Partagas 898: SOA DIC 08


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Again, reviewing a cigar that I usually enjoy. With more than three boxes in a 28 Bottle Vinotemp-Turned-Humidor, that's a large percentage of real estate. The box code is SOA DIC 08, the oldest of the boxes I have.

To my surprise, I'm already through the top row of these. How did that happen!? I recall enjoying each of them, but thinking they were still a touch rough around the edges compared to a couple beautiful boxes from 2012.

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Beverage: Sparkling Water

Aroma at Cold: Dense Tobacco, Amber Honey, Toasted Bread

Draw: Slight Resistance. Perfect.

First Third:

The first few puffs are spicy tobacco and rich, amber honey. A slight almond nuttiness. Thin, wispy smoke to start.

As the cigar settles, the spice all but disappears, leaving a deep, rich wood and honey flavor. Intensely savory, the wood and honey is mixed with cinnamon and clove. Well balanced, none of the flavors overwhelm. Cream and coffee linger briefly on the palate for a dry, quick finish. The smoke becomes thicker and denser. Perfect burn.

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Second Third:

The very distinct amber honey sweetness from the first third subsides quietly, becoming a creamy, milky sweetness layered over the predominant wood and coffee flavors from the first third. The slightest touch of cinnamon still lingers, perhaps. There is a definite savoriness, though not as pronounced as in the first third. The finish is still dry and quick, very pleasant and refined. The smoke remains thick. The burn is perfect.

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Last Third:

The final third is rich coffee and cream, dominantly, with toasted wood and barely a hint of fruit and cinnamon. Some light chocolate rounds out a very delicious range of flavors. The sweetness is very satisfying at this point in the cigar. The finish lingers more than it has through the first two thirds, coating the palate with a pleasant creaminess. Perfect burn.

I lay the cigar down after peeling the band back a bit.

Score: One of my Favorites. Fantastic.

Final Thoughts: I love a good Partagas 898. It's an incredibly complex cigar in a beautiful format. I can't ever have too many of these in the humidor.

Comments and Thoughts appreciated. (The background is a picture of a gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC printed on canvas.) Thanks for reading.

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A great review for a fantastic cigar! I have a box with the same code, that is also already missing the top row completely.

I haven't tried any from my other 08 box yet and it has a different code. I should try one from that batch very soon

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Great review and descriptions. 898 with 5+ years of age does charming and a wonderful marrying of flavors to enjoy! Yet hard for me to resist them fresh at the same time. Thanks for sharing... Love the gargoyle print!! Thumbs up

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Smoking 1 now from a a May 13' HQ box I received 2 weeks ago. I'm a huge 898 fan and while young and still unwinding from their trip it was still an enjoyable cigar. I get the coffee, little bit of cream sweetness, a touch of bite with a little spice through the nose, rich, full flavored, heavy smoke lingers on the palate. These need a little more rest I think to really bring out that Partagas spice as prez would describe as bell pepper/capsicum sweet spice which when the cigar is ON combines in perfect harmony with the other flavors. I like what I'm seeing so far and am happy to see what comes from this box.

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