Padrón 1964 vs. 1926: how to choose
How the two series differ in tobacco aging, size range and value—and how to choose the right one for you.
Updated
At a glance
The 1964 offers a wider size range. The 1926 uses tobacco aged one year longer. Compare the same wrapper and size; extra aging alone does not establish better flavor. Dated price basis — expand for details.
More detail on choosing between them
- Buy the 1964 if you want the most choice or the better per-stick math. It comes in 16 sizes, from a 4-inch Hermoso to the 8¼-inch "A", plus tubos and a 60-ring No. 4. At the matched size it runs about $16.40 a stick versus $20.45 for the 1926 (national retail, October 2026).
- Buy the 1926 if you specifically want the five-year-aged blend, or a size only it makes: the No. 9 (5¼ × 56), the No. 2 belicoso and the No. 6 have all made Cigar Aficionado's top five. Retailers describe the 1926 as the denser, spicier of the two. Critics are less sure.
- The key fact: both lines are box-pressed and come in Natural and Maduro, and Padrón's stated difference between them is aging: four years for the 1964, five for the 1926. Sizes and packaging also differ; the aging statement alone does not establish better flavor.
- The caveat: a longer tobacco-aging period does not prove a better flavor for your palate.
- Undecided? Both lines make a 5½ × 50 (the 1964 Exclusivo and the 1926 No. 47). Buy a single of each in Jessup, same wrapper, and smoke them on two separate evenings. Jump to where to get them →
Why these two get compared
Padrón launched the 1964 Anniversary Series in 1994 to mark the company's 30th year. The Serie 1926 followed in 2002, named for the year founder José Orlando Padrón was born and released for his 75th birthday. They sit next to each other in Padrón's lineup and overlap on price. Both share the house look, a square box-press with Natural or Maduro wrapper at the same price. Most buyers who have smoked one eventually ask whether the other is worth the move.
Padrón describes each the same way: sun-grown tobacco, Natural or Maduro, box-pressed, with the 1926 aged five years against the 1964's four. Padrón calls the 1926 "complex, balanced and full-bodied"; Cigar Aficionado calls one of them "an all-Nicaraguan blend." The company publishes nothing more about either blend, so be skeptical of any retailer who claims to know the leaf-by-leaf difference.
The matched basis
Only one size is an exact match: the 1964 Exclusivo and the 1926 No. 47, both 5½ × 50. That pair is the reference for this page. The No. 47 started in 2015 as a limited release for TAA member shops and is now a regular 1926 size.
Everything else is close but not exact:
Scroll the comparison table horizontally on smaller screens.
| If you smoke the 1964… | Its nearest 1926 | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusivo 5½ × 50 | No. 47 5½ × 50 | exact match |
| Principe 4½ × 46 | No. 6 4¾ × 50 | 1926 is a little longer and thicker |
| Torpedo 6 × 52 / Belicoso 5 × 52 | No. 2 5½ × 52 | both are tapered; lengths differ |
| Imperial 6 × 54 | No. 1 6¾ × 54 | 1926 is ¾ inch longer |
| Toro 5 × 56 (TAA shops only) | No. 9 5¼ × 56 | near match |
Only in the 1964: the Corona and Superior (42 ring), the Monarca, the Diplomatico, the 60-ring No. 4, the 8¼-inch "A", and the Soberano and Presidente tubos. Only in the 1926: the No. 48 (5½ × 60) and two anniversary editions sold under the 1926 name, the No. 40 and the No. 80.
Boxes are not the same size, so compare per stick rather than per box. Most 1964 boxes hold 25 (the Torpedo holds 20), and most regular 1926 boxes hold 24. Exceptions include the No. 48 and No. 90 (10) and No. 80 (8); the 1964 also has format-specific exceptions. Confirm the selected package before comparing totals.
How they differ
Price comparison · checked October 11, 2026
The 1926 is not a better grade of the 1964. It is the same house style with one more year of tobacco aging and about 25% more in the checked Exclusivo/No. 47 national single-price pair. This page helps you decide whether that extra year is worth paying for, or whether the 1964's wider size range matters more to you.
Price: the exact-size pair costs $4.05 more for the 1926 in the checked national listing. Neptune listed the 1964 Exclusivo Maduro single at $16.40 and 1926 No. 47 Maduro at $20.45 when retrieved October 11, 2026, about 25% more. Both are 5½ × 50. Other sizes and packs can change the comparison; confirm the exact selection. Call: 1964 on price in this pair.
