Tag Archives: Partagas

by Craig Vanderslice | November 19, 2021 · 8:30 pm

News: Partagas Decadas 2021 Cigar Announced

Partagas seems to release special edition cigars fairly regularly, but the Decadas is one that always seems to be pretty special. A Cameroon wrapper grown in Brazil seems pretty interesting! I’ve been a fan of Partagas cigars for several decades, it seems like the Partagas No. 10 was something special back in the 90s, and I smoked tons of No. 4s. They were one of the cigars that made me appreciate the Cameroon wrapper early on.

Partagas Decadas 2021 is an artistically blended, limited edition expression that celebrates the element of discovery. Created to honor the intrepid spirit of Partagas’ founder Ramón Cifuentes, this new release features an exotic Brazilian-grown Cameroon wrapper, a first for Partagas.

A spectacular example of tobacco mastery, this rarefied offering features a curated selection of tobaccos that deliver an exquisitely refined smoking experience.

Matt Wilson, senior brand manager of Partagas said, “Partagas Decadas 2021 was created for cigar connoisseurs who seek extraordinary smoking experiences. The blend was developed to deepen the intrigue of our proprietary, Brazilian grown Cameroon wrapper and delivers the ultimate super premium indulgence. This is a smoke that the true cigar lover should seek to add to their collection.”

Partagas Decadas 2021 features a rare and delicate Cameroon wrapper grown in Brazil’s fertile Bahia region. There, the microclimate and curing process produce a creamy leaf that blends beautifully with other varieties of tobacco.

The super-premium offering boasts a blend of proprietary tobaccos from various Nicaraguan growing regions including Ometepe, Esteli and Nicaraguan Jalapa, and is layered with a rich Dominican Piloto Cubano. A Connecticut Havano binder completes the blend. The aged tobaccos come together to deliver nutty, earthy accents with pleasant pepper notes, culminating in a memorable, layered smoking experience.

Developed to optimize the tobaccos that comprise Partagas Decadas 2021, the blend will be released in a single size. Meticulously handcrafted according to the exacting standards set forth by Ramón Cifuentes, the 6” x 52 cigar called Toro will sell for $17.99 per cigar. Presented in individual coffins encased in ten-count boxes, Partagas Decadas 2021 is handcrafted by artisans at General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, D.R. The brand is rolling out at cigar shops throughout November, 2021.

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by Craig Vanderslice | February 14, 2021 · 10:59 am

Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua and a Partagas Serie D No. 6

Let’s talk a about a couple of completely different cigars! Yesterday I was out and about and I decided to stop in my local shop on the way by and see if they had anything new. There are shops in the same chain a few miles east and west that I would probably have had a better chance of finding newer stuff, but I had been running errands for a while and was tired of driving around. The only thing that struck me as new (judging by the self talker that said “new arrival”, which may or may not have actually been “new”), was the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua. I picked up a few toros, what the hell. Historically, there have not been a lot of Romeos that have tripped my trigger in the 25 or so years I’ve been smoking cigars, at least not the ones made outside Cuba. I have to confess an affection for the RyJ Coronitas en Cedros as I bought a box to share at my daughter’s wedding that was spectacular, so that’s a sentimental favorite. It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, what’s more romantic than a cigar named after a couple who committed suicide together in the name of love? Anyway, the cigar is a 6” x 52 Nicaraguan puro made by Plasencia for Altadis, who is owned by someone now.

Quick aside: with all the discussion of General Cigar splitting off a bunch of their brands into the new Forged Cigar Company, has anyone considered that they could be positioning their portfolio of legacy Cuban brands for sale? It seems funny to me that they have placed all of the old Cuban brands under this umbrella, leaving the brands that have the brand ambassadors, like Macanudo, CAO and Cohiba (not a legacy Cuban brand, but a post-embargo brand), with General Cigar. It seems like a nice package deal to sell to, I don’t know, maybe whoever just bought the Altadis brands like RyJ, Upmann and Montecristo (along with the portion of Habanos). It would tie things up pretty nicely from a trademark standpoint. Just a thought, probably doesn’t make sense, but what makes sense? Wait, Punch isn’t included in Forged, that throws a monkey wrench into my theory, and why does “Forged” have to be so similar to “Foundry”? Couldn’t they come up with something more original? There’s something funny about the Punch trademark that I can’t recall. It’s all very confusing.

