Sounds like a can't lose lineup, but given the past performances you have read about here, I was not holding my breath. What I WAS doing was opening up the fridge and mixing up a nice cold White Russian which I knew would not melt out and dilute, given the 40 degree night. I put on the trusty LSU watch cap, a LSU hoodie and a pair of sweats and my warmest slippers, took my drink out to the porch, popped open my folding chair and cut and lit this great stick.
I picked up this box of smokes when it was announced that the entire Partagas Serie du Connaisseur line was going to be cut. Not only were these smokes being cut, but a knee jerk reaction by Habanos S.A. to cut out all the 'problem smokes' from their massive catalogue was going to mean the demise of the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or line as well. In the ridiculously bad cigar boom in Cuba (1997-2000), cigars that were difficult to roll were being returned to shops in great numbers because they WOULD NOT DRAW. So HSA decided that these superb smokes were just too difficult to roll by all but a few torcedores, and what's more, they didn't sell well at all. It was an easy decision for them to get rid of these problem children. What they failed to realize is that a closet group of smokers was addicted to these great cigars, and just because they were not 'popular', they were very much appreciated by a loyal following of smokers in the know. But HSA did have one plan that they intended to follow no matter what the cost. They decided that a fixed amount of tobacco would generate MUCH more revenue if they slashed the catalogue to just the most in-demand smokes they offered. The best tobacco would be split up to create only those smokes that were chronically out of stock on store shelves and the greatest number of smokers asked for. This would lead to more happy customers when they entered the shops. So the long and skinnies HAD to go. And go they did. And the majority rejoiced. While the minority lamented the loss of their own favorites. And tonight I would smoke the very first one of these cigars I had ever had. I have had these cigars since they were officially discontinued. They are 2005 vintage, and I got them around 2008. I was all set to buy any number of other boxes, but my priorities shifted quickly when these began to disappear everywhere. I ended up being forced to buy them from a vendor that was FAR from being a discount vendor, and I paid dearly for the two boxes I was able to get, but get them I did.
The cigar drew a LITTLE tight, but was very smokeable, and in fact it helped me to not over-puff on the cigar and heat it up. And when I had my first ever puff of a Serie du Connaisseur of any number, I actually spoke the words "oh-ho, this is gonna be good." This might not be anything odd to the average smoker, but I live alone and I was speaking to no one. But I was definitely right. The smoke that poured forth from this cigar was different from almost any cigar I have had to this point in my long smoking life, but at the same time, very familiar to me. The Partagas pedigree was quite evident, a nice flat spicy core, with a roasted nut and toasted tobacco taste that FORCED you to puff too much, just to get more of this wondrous taste. I have had many cigars that share this profile, in fact, I would say to the well-rounded smoker, it was a delicious blend of the Partagas Super Partagas hand-rolled cigars, and the Partagas Presidente, very classic in style, and as much as I know how hard this is to read, I'll still say it, "old-school Partagas". The cigar tasted like a throwback to the old times I talked about the other day, when EVERY cigar you pulled out of a box of havanas was a special experience, filled with unique flavors and indescribable exoticity. The flavors that made havana cigars the best in the world, no comparison to the cigars that were available from other countries, and sadly, no comparison to the current lineup from Habanos. The compliment of the White Russian was right on time, maybe the perfect drink to accompany this smoke. The cigar drew so well, burned so straight, and offered such hypnotic flavors that I was very close to proclaiming this the finest cigar I had ever smoked. But for one thing. The flavor progression was nothing special. The flavors were perfect, and they kept me coming back for more, nearly to the point of constantly over-heating the cigar. But in terms of what most people would call flavor changes, there were not a lot to be had. And let us all remember that I do NOT have a good palate. So most people would give this cigar MUCH more respect in that category, but as I cannot discern flavor progression unless I am hit over the head with it, we'll just say that this cigar was not as good as the best Fundadore I have ever had, and even a bit below the stunning Partagas Churchill Deluxe I had a few years ago. But wow, what a cigar. About as enjoyable and infectious a cigar as a person could smoke. The ash fell at a consistent 1.5 inches each time, the draw did tighten up a bit near the end, and it was only the cold that began to creep into my feet and legs and hands that forced me to stop smoking this cigar. As it was, I still smoked it further than my traditional halfway. The bands on this smoke were placed lower than usual, and that helped me to feel like I had indeed wrung the last of the great flavor out of the cigar. But it was difficult to let it go so soon. What is it about these old-style long panatelas that just makes the magic happen? There is no abundance of fillers for torcedores to work such magic with. But somehow they consistently impress the true connoisseur. And THAT'S why people are so upset about the demise of this style of cigar. Well, the people that know a good smoke when they smoke one, anyway.
TOP CLASS CIGAR, I have no trouble in the least scoring it a 95. Were it a bit more complex, it could have easily notched the highest score I ever gave a cigar on this blog, currently standing at 97. THIS smoke COULD have been a 98. But who's complaining?
1 comment:
It has been too long since I have had a cigar that had such an emotional impact as the cigar you had on this post.....my favorite cc I have ever had was a 07 pardi short.....the only thing wrong with it was that it ended
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