The exact-size Exclusivo/No. 47 pair holds dimensions constant. Near-size comparisons change both size and series; do not generalize this premium to every cigar in either line.
Aging: the 1926, by one stated year. Padrón states a tobacco-aging difference: five years of tobacco aging against four. The aging applies to the tobacco before rolling. It tells you nothing about how long a particular box has been on a shelf. It is a real production difference. It does not guarantee a better smoke for your palate. Call: 1926, as a fact. Whether you can taste it is up to you.
Flavor: a preference call. Padrón describes the 1926 as complex, balanced and full-bodied. That is the maker's description, not a comparative finding that it tastes better than the 1964. Keep wrapper and size constant when trying the two. Call: preference call.
Strength: closer than the labels say. Many retailers label the 1926 "full" and the 1964 "medium-full." Cigar Aficionado's recent ratings put the 1964 Exclusivo, 1964 Torpedo, 1926 No. 2 and 1926 No. 6 all at medium-full. CA called the 1926 No. 9 "a bit stronger" than the 1964 when it named that cigar its 2007 Cigar of the Year. That fits the retailers' direction, but the difference is smaller than their labels suggest. Call: 1926, by a small margin. CA strength reviews and 2007 comparison — expand sources.
Awards: both have 97-point Cigar of the Year wins. The 1926 has two Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year titles: the 40th Anniversary torpedo in 2004 (93 points) and the No. 9 in 2007 (97). The 1964 won in 2021 with the Torpedo (97), the first 1964 to take the title. The 1926 has a deeper record in CA's year-end lists, with the No. 2 at #2 in 2017 and the No. 6 at #4 in 2024. The 1964 has the more recent title. Call: split. The 1926 has more awards; the two share the same top score. CA awards and rankings — expand sources.
Construction: no matched winner established. The extra tobacco-aging year does not establish a construction advantage. Call: unresolved.
Size range: the 1964, by a lot. Sixteen sizes against ten, with petite coronas, tubos, a 60-ring and an 8-inch cigar. The 1964 offers 42-ring formats and two tubo sizes; the 1926 also offers a tubo, the No. 90 (5½ × 52). Call: 1964.
Where they sit in the Padrón lineup
Padrón offers several distinct lines. The two compared here use stated tobacco-aging periods of four and five years. Compare the selected size and price rather than treating the series number as a guaranteed upgrade.
Who should buy which
- Box buyer, regular rotation: the 1964. Lower per-stick price in the checked Exclusivo/No. 47 pair; confirm the selected box count.
- You smoke torpedos or belicosos: compare the dimensions and current selected prices; those are near-size comparisons.
- You've smoked a lot of 1964s and want to know what the extra year adds: the 1926 No. 47 next to the Exclusivo is the only fair test.
- Short smoke: both work. The 1964 Principe (4½ × 46) is cheaper; the 1926 No. 6 (4¾ × 50) is a little bigger and earned a #4 Cigar of the Year ranking in 2024.
- Big-ring smoker: a tie. Each line has one 60-ring size: the 1964 No. 4 (6½ × 60) and the 1926 No. 48 (5½ × 60).
- Slim-format smoker: the 1964 offers 42-ring options. Tubo smoker: compare the 1964 Soberano/Presidente with the 1926 No. 90.
- Gift: either works. The 1926's story is easier to tell: it's named for the year the founder was born and has two Cigar of the Year titles. If you know the recipient's usual size, that should decide which line you buy.
The verdict, by need
There's no universal winner, because tobacco aging is one documented production difference and critics disagree about what it does to the flavor. The 1964 is the lower-priced buy in the Exclusivo/No. 47 national single-price pair checked October 11, 2026; other formats and store prices vary. The 1926 is the one to try when you want the extra year of aging. If you already like the 1964, nothing here says you're missing out. If you're curious, the matched pair is a better way to find out than any description, including this one. Dated national price comparison — Oct. 11, 2026; expand for details.
Quickest way to settle it: one 1964 Exclusivo and one 1926 No. 47, bought as singles, same wrapper, two evenings. Keep the wrapper the same. Switching wrapper and series at once changes two things, and you won't know which one you're tasting.
Where to go from here
Tobacco Leaf is an authorized Padrón retailer. Both lines are kept in our Spanish-cedar walk-in humidor in Jessup. Buy by the box online, with shipping nationwide or pickup in Jessup, or by the single at the counter. Current sizes and stock show on each product page.
