Partagas 898v LMB ABR 18 (PPPRW)

[Dynamo320]

I’m going to just copy my notes that I took in real time with this one, so pardon the grammar and format. 
 

Partagas 898 LMB ABR 18

Pairing with black coffee, Starbucks Sumatra 

Easy and quick light. 

Draw perfect for me. Just the right amount of open, not much resistance but I don’t mind.

Tons of smoke, very creamy, full and rich.

First hit of black licorice ,Dark chocolate, wood, and earth with a little bit of pepper on the lips.  This one is coming out roaring, strong and to the point.

Ash fell on me at 1 inch.  Perfect burn, superb construction 

After ash drop at 1 inch to halfway:

Sweetness picks up a lot.  Rich cocoa flavors transition to a sweeter marshmallow   I’m enjoying it but going too fast, time to put on the brakes.  
 

I think it has mellowed a bit to medium, from early full.  Reminds me at this point of a good Fonseca 1.    Sweet and creamy marshmallow.  Burn continues razor sharp and no touch ups 

Hitting the halfway point and the sweetness is starting to take a back seat.  Wood notes, slightly bitter in the vain of black coffee and some spice back in play.

So far evolutions are not happening in thirds. First inch was distinct. Next transition was from there to the halfway point. 

Entering final third and the earth is ramping up considerably, strength is also picking up.  Black licorice from early on is coming back.  Lips tingling a bit as pepper ramps up a bit once again.

Getting down towards the band and getting a little more bitter and flavors not as pronounced.   Dare I say, but a little bland. Perhaps with age the end will smooth out a bit. 
 

Very rewarding cigar and not one I would recommend on the golf course and such.  Best to relax and enjoy the many evolutions.  I had this one in the low 90’s but it kind of let me down towards the end.  Still young at almost 2 years no I have no doubt that it will round out in time.  Smoking time of 90 minutes.  89/100

Pics uploaded out of order.  Oh well, you get the point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gburris56]

Great review! Great cigar

[99call]

Great review.  Such a strange move by the blenders of the 898 to add this Fonseca no 1 marshmallow tasting tobacco.  I remember the charge very clearly. After epic box of full body 2008, I bought a 10 box from 2010 and the blend change was dramatic.   The same thing has happened to the Presidente's, which somehow works better with the new soft sweet flavour.      I guess HSA  are moving lock stock and barrel away from cigars that are brutal in their first year. Sad to see, as a full body 898 is a magical thing.  That said the new blend is also enjoyable.

Great review. Hats off

[Theophilus]

Great review!!

[The Squiggler]

6 hours ago, 99call said:

I remember the charge very clearly. After epic box of full body 2008, I bought a 10 box from 2010 and the blend change was dramatic.

I've heard a lot of speculation around this topic.  So you'd hazard that the blend change took place around 2009/10?

[99call]

7 minutes ago, The Squiggler said:

I've heard a lot of speculation around this topic.  So you'd hazard that the blend change took place around 2009/10?

I think 2008 was the last of the old school blend.  I never had I 2009, but can't speak highly enough of the 2008. That's not to denigrate the current blend. It's just HSA are running out of full cigars (by design).  Ultimately it's nice to have a spectrum to choose from, and we are being denied that currently.

[Wailbait]

I too have noticed a blend change on this particular cigar.   My notes have put the change more recently than 08 but regardless of the date, newer ones are far better out of the gate but perhaps might not last as long as some of the older ones.  

[bbguardsp]

Have yet to try one myself.  Thanks for the review.

[Kaptain Karl]

I have a box of these and completely agree with your review. When I smoked 3 of these within the first year of the box code, they were 94 point cigars. Just incredibly rich with tons of date sweetness. The last 4 I've had had been exactly as you describe. I'm gonna sit on these for awhile before I try one again.