Padron Anni and age

[njstone]

So I'm on a real Padron kick these days. '64, '26, 45th, 46th ... just can't get enough of them!

However, I've had some '26/'64s that have been quite peppery/spicy (which I really like), and others that had none at all. I'm assuming age is the main factor here.

So those more experienced in Padrons that I, lend me your vast knowledge! At what point in thier life spans do the Padron Annis start to loose their kick?

Are there some vitolas of the '26 that have more spice than others? The #1 I had over the weekend was absolutely brilliant, but I seldom have time a cigar of that size.

 

[jmatkins]

I too would lie to know, I had the 80th and I was blown away with the spice. I do like them both ways, when the spicey kicks in and I have had them when they are just creamy and smooth.

 

[bballbaby]

me too. what's the skinny? do they need to age for 10 years before they get that deep rich creaminess?

 

[Zen Cigar Man]

In my opinion, Padrons have changed their blend. they are a lot more peppery than they ever have been in years past. It started with the Family reserve line and has since spread out to the 64/26s. I used to say "never age a Padron", but now I'd prefer to wait a few years and hope it gets back to the Padrons I used to love.

Smoking a Padron should be like drinking a Chocolate Stout. I've been pretty disappointed in the change to be quite frank.

 

[njstone]

Thanks, Zen. I for one loved the spicey '26 #1 I had last weekend, so if that one was newer (which I'm kind of assuming), then I'll probably want to track down some new ones or trade the older ones I have. It was nowhere near has strong as a 45th or anything, but it had a nice spice all the way through. Like a spicy chocolate bar

 

[Alwayslit]

The anni's I've smoked from the 90's are very subtle. They're on the level of light medium. Great as a first smoke of the day. It's been a while since I've had one. I'll need to revisit these in the near future. The 26 OR's still have legs both natural and maduro.

 

[BigFoot]

I agree with the chocolate stout statement. Love the creamy anni's.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Ahmed]

for me they loose lots of the strength with age. i believe the tobacco leaves used in the anni's are aged enough to be ready to smoke a month form the factory.

I've smoke aged ones form friend's humi and they were just straight medium creamy with just hints of pepper.

 

[Fourtotheflush]

Ive had a few annies, and the 1926 #1 was one of the best smokes Ive ever had!

Had 2 years of age and it was GREAT!

 

[xddco]

for me they loose lots of the strength with age. i believe the tobacco leaves used in the anni's are aged enough to be ready to smoke a month form the factory.

I've smoke aged ones form friend's humi and they were just straight medium creamy with just hints of pepper.

During one of my visits to the Padron factory in Esteli, Jorge stated that all the tobacco used in the Anniversary Special Editions was aged at least 6 years. All the anni tobacco is similarly aged. That is why they can wrap them, box them and ship them immediately. (which means no time in a traditional aging room.)

 

[gentimmy]

Charlie explained this to me in detail last week...he'd be able to give you a very descriptive answer. Our conversation summed up is: Padron anni's do NOT age well.

 

[njstone]

I can see some not liking them to loose thier strength, but I'd not say they don't age well. The one I had last night had no punch, but it was still delicious and creamier than then fresh and punchy.

 

[dpricenator]

They age just fine, but are great right out of the box. With ae they get really smooth and creamy, but it is not the same cigar as it once was. Like the frank, different ciagr today, still good, i just liked em out of the box better.

 

[Docbp87]

I've had a string of crappy experiences with the last few Padron Annys I've smoked. Got a handful of singles from a B&M around here a month or so ago, and every one of them I've smoked has tasted like... ash. Or worse, they have tasted like the foul smell you get if you smash a cigar into the ashtray to put it out. Awful. Granted, I think that has more to do with the fact that the B&M doesn't have a sealed off humidor, the whole shop is the humidor... and they allow smoking in the shop, so essentially, someone is smoking in the humidor at all times. Great guys at the shop, great selection... bad set up.


I think the responses to this thread so far have been interesting, mostly because Padron themselves say that they don't recommend aging their cigars extensively, because they make them "perfect" to be smoked immediately.

 

[ingenios]

In the past sixty days or so I've smoked a PAM 80, 2 PAM 40, Family Reserve 44 maddie, FR 45 maddie, FR 45 natural, 64 maddie, and several 3K maddies from a fresh box.

- 80 maddie: Fresh box, awesome as always, very strong and peppery, 95
- 40 maddie (first one): Got in a box pass and I think was pretty old. Phenomenal, just as you described, smooth and creamy, one of the best cigars I've ever had. 97.
- 40 maddie (second one): From a fresh order. Excellent. 94
- 44 maddie: Pretty old. Tasted a little ashy as was posted before, but still good. 89
- 45 maddie: Box is about a year old. Very strong, outstanding. 95
- 45 natural: Won three of these in a contest. Wouldn't have thought to buy them for myself. Wow was I wrong. The best non-maduro NC cigar I've ever had. 96
- 64 maddie: One of my favorite cigars in both natural and maduro. This one had the typical 64 profile of half Cuban/half Padron. Excellent. 92
- 3K maddies: Peppery and a bit muted so far, but still have the signature "bitter chocolate on the sides of the tongue" that every Padron has and I love. 89 to 90 on all of them.

My past experience has been primarily with the Anniversaries (64's) and the K series. Annies are outstanding ROTT, and get better with age to about 2-3 years. K series are pretty good ROTT, and turn into Annies in about 2-3 years. Great way to get Annies for 1/3 -1/2 the price if you have the patience. I don't.

26's, 80's, 40's and FR's are very strong but mellow into simply astonishing smokes after a year or so. The 44 was the only one I've ever had and wasn't that great of an experience, but a sample of one is hardly grounds for dissing it.