Partagas Serie D No. 4 UER FEB 22 (PRW)

[Low]

This is my first time posting a review for any other eyes besides mine, so any criticism is helpful

This is also my first time smoking any Partagas at all. Seeing so many people rave about them grabbed my interest, so I snagged two 10 count boxes off of 24:24 around mid July. 

Box was stored in a wooden humidor, 62% Boveda packs holding between 60-62% and at 75° F. Used a V cut and Zippo torch to light, paired with water.

The absolutely beautiful wrapper smelled of cocoa and hay, cold draw had hay as well as some slight saltiness.

 

Light up had a taste of a slightly toasted sourdough, signature Cuban flavor, light cocoa, and a distant creaminess reminiscent of vanilla bean steeped in whole milk. Draw is perfect, actually the first young Cuban I haven't had to use a draw tool on.

First 3rd - The toasted sourdough is now very apparent, cocoa is stronger, there's also an added spice on the tip of my tongue that is lightly floral like cayenne pepper. Finish has even stronger cocoa, but the long finish settles into wood, cocoa, and unroasted hazelnuts. It's as if someone had barrel aged a sugarless Nutella. Had a runner appear on the side, but that was easily fixed.

 

Second 3rd - Body has mellowed from medium full to just medium. Sourdough is still hanging around, less cocoa, hazelnut is now there from draw to finish, and the vanilla has reappeared. The wood from earlier is now charred. It reminds me of a heavily smoked cheese. If I close my eyes and imagine hard enough, I can almost taste double smoked cheddar. Finish has settled into mild leather, mild wood, and hazelnut. 

 

Final 3rd - Still medium bodied. Sourdough is completely gone. Now it's heavy cocoa, vanilla, and hazelnut with just a hint of espresso. Smoke has also gained a creamy attribute. Final few puffs resulted with light ammonia, which makes sense, as its a young one.

 

One thing I noticed is that even near the end, this stick never got hot. Final smoke time was 1:15, yes I smoke that slowly. 

8.25/10  5 is average on my scale, so this score is actually very high

With this being a young cigar, I am intensely curious as to where it can go, considering how great it was.