I sat here all day eyeing the 6 7/8 x 42 beauty that's been sitting on my desk, begging me to smoke it.

Godfather warned me not to smoke it on an empty stomach, so I waited until after dinner, with a big glass of mocha cappuccino, to fire it up.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Piramide looked perfect. Nice and squarely box-pressed, and in my absolute favorite shape, a long pyramid with a rounded cap. It looked almost like I was smoking a trumpet, lol. The cut was nice and clean, no frayed edges or loose cap. I only had to take one match to it and the burn looked perfect.

I was shocked at first. I was immediately hit with a load of spice and full-bodied flavor. I almost wondered if I was smoking a sun-grown or a maduro! After about the halfway mark, this smoke mellowed out significantly and was pure heaven all the way.

Very smooth, with no harshness. The draw was nice and easy, and created gallons of smoke that lingered in the air. The most impressive thing of all was that the burn was perfect, never had to touch it up or anything. This cigar, along with the Bucanero Peg Leg, has convinced me that box-pressed cigars don't always have to have ****ty burns.

The cigar stayed nice and cool down to the nub. Everything about it seemed perfect. It really goes to show how far cigar-making outside of Cuba has come, and in many ways it has surpassed that of Havana.

Is it worth the $13.50? Is any cigar? Well this baby comes reeeeeal close!

I picked up a couple of PAM '26's yesterday. I haven't had one, but at the price, they better leave me in a state of bliss!

BTW - I generally also smoke a super premium once a week, usually Saturday night. Last night I had to work unexpectedly, and missed out. 😞

Is it worth the $13.50?

... tac on about 3 or 4 more dollars, and you will pretty much hit the mark as to what they are going for out here in California ...

The shop that Ikon and I get it at normally sells for a little above retail. She is almost always in stock of them too. However, she does not carry the '26 only the '64.

I'm real sorry to hear that Slim, somebody might have to fix that for you.

Just nubbing a PAM Diplimatico, gooooooooooood!

Barry

Me and Godfather are forunate enough to live near Kentucky, which has (I believe) the second lowest tobacco tax in the US.

I can't even imagine buying smokes in a place like a New York or California, where you can buy as much as $8 over MSRP!

Hey Sil, you're in CALI? where? By the way about a month ago I walked into a humidor and what do I see PAN's torpedos and for how much? $27 each !!!!!!! WOW! The worst part was that there were only about 1/3 of the box left!!!I can't belive people actualy pay that much!!!

If you can't smoke a Cuban, the Padron Anniversaire line is really excellent. My favorite premium. The Piramide is a fine cigar; I like the cut for condensing the flavors. I always cut a small opening. Mmmmmm. Thanks for the walk down memory lane on this one. Might fire one up today.

John

I'm sure some have their own preferences for smoking something right off the shelf, but I've found that I was more impressed with a high-end smoke like PAMs, Opus, VSG and the like if I waited several months to six months. Granted you shouldn't have to wait that long, but I do. I simply enjoy an aged cigar more. The same holds true IMHO for Havana puros--If I'm buying, I'm looking for the oldest date possible; they simply smoke better than "fresh" puros.

I agree...

...well, my reluctance to smoke any of the beautiful super-prems that I manage to get a hold of already makes me wait several months, but as far as ISOMs, I don't touch them for at least 2 months after I get them (just in case).