- Padrón 1964 Anniversary → 1964 sizes & current price →
- Padrón Serie 1926 → 1926 sizes & current price →
- For a gift: the 1964 Natural gift pack and the 1926 Natural gift pack
- Buy the matched pair as singles: one Exclusivo and one No. 47 at the counter, 7395 Cedar Ave, Jessup, and smoke them side by side in the lounge. Store and lounge hours →
Authorized Padrón retailer · ships to all 50 states with Boveda humidity packs · 21+ · terms
Frequently asked questions
Is the Padrón 1926 stronger than the 1964?
Slightly, if at all. Retailers often label the 1926 "full" and the 1964 "medium-full," but Cigar Aficionado rates recent sizes of both medium-full. CA did call the 1926 No. 9 "a bit stronger" than the 1964 in 2007.
Has the Padrón 1964 ever won Cigar of the Year?
Yes. The 1964 Anniversary Torpedo (Natural) was Cigar Aficionado's 2021 Cigar of the Year at 97 points, the first 1964 to win. The 1926 won in 2004 (40th Anniversary) and 2007 (No. 9). Padrón's other wins are the Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro (2009) and the 60th Anniversary (2025).
Why does my new Padrón 1964 or 1926 have only one band?
Padrón's current official pages describe a one-piece, individually numbered guarantee band. One band is therefore not, by itself, evidence of a counterfeit. Buy from a retailer whose authorization you can establish; this page cannot authenticate an individual cigar.
Is the Padrón 1964 worth the money?
In the checked Exclusivo/No. 47 pair it costs $4.05 less per single. Whether either is worth the price depends on the exact format and your palate; the series number alone cannot settle that.
Is the Maduro or Natural better in either line?
Neither is officially better. They cost the same, and Padrón offers both in every regular 1964 and 1926 size. Choose the wrapper first, then compare series with the wrapper held the same.
What's the difference between the 1926 No. 1, No. 40 and No. 80?
They're the large-ring 1926 sizes. The No. 1 is a 6¾ × 54 parejo in boxes of 24. The No. 40 (6½ × 54) began as the 40th Anniversary edition that won Cigar of the Year in 2004. The No. 80 (6¾ × 54) comes in boxes of 8. Cigar Aficionado ranked it #2 in 2008; it was not that year's Cigar of the Year, despite claims online.
About Rahul Gupta
Certified Retail Tobacconist · Tobacco Leaf
Rahul Gupta is the owner of Tobacco Leaf, a premium cigar shop and lounge in Jessup, Maryland, in Howard County. A Certified Retail Tobacconist through Tobacconist University, he joined the family cigar business in 2010 after growing up helping in his father’s tobacco stores.
About this page & editorial method
Compiled by Rahul Gupta, Certified Retail Tobacconist, Tobacco Leaf, from official Padrón specifications, national retail pricing checked October 11, 2026, and attributed critic reviews (sources below). This page makes no first-person tasting claims. Tobacco Leaf is an authorized Padrón retailer and sells both lines.
Compiled and edited by Rahul Gupta, Certified Retail Tobacconist, Tobacco Leaf · evidence: official Padrón specifications, national retail pricing (October 11, 2026), attributed critic reviews · Updated October 11, 2026
Sources & dated pricing notes
- Cigar Aficionado: 1926 No. 9 — 2007 winner and strength comparison
- Cigar Aficionado: 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2021 winners and scores
- Cigar Aficionado: 1926 No. 2 — 2017 rank, strength and blend description
- Cigar Aficionado: 1926 No. 6 — 2024 rank and strength
- Cigar Aficionado: 1964 Exclusivo — December 2019 strength rating
- Cigar Aficionado: 1964 Torpedo — 2021 winner, score and strength
- Cigar Aficionado: 2008 ranking — 1926 80 Years Maduro at No. 2
- Cigar Aficionado: 2025 winner — Padrón 60th Anniversary
- padron.com — padron 1964 anniversary series
- padron.com — padron 1926 serie
- www.neptunecigar.com — padron 1964 anniversary exclusivo maduro
- www.neptunecigar.com — padron 1926 serie no 47 maduro
- padron.com — 2021 cigar aficionado cigar of the year
Prices are dated national-retailer examples retrieved October 11, 2026, not Tobacco Leaf prices. Maker descriptions are attributed profiles, not a house tasting.