As the second-shortest vitola in the Padrón 1964 Anniversary series, the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Principe may not be large in stature, but it more than makes up for its lack of length with what it offers in other qualities.
For those who don’t know the story of the 1964 series, bear in mind that in the early 1990s, Padrón was just another boutique cigar maker with a modest reputation that was riding the crest of the massive mid-1990s cigar wave as it gained momentum. In 1994, the company was due to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding, and for this occasion, legendary Padrón patriarch José Orlando Padrón and his sons decided to release something entirely different from anything the firm had made before; they introduced an ultra-premium line of cigars utilizing the finest tobaccos to be had in Nicaragua, all aged for a minimum of four years.
To say that this was the perfect marketing strategy at the perfect moment in time would be an understatement; the introduction of the Anniversary series catapulted Padrón to the top echelon of cigar makers worldwide, and José and his family had at last achieved recognition and success that they’d only dreamed about.
This cigar — the solid, compact and box-pressed Padrón 1964 Principe in a Natural wrapper — is one of the most lauded editions of the 1964 line, having received no less than 12 ratings of 90 or above from Cigar Aficionado, including two 93 ratings (as recently as 2017) and three 92 ratings (as recently as 2019).
What makes the Padrón Anniversary Principe Natural so revered? For starters, there’s its dark, silky, alluring wrapper and its lush, easy draw. In each robust puff of rich, dense smoke, complex yet superbly balanced flavors of milk chocolate, coffee beans, earth, wood and vanilla are complemented by traces of nutmeg, walnut and leather. A floral-espresso finish completes the experience, confirming the excellence and sophistication of this medium-bodied, medium-to-full-strength puro Nicaraguan stick.
For smokers seeking a memorable, mellow, light-bodied premium cigar that won’t burn through hours of their day, the Padrón 1964 Principe Natural is a perfect choice to order.