Today's smoke session features the Padron 1964 Serie Aniversario Sampler Natural - a Nicaraguan puro celebrating the brand's legacy with five assorted vitolas. This limited batch box (about $22.61 per stick) showcases sixteen possible shapes ranging from 4.5" to 6.5" with varying ring gauges, all wrapped in oily Nicaraguan-grown Connecticut-seed wrapper leaves. The sampler concept works particularly well here, letting you explore different combustion characteristics within the same blend.
The initial puffs deliver thick, chewy smoke with instant coffee and bitter cocoa notes. Nicaraguan pepper spice creeps in through the nose retrohale, balanced by a walnut-like creaminess. Smoke output feels medium-heavy, requiring slower pacing to avoid overheating the tapered foot in smaller vitolas.
At the halfway point, espresso bean intensity mellows into milk chocolate territory. Construction shows textbook Padron consistency - straight burn line, salt-and-pepper ash holding strong. Some sampler sticks (like the 6" x 52 torpedo) develop cinnamon undertones, while robusto sizes emphasize cedar wood characteristics.
Nearing the nub, leather and mineral notes emerge without harshness. The natural wrapper keeps sweetness in check compared to maduro versions. I clipped the final inch on most shapes due to nicotine buildup - typical for this blend's 4-year-aged filler leaves. Paired well with espresso, though bourbon drinkers might prefer bolder accompaniments.
All sampler sticks shared the family's signature box-press and triple-cap finish. The EMS Natural wrapper showed visible tooth compared to smoother maduro versions. The authentication band proved helpful given Padron's premium positioning - each cigar features unique serial numbers under UV light verification.
