This cigar was enjoyed with No Drink
Pre-Light: 18 Points of 10 Possible
I love the feel of a box-pressed cigar, and this Padron 64 is no different. The shape is just something to look at before and during the smoke. The cigar has a very firm feel to it, as the tobacco seems to be packed very tightly inside a beautiful dark brown, maduro wrapper. The wrapper itself is mostly smooth, but has a subtle oily texture to it. The cap feels strong, as well. It should definitely be able to handle the rigors of a tough smoke. Cutting was effortless, as the blade sliced right through the stick. The pre-light aroma featured some hints of rich tobacco, cedar and nuts. The draw before lighting was smooth and easy, and hinted at some earthy flavors. With my cold finally subsided and my tastebuds returned, I can finally enjoy this highly anticipated smoke!
Lighting and Burn: 11 Points of 15 Possible
This Padron lit with extreme ease and stayed lit throughout. It did not require any touch-ups, relights or anything of the sorts. The burn was fairly straight through the whole smoke, but burned a little too quick for my liking. The cigar really only took a little over a half-hour to fully consume. At the start, the ash clung tightly to the end of the stick, but as the cigar burned on, its grip loosened a bit. The ash removed itself twice during the smoke, the first time I thought a little too prematurely. The color was a cascading blend of solid gray to a darker shade of gray. There was a ton of smoke to enjoy with each and every draw.
Construction: 28 Points of 30 Possible
The construction of this Padron 64 is excellent. The wrapper is smooth and features a slight oily complextion. There is one vien that runs most of the way from the foot to the head, but it was smooth and didn't protrude off the wrapper. The tobacco is packed tight, but the draw is loose and free-flowing; perhaps a little too loose and free-flowing. This cigar didn't make me work at all to enjoy a huge volume of smoke with each drag. I actually had to shorten my usual draw-length to cut off the sheer voluminous amount of smoke. The cap is sturdy and strong, and held up throughout the entire experience. The box-pressed feel in my hand didn't allow me to put it down even once during the smoke. This is cigar construction at its finest.
Flavor and Aroma: 29 Points of 45 Possible
The aroma of the Padron Exclusivo featured a mostly earthy tone, with notes of cedar, aged tobacco and light leather. There was a hint of cream to balance it all, as well. The body is strong and full-flavored. There were a couple of draws that almost handcuffed my palate and lungs. The flavors started off on the spicy side, with some notes of black pepper and cumin. But they subsided for the most part after the first third of the smoke. The overall theme of flavors would be characterized, much like the aroma, as natural and earthy. Most of the notes I enjoyed were of earth, almonds, cedar, some tough leather and nuts. The wrapper lent a bit of a musty taste to my palate, as well. The last third of this cigar, unfortunately, wasn't as enjoyable. The texture turned a bit bitter and my palate turned a little warm. Some of the spiciness from the beginning returned, and some chocolate and cocoa flavors also formed.
Summary
I previously enjoyed a Padron 1964 a while back in their Corona size. But I seemed to enjoy that offering much more than this one. This cigar had some really nice features, like the construction and aroma. But it seemed to lack a little punch in the flavor department. I appreciated the spicy start to this cigar, but when that dissappated, not much was left to really savor. Don't get me wrong, this was a good cigar. But it's not one that I would go out of my way for in the future.
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(14 Review(s))