Cigar Review – Padron 1964 Family Reserve
When Smoked: October 2023
Obtained from: purchased as single from local cigar shop
Size: Toro (6 inches x 52) Box Press
Approximate cost: US$30.00
See ratings below
This review is for the Padron 1964 Family reserve, which is not the same as the Padron 1964 Anniversary series.
The key differences between the 1964 Family Reserve and the 1964 Anniversary Series are: (1) The Family Reserve is available in only a few vitolas (in the video I review the No. 45), (2) The price of the 1964 Family Reserve is about $30 in the US versus $20-$23 for the Anniversary, depending on size, and (3) the tobacco for the Family Reserve is aged 10 years while the 1964 Anniversary is aged 4 years.
Padron is a somewhat unique company in that they are vertically integrated – that means they own the cigar-making process from beginning to end. Padron grows all of their tobaccos on their own farms, manages the during and aging and has their own cigar rolling factory.
Some competitors refer to Padron jealously as a “tobacco hoarder,” a term which by wife has been known to call me as well.
I really enjoyed this cigar. Burn, draw and other construction was just about perfect. I pointed out a small flaw in the video, but that was because it was unusual, not because it impacted the smoking experience.
Flavor was excellent as well. It started out a little one-dimensional with wood being the only standout flavor. But by the start of the second third the flavor exploded with chocolate and espresso, as well as a tiny bit of spice. Comparing it to the 1964 Anniversary Series, the Family Reserve was a bit bolder – an 8.5/10 body rather than an 8.0/10 for the 1964 Anniversary.
All in all, the flavor, excellent construction and smoke production of the Padron 1964 Family Reserve was everything one would expect from a cigar of this reputation and price point. I rated it overall as 10/10, it is as good a cigar as I think exists.
In regard to the question: Is the Padron 1964 Family Reserve worth the extra $8-$12 in cost? That’s a tough one – I smoked a 1964 Anniversary Series about a week before this, and I would rate the smoking experience equally good on that cigar. I plan to “reserve the Family Reserve” for very special occasions.
