Partagas Piramides EL 2000 (no box code) (FRCSW4)

[NapaNolan]

I was generously given this in a "convince me to like a torpedo" request on another board years ago.

Due to my job in the wine industry, I smoke fairly infrequently as I find a cigar dulls my palate for a few days and I really need to be sharp when tasting. I really have to time and plan my smoking, and things fall through the cracks, like this cigar.

I found it when I was rearranging my singles tray and due to some mishandling I made a little tear near the foot and figured that since this guy was 22 years old, it was probably ready.

It had a satiny smooth wrapper and felt oily, although there was not much of a visible oily sheen. Draw was perfect if a tad loose.

Pre-cut: sweet tobacco, maple syrup, cinnamon sugar

Cold draw: cherry, cedar, sweet oak, olive oil

Initial puffs: leather, earth, twang/sourdough, blood orange peel

1st third: Some vegetal notes (celery/bell pepper), light roast coffee, sourdough

2nd third: burnt toast, oatmeal, cashew, sourdough, flinty/matchstick, some strength start moving in

Final third: cedar, sourdough calmed down, got a little astringent so I purged it and it really freshened up with notes of hay, citrus and fresh linens. It got astringent again and I was just about to toss it but I decided to just smoke slower and it moved back into the light sourdough/cedar zone.

All in all, this was great. Glad I smoked it today, it could have been better a few years ago or maybe it's still improving, but I think I caught a really nice window. Got just at 80 minutes out of it.

[NapaNolan]

It's funny how the color of the cigar changed as clouds moved in.

[KCCubano]

I was gifted a couple 20 years ago. Fantastic sticks! Highly sought after now! Rarely see them around. Nice review

[Monterey]

Random question, from someone near Dundee.  Did last years heat wave cause any long term impact to the vineyards, or was just the crop from last year impacted?  I know much more about cigars than wine.

[Juliano88]

Now that’s a smoke you don’t see everyday. 

[NapaNolan]

1 hour ago, Monterey said:

Random question, from someone near Dundee.  Did last years heat wave cause any long term impact to the vineyards, or was just the crop from last year impacted?  I know much more about cigars than wine.

Not really, it was early enough in the season that there weren't really formed grapes to damage. The grapes were still tiny, hard and green (maybe a little sunburn but early sun exposure on the grapes prepares them for future strong sun). Grapevines shut down at about 90 degrees for self preservation.

Actually, the spring weather was worse (low temps and some poorly timed wind and rain) and that affected yield, some blocks were like 70% lower than average.