Partagas Shorts Metallic Taste Only in Second Row (Box of 25)

[JD_Stogies]

I got a box of 25 Party Shorts last year, and the box date was some time in 2023 (will double check when I get back home). Every cigar in the first row was a banger — hit all of the cream, spice, sourdough notes that I enjoy. However, as soon as I smoked the first cigar in the second row, I wasn't able to get the same level of complexity and nuance, and instead I got a very very strong metallic (almost blood-like) taste. Basically went from a consistent 91-94 point experience to almost unsmokable. Could this perhaps be trapped ammonia or something else? Same issue when I smoked a second cigar from the second row yesterday. Just weird how big the difference is!

[zacca]

I know it’s been a long time since you asked, but I ran into something similar the other day with Shorts. Several had been among the best cigars I’ve had and then a few which were markedly different with a specific metallic harshness…

Here’s what I guess, but I haven’t tested or read about any experiments in this area so it’s all conjecture…

Two main ideas I have are:

1) The bottom layer definitely could have differences in gas exchange, which could result in less off-gassing of ammonia and other volatile nitrogen compounds, as well as organic acids and aldehydes. 
 

2) Moisture imbalance between the top and bottom layer. It’s possible the bottom layer was a bit wetter than the top layer. When lit, this produces more steam and acidic compounds, and the steam carries volatiles straight to the palate which can result in the metallic/bitter taste. 

[JohnnyO]

Top row legit factory cigars. 2nd row replaced with farm rolls by a factory worker or somewhere down the line. The metallic taste you describe is known as its sick period which you normally don't find in factory leaf. Cigars go in and out of a fermentation process, 6 months to 2 years depending on the strength of the leaf. Ligero taking the longest. Factories don't use leaf still in their sick period. You might have to sit on these 1-2 years to see if they will straighten out. John