Partagas 898

[headstand]

Somehow, between the time it took me to go down to the cellar to choose my smoke, and the time it took me to get to my deck, a weather system started to make it's presence known - still not a cloud in the sky, but the wind gusts were nasty.

Partagas 898 (don't know if it's a 898 varnished - will need to chat with Lisa)

Wrapper: Rustic in a good and fitting way. Not especially oily.

Construction: well packed - no soft spots. Firm draw - no complaints.

Aroma at cold: pungent like a sweet and sour dish but richer, tea leaves with hint of barnyard maybe?

First impressions: Easy light despite the wind wreaking havoc with the lighter. Tobacco flavours are dominant. Not sharp but rich and mellow. Usually I don't like the tobacco flavour, but the 898's smoothness urged me on. A lot of smoke. Promising. As expected, this is a strong cigar.

First third: Tobacco flavour still dominant but offset by a wonderful creamy smoothness. After an inch, the tobacco flavour was complemented by the taste of baked bread with butter. Hint of cinnamon. Did I say the smoke was creamy? It was. Did I say it was windy? It was - messed the burn some, and messed with my Zen.

Second third: The dominant tobacco starts to fade. In its place is a touch of cedar. I like cedar; nice evolution. Still creamy smooth. Near the end of the 2nd third, the flavours start to remind me of a Bolivar PC, but with a rounder texture. At this point the wind was becoming a problem as all too frequent puffs were required to keep the 898 burning and several touch ups to the burn with a hopelessly out gunned lighter were necessary.

Last third: I persevered through the beginning of the last third - still getting the pseudo Bolivar PC flavours layered on the creamy smoothness. With no new flavours to keep me focused, and tiring of getting ash blown back at my face, I decided it was time to send the 898 to pasture.

General impressions: A great smoke that managed to keep my attention despite the difficult weather. Clearly a serious cigar that is not intended for a casual social smoke. The 898 demands your attention. As I see it, this cigar should be reserved for deck time with other hardcore cigar fans, preferably with long periods of silence broken only by appreciative grunts - it's just that kind of smoke.

Cheers,

Alan

[thechenman]

Nice review of one of the great current production cigars.

[ajgagnon]

I have yet to experience the 898 but I can relate to the comment about sharing the best of cigars with likeminded people, grunting as you say, to express the depth of appreciation for the cigar. Well put.

[frenchkiwi]

cheers alan nice review

i sympathise with your windswept experience - i live in a windy city and basically, when it's windy, i don't smoke, at least not big cigars. too discouraging!

(i sometimes use the garage if i'm with a hardcore aficionado but it's not a cosy place - need to build me a smoking hut).

[dicko]

very nice descriptions, i agree, its a serious cigar