PSD4 and PSE2

[Rushman]

Partagas Serie D 4 – 13-Jan-2012

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Initial impressions: Overall well constructed but some veininess. Aroma at cold is damp earth, nuts and cocoa. Draw at cold is firm and spot on for my tastes.

Opening: Great firmish draw, somewhat even burn. Toasted nuts and earthen flavors. Just under medium strength at this early stage.

First third: The oily, nutty notes are coming through as the cigar hovers around medium. Draw tightens up if ever so slightly.

Second third: Getting a touch stronger to medium plus almost medium full. Showing notes of cocoa, nuts and damp earth. Burn I slightly uneven but hasn’t required any touch ups.

Final third: Approaching medium full. Flavors of rich earth and cocoa remain. Burn has been uneven to some degree throughout the smoke but not bad enough to require touch ups. In the final half of this cigar, it is really blossoming, and turning into what I love about PSD4’s.

Conclusions: Partagas SD4’s are one of my perennial favorite cigars. This cigar was good but not great, although it had moments of greatness as it moved towards the nub.

Partagas Serie E 2 – 13-Jan-2012

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Initial impressions: I am a big fan of the robusto extra format, although this is my first E2. Construction is very good. Draw is a tad loose cold, and aroma at cold is creamy cocoa and earth.

Opening: Opens milder than expected, but this larger format gives the strength room to grow. Very creamy, earthy mouth feel to start. Draw firmed up a touch after lighting.

First third: Very distinct creamy mouth feel. Continues with the earthy notes but woody flavors are now present. Very even burn despite this cigars youth.

Second third: The distinct creaminess on the palate is enjoyable. Strength still on the low end of medium. Continues to be very earthy and almost nutty.

Final third: Cigar is strengthening somewhat, moving to medium plus or a touch more. Creamy mouth feel remains as does the woody character. Even burn. Cigar has required no touchups or relights. Slightly less than perfect draw as the cigar nears the nub.

Conclusions: the cigar grew to a medium full in the last 10 minutes of the smoke. This is a good cigar that needs some age to reach its full potential, but a very nice start.

[riazp]

If I may make a little suggestion for your reviews for the benefit of the readers. Posting the box date of the cigars you smoked would be great as reference for us would be great. Would help us who have those cigars to determine whats what and compare notes.

Great reviews as always Rush

[Rushman]

Unfortunately most boxes that come into the Mexico tax system get black notices and yellow lettering pasted on the bottoms (across the entire bottom) and one side of the box with very bold anti smoking notices. This is of course in addition to the photos of dead rats or open heart surgery pasted on the top. For the ones where the box codes are readily available I will endeavor to add them in the future.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.631772,-87.070762

[riazp]

That is very true Rush, I completly forgot the size of those stickers on the mexican boxes!

[CaptainQuintero]

I've been trying for I just can't get into D4's I love the shorts but every D4 I have just seems to be spice, ceder and exhaust pipe

Going to try the P2's see if they hold up to my taste buds better

Also big ditto on the robusto extra format, I know donkey **** comments coming my way but when I get the chance to smoke I make the most of it as it's normally purely down to the weather. As such I love to sit out with something that will last me, churchill, DC and the double robusto/extra are becoming my go to smokes.

Guiltily looking at those Monte 520's this year to put away for a few years for when my Sublimes run out

[riazp]

the PSE2 is a duke vitola, and I really enjoy that vitola, makes for a good almost 2 hours smoke. As for PSD4's CQ, I get a nice creamy spice from them. I had one last night and I would rate it a 93. It was from a czar hq sep 10 10ct box

[Rushman]

That is very true Rush, I completly forgot the size of those stickers on the mexican boxes!

it's less of a sticker and more like glued on wrapping paper. It's crazy.

[partifan]

PSD4s normally need a few years to come around. I had a few blah ones from 09 and 10, but I've heard rave reviews about the 11 stock.