Back to the 1875 Nicaragua, it’s a nice cigar. Oddly, still not my cuppa tea for some reason, but a perfectly good cigar. The construction was perfect, and it smoked for a good two hours plus. Why is it that the cigars you love don’t seem to smoke long enough and the one that you tolerate last forever? It was woody, with some subtle spices, but more on the leathery/earthy side than I prefer, which seems to be the trend with the RyJs to me. I think the Reserva Real Nicaragua was one I liked, which seems consistent because I recall liking the original Reserva Real. Different strokes, right?

Back in May of 2018 my wife and I took a trip to Rome, Italy to see the sights. Of course, I took some cigars with me, but I picked some up while I was there. Toscanos were very inexpensive there, and I bought some that I hadn’t seen here. I’m pretty sure I had Toscano Garibaldi’s before they were available in the US. I think a 5-pack of Toscanos was €7 or something. I probably still have some I haven’t opened. That was also at the time that you could still legally buy Cuban cigars abroad. I don’t desire a lot of Cubans, but I do like one now and then, so I picked up a five pack of Montecristo No.5 and a five pack of Partagas Serie D. No.6, both small cigars. I hadn’t smoked any of them until last night when I was looking for a short smoke and came across the pack of D No. 6 and opened it up. This is 3½” x 50, a nice little smoke for under an hour. Of course, it’s a Cuban puro, and one never knows if you’re going to get the one that’s plugged or not. Cuban Roulette? This one wasn’t, and it was a good smoke, typical Cuban twang, and what I like in a Cuban Partagas, which is my favorite Cuban brand anyway. This was a pretty cool little smoke, I’m sorry I didn’t get more than one of the five packs.

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as altadis, Altadis USA, cigar, cigars, Forged, general, Partagas, Rome y Julieta, Serie D No. 6

by Craig Vanderslice | November 4, 2020 · 9:37 pm

News: Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 Announced

Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas is another cigar that I’ve really enjoyed over the years. I can remember smoking these years ago with the green band and loving them. This is one of the cigars that makes good use of the Cameroon wrapper over the years, and is underrated in that category.

PARTAGAS LIMITED RESERVE DECADAS 2020

The finest tobaccos of the past decade come to life with Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020, an artistically-blended, limited edition release.

A spectacular example of tobacco mastery, this rarefied offering features deeply-aged tobaccos that deliver an exquisite and refined smoking experience.

Matt Wilson, senior brand manager of Partagas said, “Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 brings our venerable Cameroon tobacco to life in an intriguing way through an exclusive blend developed solely for this release. For cigar smokers who appreciate the depth of aged Cameroon wrapper and who seek extraordinary smoking experiences, Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 is the ultimate super-premium indulgence.”

As with previous releases of Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas, this distinguished offering features Cameroon wrapper leaves from the exceptional 2008-2009 growing season. Only an average of three per thousand leaves from that very crop were hand selected to adorn Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020. More than a decade later, this spectacular wrapper returns, this time surrounded by a unique blend of aged tobaccos.

The limited edition, super-premium offering boasts a blend of proprietary tobaccos from the Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano from the 2009 crop) and a Mexican San Andreas leaf cultivated in 1997-1998. A Mexican San Andres binder from the 1997-1998 growing season completes the blend.

The experience of Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas is one of complexity, as the aged tobaccos come together to deliver notes of cedar, earth and wild honey.

Developed to optimize the tobaccos that comprise Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020, the blend will be released in a single size called “Dalia.” Meticulously handcrafted according to the exacting standards set forth by Ramón Cifuentes, the legendary Cuban cigar maker who developed the Partagas brand, the 6.75” x 43 Dalia will sell for $17.99 per cigar, until the limited supply of 2,500 boxes is depleted.

Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 will be sold exclusively through brick and mortar retailers.

Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2020 is presented in crystal tubes with a hand-applied wax closure. Each box contains ten cigars. Handcrafted by artisans at General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, D.R., Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas ships to retailers on November 2, 2020.

