Partagas Aristocrats - MTS ENE 20 - (JBWP5RW)

[traveller]

Outside smell Leather along along the wrapper

Foot: leather and pepper

 

1st 1/3rd pepper on retro + cream on mouth

Almost on a dime after 1st 1/4-1/3 flavors start changing

Pepper is ramping up, hint of sourness(sourdough?) every once and a while, graham cracker

Smoke increasing

Last 3rd

Less smoke now

Some bitterness at beginning of 3rd

Almost all graham cracker transitioning to cream as it goes on no more pepper on retro

Again bitterness, struggling more to keep it alight.

All in all decent smoke especially since these are only a few days off the truck. 7/10

I'm liking the Partagas Habaneros of the same vintage a little better - has a bit more mongrel on it

About 1:15-20 minute smoke - Mild++/Med 

Edited October 15, 2021 by traveller
Added some final notes

[Akela3rd]

These are one of the truly under the radar great cigars IMHO. Always liked them, always try to have some on hand. Any chance of ever seeing them on 24:24 @El Presidente...?

Sent by spooky action at a distance




 

[Jerryvonkramer]

I just got a box of these in the 24:24, they seem very obscure, seldom discussed and not in stock anywhere. Picked them up out of curiosity 

[Jerryvonkramer]

I smoked almost through the whole box of these and they became a fast favourite. There’s a deep honey note and the overall note is honey nut cornflakes. They bare almost no resemblance to the classic Party profile. 
 

They are also unavailable in U.K. market seemingly. Why are these so obscure?

[bmac]

I bought a couple of boxes and have enjoyed them. A handful burned so far.

[AllorNothing]

I like these. I get milk chocolate throughout the cigar. Smoking 2023s and they start to get bitter in the second half and onwards. Putting away for now hoping it rounds off. 

[Lamboinee]

I just "discovered" these about 2 weeks ago as well...I'm in love with them at the moment. Smoked probably 10 or so from new boxes.

[Jerryvonkramer]

I've just ordered another box. They are a perfect daily smoke imo, and burning through them helps me not burn through things I am trying to age.

[Jerryvonkramer]

Had a lot more paprika on the one I had earlier and the honey note I mentioned above was less pronounced. 

[traveller]

I'm glad people are enjoying them, I'm going to have to revisit these with a few more years on them. A shout out to the Partagas Habaneros, if you like the Aristocrats you'll likely enjoy those as well.

[Lamboinee]

Speaking aristocrats...... 

As yet another reminder that all cigars of the same Marca, year, and source are not equal, I would like point out the following observations.

Having "discovered" the aristocrat after smoking several with some enjoyment, I set out to experience some more. The following pic shows one aristocrat (with band) in line with three other aristocrats (without band). The color difference in the wrappers should be readily apparent. There are no filters on the picture and, to the naked eye, the banded cigar is several shades lighter and "creamier" in texture than the others. I think the difference in color is even more obvious when viewed with the naked eye as compared with what can be observed in the photo.  All four are from 2023 boxes.

What, if any, impact on flavor will the wrapper variance have? I do not know for certain, but I speculate that the darker cigars will have a greater tendency to have some "bite", "grit", and "abrasiveness". I hope that the wrapper difference has zero impact, as I'm looking forward to smoking more aristocrats similar to those that I have experienced from the banded box. Every aristocrat I have ever smoked thus far (11 in all) has come from the same box as the one depicted with a band and lighter wrapper. The unbanded ones need additional rest before they are sampled fairly. If I can, I will try to post an update after sampling the unbanded ones. Pay no never mind to the fact that some are unbanded (unless you want to), providence is unquestioned for both banded and unbanded imo. 

What does this mean? I don't fully know yet...except to point out that natural variations exist, as well as variations in quality amongst retailers. I have found that these types of discrepancies can often separate "the best from the rest" and they continue to inform my decisions. None of these came from FoH, from which I have always had exceptional experiences. Just some info that I would appreciate if I were someone like you.