1994 was a banner year for José Orlando Padrón. As the memorable patriarch and founder of the Padrón brand of cigars, he had tirelessly struggled for three decades to build his company up into an enterprise he and his sons could be proud of. The year 1994 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of his firm, and so, José and his sons decided to do something very special and unexpected to commemorate it; they created an ultra-premium line of smokes comprised of the finest tobaccos that could be had in all of Nicaragua.
Whereas prior to 1994, Padrón was a respectable but fairly unremarkable maker of cigars, 1994 was the year that Padrón went truly “high-end.” The strategy delivered in spades for Padrón; the company hasn’t looked back since.
The Padrón 1964 Anniversary series is considered by many industry observers to be a true breakthrough release that elevated Padrón to the very top tiers of the cigar game, and with continued success following this line, the company soon became the most lauded brand in the business, a reputation that it continues to enjoy today.
The Padrón 1964 Anniversary No. 4 vitola in a Maduro wrapper is a particularly fine constituent of this family, with its box-pressed shape, dark aesthetic and flawless draw and burn. Looking something like a big, chunky chocolate bar, the full-bodied, medium-to-full-strength 1964 No. 4 Maduro even has a taste like chocolate, with its signature nuances of cocoa beans interspersing with rich, malted flavors of coffee, black tea, coconut and black peppercorns. Amongst these influences, there are also traces of black cherry and earth, along with a light, herbal finish.
In 2021, Cigar Aficionado rated this Grande-sized stick 94, confirming it as one of the highest-rated vitolas in this line. With such sterling assessments, the Padrón Anniversary No. 4 Maduro is a must-smoke that’s as eminent and satisfying as it is delicious.