Question for the Initiated: Partagas Serie D and Montecristo No. 2

[MikeinKS]

I've worked my way through the majority of my "New To Cubans" sampler and I'd been holding out on both the Partagas Serie D and the Monte No. 2.   For this newbie, they both certainly count as something special!  The Partagas was as described by El Presidente with a good amount of toasted sourdough, roasted nuts and paprika.  It was a powerful smoke.  The Monte No. 2 was slightly plugged which made the draw a bit tough.  Regardless, the first third truly was like smoking sugar-coated, chocolate gingerbread.  It settled down after that to have more tobacco and chocolate bread notes.  It was very enjoyable, and I know I'll be partaking in Monte's for years to come.  I have 3 questions for the far more experienced:

1.  Do the almost sugary elements of the Monte's settle down with age to get more of a mature, coffee and tobacco flavor more prominent?  

2.  Does the Partagas mellow some with age to get a bit more balance and possibly be at the other end of the range in sweetness from a Monte?

3.  What would you recommend as somewhere in-between the strength and earthiness of the Partagas and the chocolate sweetness of the Montecristo No. 2?  I have a box of Bolivar RC's on the way which may fit that bill.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

[zyxwvu44]

I would say diplomaticos #2 might be a good middle ground. They have slight earthyness and the spice of a psd4, but also have some cream like the Monty.

The Bolivar is stronger than the psd4 in my opinion, but delicious!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[nKostyan]

Both of these cigars are getting better with age. For the D series, this is more important because they are young with harshness and ammonia on the palate. Monte 2 can be smoked young, but over the years they become more tender. I advise you to buy a box and put it in a lock-lock with boveda65% and try them every year. Monte advise you to try Double Edmundo, for my taste it is more gentle than Monte.2 For Partagas, more gentle Lisitanias. What is the average between D and Monte.2 find it difficult...

[nKostyan]

36 minutes ago, zyxwvu44 said:

The Bolivar is stronger than the psd4 in my opinion, but delicious!

 

BRC I advise you to smoke with slow, delicate puffs, as if you are drinking a cocktail through a straw, then the fortress is not felt or intoxicated nicotine 

[MD Puffer]

6 minutes ago, nKostyan said:

BRC I advise you to smoke with slow, delicate puffs, as if you are drinking a cocktail, then the fortress is not felt or intoxicated nicotine 
 

Ahem...I prefer to gulp cocktails as if I were in a beer chugging contest.

[Colt45]

36 minutes ago, MD Puffer said:

Ahem...I prefer to gulp cocktails as if I were in a beer chugging contest.

Gusto or go home.

[joshhooper7]

Bolivar Royal Corona is one of my favorite cigars hands down, but it's nothing like a D4, somewhat similar to a Monte 2. Similar to the Monte in that it's got flavors of chocolate and coffee, but in a different format and delivery. The chocolate is unsweetened bakers chocolate, and the coffee is robust and very dark whereas Monte coffee flavors are almost sweetened with a touch of milk. You'll get a lot of leather off of a BRC too, lots and lots of power.

A great cigar that I think would bridge the gap between the two would be the Bolivar Belicoso Fino. A lot milder of a flavor delivery than the BRC with more striking similarities to the Monte 2, but it also brings a spicy tinge with it. Not quite paprika or bell pepper, but anise. El Prez compared it to a Guinness and I think that assessment is very fair. Rich, earthy, chocolaty, bitter in all the right places and smooth and delicious!

Best bet is to buy a box of all 3!

Cheers