Partagas Serie P2 MSU SEP 19 (OYMRW2)

[Chas.Alpha]

I decided that instead of breaking the slab on grade concrete pour into two, we would go ahead and do a early morning (2:00 a.m.) pour of the whole thing, thereby giving me time to burn a Lusi. I brought a P2 along to burn after the pump had left the job. Things didn’t go exactly as planned. Thursday night, we took almost two inches of rain, turning the entire site into a mud hole. Normally, the project superintendent’s job on pour night is to open the gate, make sure that the flood lights are on and confirm that the testing lab had sent a man out to make cylinders for compression testing. Instead, I found myself on the skid-steer, desperately trying to clear the muddy path to the building to get the pump and 50+ concrete trucks in and out. It was a mess... 

With the site put back together just as the pump arrived, I made the critical decision. This was not a night for a relatively relaxing 2 hour Lusi. This was going to be a night for a “working man’s” cigar. Out comes the P2.

As the first two concrete trucks had made it to the pump, I clipped the end of my stick and pulled a pre-light draw. It was light, but not to the extent of being under filled. Definite barnyard and burnt toast. This might be a winner. I had plenty of time to use a torch properly, roasting the end carefully like a marshmallow.                                     
 

Immediate flavors of leather and a semi-sweet cocoa, The sweetness may be on account of this being paired with a six pack of Diet Coke, as I rarely drink coffee. A touch (slight) of licorice, which I’ve noted on other larger RG Partagas as of late. Something I do not particularly like in a cigar. The burn was absolutely razor sharp going to the half way point, when my concrete supervisor informed me that the county was paving the road and had blocked the only two roads into the site. It was about 4:15 a.m. at this point. As I was quickly marching my way up to the intersection to inquire EXACTLY WTF these guys were thinking and noticing that I now had 10 concrete trucks backed up South of the intersection, I found that my cigar had increased in strength, possibly due to my blood pressure being doubled and I was now enjoying leather, cocoa and burnt toast flavors. This calmed my irritation at the road crew and inspired me to flag my convoy of trucks through the shopping mall parking lot and over to the site. I’ll likely hear about that on Monday.

With the supply problem corrected (it is unlikely that the road crew superintendent and I will be having a beer together anytime soon) I walked back over to the site to enjoy the final fourth of the cigar. The draw had been light throughout, but maintained a razor line. Full on coffee, leather, cocoa. Reminiscent of the MSU Bolivars from ‘19. 
 

Started to pick up a slight ammonia flavor at the band, which told me that it was time to take my leave from it. I dropped it into one of the many mud puddles at my disposal...

Verdict: Overall, a pretty great cigar. Definitely another year or two will improve it. 
It’s calming effects probably saved me from going to jail, as if it weren’t in my hand I’d have likely beaten the road crew supervisor with a tire iron.

I rarely have time for a larger RG cigar. As you’ve guessed, my working hours are irregular. That said, it’s alway nice to make time for a 1:10 stick. I had hoped to make this a Prominentes evening, but ultimately made the correct call.

89-90 with a 93-95 ceiling.
 

 

[guideright]

Great story along with the review - good luck with the rest of the project!

[tuff]

Nice pour. I've been contracting for quite awhile and I love when we pour concrete as it means we have the 1st major step done and a dry place to stage from. It is very gratifying, yet can be terrifying when something goes wrong and many yards at risk. Sounds like you did the right thing breaking out a cigar and powering through.

Good luck with project.

 

John   

[karp]

Nice review under challenging conditions. Thanks for sharing! Have a box resting and can’t wait to try these.. 

[Chas.Alpha]

1 minute ago, karp said:

Nice review under challenging conditions. Thanks for sharing! Have a box resting and can’t wait to try these.. 

Give them another year IMHO

[Ites]

Great story, thanks