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by Craig Vanderslice | July 12, 2020 · 10:51 am

Smoking Some Favorites: Marchetti, Partagas, Don Carlos and Some Heavy Lighter Thoughts

I didn’t get into anything new and noteworthy this week, tending to fall back to some favorite cigars. I’ll throw some highlights out. I’ve raved about the Don Juan Calavera line from Danli Honduras Tabacos in the past (recently rebranding to DAHOT). The have a box pressed maduro cigar called the Marchetti, named after one of the factory owner’s mothers, that’s absolutely wonderful, and has become a favorite “go-to” cigar for me. Like the other cigars in the company’s portfolio, I never have a construction issue, they always perform well, and they flavor is right in my wheelhouse, cocoa, espresso, and on the high side of medium bodied. It’s just about what I’d make if I were putting my name on a cigar. If you can get your hands on some of these, I highly recommend them, and I know they are showing up in more places. Great cigars!

Photo stolen from Facebook

I followed, and stuck my nose into, a couple discussions in Facebook groups this week, one of which had to do with a photo of this gentleman, whom I believe to a mister Fifty Cent, lighting a cigar with a Bic lighter. In several separate threads he was harshly criticized for this, for various reasons ranging from ruining the flavor with “Bic fluid”, being a poser and not a “real” cigar smoker, to touching the flame to the cigar (which is legitimate). There seemed to be a lot of bigotry toward the Bic. One post having over 200 replies, many being quite harsh criticism of the man. Some industry professionals pointed out that the majority of the people who actually make the cigars use disposable lighters in the countries where cigars are made, while I made the case that the fire that comes from a Bic is the same as that that comes from a Dupont soft flame lighter. I would add that, by extension, the fire that comes from a $3 torch lighter is the same that comes from a $100 torch lighter. Cases were made that a “true aficionado” lights his cigars with a torch, cases were made that someone of this gentleman’s economic status should use a lighter that closer matches the watch he’s wearing. I think a lot of these comments and ideas come from newer smokers who have a strange notion of what smoking cigars is all about. They seem to forget that cigars pre-date torch lighters by about 475 years, and that maybe them looking down on someone for how they light their cigars can be applied to other prejudices and turned around. Maybe Mr. Cent in the photo just flew in from somewhere and couldn’t get his Dupont lighter through TSA and a Bic was all he could carry on the plane? Who among us hasn’t been in that position? I’m preaching to the choir, I’m sure, but let’s try to educate the newer cigar smokers to apply some tolerance, teach the proper etiquette, including the common sense stuff like a Bic is OK, while a Zippo isn’t (although, a Zippo with a butane insert is fine!). That’s enough of a rant for today!

Another discussion I was party to was someone asking if others thought Cameroon cigars were horrible because he did. This is a pet peeve of mine, of course, Just because you think something sucks, doesn’t mean it sucks. Anyway, I offered that up, and suggested he just didn’t like Cameroon cigars and not to smoke them and move on, but it made me want to smoke Cameroon cigars. So I popped my head into the humidor and grabbed a Partagas Decadas Limited Reserve 2019. This a 5 ½” x 49 robusto with a ten year old Cameroon wrapper. For the binder they use the Honduran San Augustine tobacco that General has been using in a great many cigars recently. The filler is Piloto Cubano from the DR and Ometepe from Nicaragua. Years ago the Limited Reserve had a green band and I really enjoyed them, this cigar still delivers the goods. It’s got the sweet, nutty flavor that I like in a Cameroon cigar. These are quite nice cigars, well balanced, fairly delicate flavors, I can see where someone who smoked nothing but full-bodied cigars might miss the subtleties in this. I’ve always favored Partagas cigars, this one hit the spot.

