Partagas Serie D No 4 EOL JUL 21 (PRW)

[jakebarnes]

I am going to admit this is one of those cigars that I just didn't "get" for quite some time. The allure of the 898, short, and SdC line really was my primary interaction with the Partagas line. 

Prelight: beautiful construction with minimal veins. Dark wrapper. Also thick wrapper--which I agree with Prez is a bit foreboding for the potential experience 

1st third: The distinctive flavor profile to a PSD4 vs other partagas for me is a savory forest floor mushroom flavor. I don't find that even in the P2 which is the closest relative that I smoke. Slightly uneven burn in the first third but the flavors are night and day to the previous smoke. Draw is somehow loose yet indifferent--would prefer a it more resistance and smoke per draw.Slight tang and a fleeting paprika spice dance in and out of this third.

Second third: a bit of infighting with the light and wrapper. Ironically, the cigars that taught me to "sip" are speaking to me with whispers of the wind through the trees, reminding me that each puff should be gently coaxed to fix the burn issues. My reward is the beautiful sweet spice that dances on my palate and on the nose.There is still and undertone of beautiful fungi, but it is starting to fade as burnt sourdough notes move in. Goodness--when this cigar is on, the spice dances in and out and makes you beg for more. This is what I've been hoping for out of this box for a bit. This third ends with just a pinch of woodiness and some baking chocolate on the retro.

Final third: Oof. This wrapper is trying to ruin a good thing. But the spice on the nose makes me feel like I'm in House Atrides. Woodiness becomes a bigger partner of the spice profile here. But still fighting the burn here. Honestly, the touchups are getting a bit too frequent and the woodiness has become dominant. Decided to let it rest at this point. 

Final thoughts: So much progress from the ROTT review. Yet so far to go. I really still want this vitola to make more sense for me when it's young like the early aughts shorts and 898 did for me, but the PSD4 clearly needs more leash to develop than the listed vitolas. That said, the experience tonight reminded me of why I enjoy Partagas as a marca. 90/100.

 

"It just feels like the the same party every weekend."

 

Soundtrack: "Lush" by Snail Mail

[RDB]

Very nice description of that interplay of flavours.

When it’s on, the D4 can be such a brilliant smoke. I saw someone post recently that it could be his ‘one and only’ and I can see that.

[jakebarnes]

On 9/4/2022 at 2:49 AM, RDB said:

Very nice description of that interplay of flavours.

When it’s on, the D4 can be such a brilliant smoke. I saw someone post recently that it could be his ‘one and only’ and I can see that.

Thanks for the kind words! I can definitely see why this could be someone's "only" for sure.