have lots of other sticks to smoke! And I don’t keep any in my humidor because I will favor those! I only buy these at B&Ms or in trade.

I bought the one I’m smoking as I write this entry a couple of days ago. I was originally going to save it, but after I had my dinner of spicy Ma Po Tofu, I got that Padron ’64 itch and I just had to scratch it!

I’ve tried others in the Anniversary line such as the ’26. But I prefer the ’64. And once I tried the Natural Principe, fuggetaboutit! It was right up there with the Maduro. Where the Maduro has that distinctive sweetness about it, the Natural has a spiciness that defines spice for me.

As for vitola preference, I’ve lately gravitated towards smaller format sticks. So, if a Principe is available in the Natural, I will tend to go for that. But a lot of times, they don’t have them. So, I will go with the Exclusivo or Imperial sizes, especially for the Maduro. The Principe is nice in Maduro, but I feel that it can be a bit too intense.

Amazingly enough, more than any other cigar, for some reason I always power through a Padron ’64. With all other cigars I smoke, it’s a mistake to power through them as they taste like ass halfway through the stick. But the ’64 is a rare beast. For instance, I’m smoking a Natural Principe right now. I’m down to the last inch and I powered through that in thirty minutes! One would expect that with a full body cigar like this that smoking it fast would ruin the smoke. Not at all. This stick is magic! I’ll smoke it down to the nub!