Continuing my Cameroon journey, how could I not smoke an Arturo Fuente Don Carlos? Besides La Aurora, who else is synonymous with Cameroon tobacco than Fuente? Some of my earliest premium cigar memories revolve around Don Carlos and Hemingway cigars. So I lit up a Don Carlos No. 2 last night, and, you know what? I swear they taste the same now as they did 20+ years ago! It’s quite a miracle. Now this is a cigar that I can’t imagine someone not being able to find flavorful. This is a classic, it’s a big torpedo, it burns perfectly, and is loaded with flavor! it’s got that sweet, nuttiness, with some coffee notes as well. It’s one of those cigars that every humidor should have. I know I sleep better at night knowing I have some in my humidor! Help me out, was this one of the original sizes with the Robusto and the No. 3? Or was it part of the expansion around 2000 with the Double Robusto, Presidente and No.4? I think it was one of the original sizes. Regardless, it’s a classic. Maybe I’ll smoke a Hemingway Classic today!

That’s more than enough for today. There was some news this week, but it involved Fratello being distributed in Switzerland, and Casa Cuevas doing retailer only events, but I didn’t think that was of interest to too many people who read here (and you probably saw them elsewhere anyway). Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Arturo Fuente, Cameroon, cigar, cigars, Danli Honduras Tabacos, Decadas, Don Carlos, Lighters, Marchetti, Partagas

by Craig Vanderslice | September 8, 2019 · 8:06 am

New La Gloria Cubana Hoyo and Partagas Cigars

Before i get started, don’t forget to go back to Wednesday’s post and enter the contest! It occurred to me (after I got a phone call from Danny Ditkowitch of La Sirena Cigars), that I should smoke a La Sirena Anniversario Especial cigar to celebrate, so I smoked another one of those this week and they are fantastic cigars! Check out my post from June here for the specifics about this outstanding cigar celebrating their tenth anniversary! La Sirena has been one of CigarCraig.com’s longest supporters and I’ve been a fan for even longer.

I received some new samples from General Cigar Co. a few weeks ago, among them was the La Gloria Cubana Spanish Press. I was excited, as I always am, about a new La Gloria Cubana cigar, it’s a brand I have long been a fan of. Sure, there are some cigars in the line I can take or leave, but the majority of the line are cigars I like a lot. The Spanish press has a Nicaraguan Jalapa wrapper, a Mexican San Andrés binder and Brazilian Mata Fina, Dominican Olor , and Nicaraguan Jalapa. The vitola I smoked was the 5½” x 50 robusto. I’ll have to smoke more of these, as the initial cigar didn’t hit my palate with flavors I found particularly in line with my preferences. I’m not sure what it was, but there was a sourness that didn’t hit me right. I’m not one to give up, especially on a favorite brand, so I’ll give it another shot.

Another old favorite brand is the Hoyo de Monterrey, and they came out with a new cigar this year in the Hoyo La Amistad Dark Sumatra. There has been a Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra made in Honduras around for some time, but this new one is made in Nicaragua by A.J. Fernandez, using the same blend as the original. It has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. This sample was the Noche size, measuring 6″ x 52, my favorite size. This cigar started out with a powerful punch! Strong pepper from the get-go, I almost thought it was too strong but I like nice strong cigar followed along on the ride. It mellowed out a little in the middle, continuing to have good, strong flavors of rich, dark, earthy flavors. Near the end the pepper returned and it got stronger again and finished off with as much oomph as it started with. Like the other three cigars in the La Amistad line, I really liked this Dark Sumatra.

Finally, last night I lit up a Partagas Decadas Limited Reserve 2019. I used to love these when they had the green band. This version is still in the 5 ½” x 49 size, which is a very nice size, and are packaged in a glass tube (my samples were cellophaned). The new band is white, and has a “10” on in, which seemed appropriate to celebrate the site’s 10th anniversary. The ten represents the age of the Cameroon wrapper leaf on this cigar, Partagas is well known for using Cameroon wrappers. For the binder they use the Honduran San Augustine tobacco that General has been using in a great many cigars recently. The filler is Piloto Cubano fro the DR and Ometepe from Nicaragua. Like I said, I always enjoyed smoking the Limited Reserves, and this cigar was no different. It was a smooth smoke, with the subtle nutty flavor from the aged Cameroon wrapper. I have a pretty good assortment of LE Partagas cigars in the humidor, many are good but not remarkable. These join the Limited Reserves in the remarkable category for me, I like them.