Partagas Lusitanias – UEB-AGO-17 (MM&SRW)

[StogieSteve23]

Partagas Lusitania – UEB-AGO-17 (MM&SRW)

Opening Remarks: Had some time to kill after a long 3+ hour meeting about sustainability and recycling before another conference call.  We’re implementing a new initiative to try and be certified as a zero net waste event this year.  I love that we’re doing it, but it makes my brain hurt…a lot… Decided to sneak out early, head to a local shop near the office, enjoy a smoke/libation and take the call from there.

I was planning on meeting up with a friend later in the evening at the same shop, so I brought a couple sticks, one of which was a Lusi. Time was on my side so I picked that to enjoy while finishing the work day.

I paired it Don Julio Resposado with a large cube and a lime wedge, plus a club soda w/ lime.

After an absolutely perfect clip of the head (you know the ones you look at in amazement of its perfection?), the cold draw was stellar on the restriction end with hay, woodsy and milk chocolatey notes. The wrapper was smooth but had lots of veins and a couple small cracks in random spots.

First Third: Right off the bat, draw and combustion are perfect.  Unsalted sunflower seeds and a sweet Thai chili glaze are the first flavors shining through. The smoke has a smooth finish on the palate. One that coats the inside of the lips, similar to using too much Chapstick. The retrohale is light and floral with a hint of white pepper. The Don Julio complements the cigar well in the sense that it adds a little more body at this point, with an almost smokey/molasses aftertaste. Milk chocolate dustings and peanut M&Ms round out the first third.

Second Third: Draw, combustion and burn are all great. Buttercream and cinnamon shine through at the beginning of this third.  The smoke doesn’t smell like much else to me but burning tobacco. Raw green Bell peppers are really all I get from the second third.  Not spicy by any means but flavorful and pungent. The burn starts getting a little wonky halfway through this third, requiring the first touchup of the stick. More bell peppers before going into the final third.

Final Third:  By now, the cigar is starting to be finicky with its burn. A few touchups. More bell peppers. Florals like eating a dandelion and a little milk chocolate.  The cigar basically exploded in my hand with about 2 inches left.  I tried to keep it going as long as possible, but it wasn’t extremely enjoyable toward the end because of it.  Cayenne pepper on the retro, but nothing with overpowering spice.  Cumin and more bell peppers are final notes before tossing the stick with about an inch and a half left.

 

Closing Remarks: Until the halfway point of the stick, construction was excellent.  That’s when the burn started getting a bit wonky, even though combustion never lacked.  Flavors were enjoyable with the different peppers (non-spicy), chocolate and floral notes.  This is one of mu favorite tequilas and it certainly paired well with this stick. A smooth sweetness that did not overpower the cigar.  I do not get to enjoy these cigars often, mostly due to time constraints but this one hit the spot for the mood I was in and work I had left to do for the day.

 

Burn: 3/5 (Good – Touch-ups occasionally past the halfway point)

Construction: 4/5 (Good draw/combustion the whole time)

Flavor: 5/5 (Excellent for the mood – mix of peppers, milk chocolate, florals)

Smell: 3/5 (Fine – Just burning tobacco)

Wrapper: 3/5 (Smooth but lots of veins – a couple small nicks/cracks)

Overall Score: 18/25 (not indicative of my enjoyment from the cigar though)

[smbauerllc]

Nice review.
I was generously gifted a 2016 that willbe held on to for a while. .

Will try to save it for after I buy and smoke a regular production one, as i like seeing the difference age makes on my smoke. I find it a good educational experience doing it that way

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[rcarlson]

You look surprised to see yourself with a stogie stuck in your mustachioed maw.  

And yet it's the only look the rest of us have ever seen.  

[griller]

Love your reviews! The selfie cracked me up, too. Glad you enjoyed the cigar & thanks for sharing.

[smbauerllc]

You look surprised to see yourself with a stogie stuck in your mustachioed maw.  
And yet it's the only look the rest of us have ever seen.  

Lol, I was going to comment on him rocking the stache, but didn't want to be misunderstood as a dig at his appearance

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[StogieSteve23]

10 hours ago, smbauerllc said:

Nice review.
I was generously gifted a 2016 that willbe held on to for a while. .

Will try to save it for after I buy and smoke a regular production one, as i like seeing the difference age makes on my smoke. I find it a good educational experience doing it that way

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk


 

No question! Make some notes so you can compare them. 

8 hours ago, rcarlson said:

You look surprised to see yourself with a stogie stuck in your mustachioed maw.  

And yet it's the only look the rest of us have ever seen.  

Sometimes I catch myself in the right light and I’m surprised at how good looking I am.. sounds more like a fluke to me. 

6 hours ago, griller said:

Love your reviews! The selfie cracked me up, too. Glad you enjoyed the cigar & thanks for sharing.

Thanks brother! Much appreciated. 🙏🏽

6 hours ago, smbauerllc said:

Lol, I was going to comment on him rocking the stache, but didn't want to be misunderstood as a dig at his appearance

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 

Haha, you’re good man. It’s always a funny conversation piece. 

[rcarlson]

9 minutes ago, StogieSteve23 said:

Sometimes I catch myself in the right light and I’m surprised at how good looking I am.. sounds more like a fluke to me. 

That would surprise the hell out of anyone.  

[Kaptain Karl]

5 hours ago, StogieSteve23 said:

 

Sometimes I catch myself in the right light and I’m surprised at how good looking I am.. sounds more like a fluke to me. 

Sounds like I need to start growing out my stasche! 

[Mickey D]

Great review and self sense of humor. 👍🤓😁
Great ‘70s porn ‘stache.  

[smbauerllc]

Yeah, my humidor inventory app allows you to add notes, so I do it for every recent production ones that I also have aged ones of to compare.

About half my aged inventory I have never had before, so I have some scrounging and buying to do still.

Planning to have my first HDM Elegantes today in preparation for smoking the 2017 one I have

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[StogieSteve23]

13 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

Sounds like I need to start growing out my stasche! 

If anything, it'll make for some funny conversations LOL. 

4 hours ago, Mickey D said:

Great review and self sense of humor. 👍🤓😁
Great ‘70s porn ‘stache.  

LOL, thank you Mickey.  If you can't have a sense of humor, what's the point?! 

4 hours ago, smbauerllc said:

Planning to have my first HDM Elegantes today in preparation for smoking the 2017 one I have
 

Nice, they're enjoyable. If find them different than a lot of other sticks in the HdM portfolio.  Light chocolate, grains, mild fruitiness and cedar are the main notes I've gotten off them.