Midweek Shootout Poll: Montecristo Especial vs Paratgas 898

[MoeFOH]

Midweek Shootout Poll - where we randomly pit two Cuban sticks against one another to see which comes out on top. 

Monte 2 took down BBF last poll in a close one: 36 - 28.

The match-up this week sees the Monte Especial vs Partagas 898. 

If you've had both -great. If you've had one and not the other or have had neither, give us your answer and discussion based on your experience there and/or the allure/desire/interest in these combatants. 

Read the scenario, vote in the poll, discuss below if you wish 

[Chucko8]

I couldn’t honestly tell you. Obtaining either one of these is like collecting rocking horse poop!

[loose_axle]

I've not had the 8-9-8 but I managed to snatch a box of Especial just before the crisis. It was a little off the first couple of years but since about the 3 year mark it's been climbing and now in the 5-6 year mark they are truly magnificent. Not a huge fan of the marca in general but these give Monte a great name. 

[Li Bai]

It's like the last scene from Mr. Nobody, please don't make me choose between Mommy and Daddy 💔

[JohnS]

Like @Li Bai said, how can one split these? I've not been able to acquire any Partagas 8-9-8 for some time, so it's difficult for me to be objective here! 😳

[cnov]

I have one Especial in my collection and have never been able to snag any 8-9-8. Having smoked neither my only option would be the single but I'll probably give it a year or two. 

[BG318]

I have a box of 898 from '08. Probably my favorite smoke this year so far. Perfect construction, lovely aroma, great burn and flawless from beginning to end. I have like 9 left, so I am going into rationing mode.

On the other hand, I have not yet had an Especial, but I just scored a box of '24 Especials, so I won't know which I like better for a few years. If it's even possible to do such a thing.

If I could get my hands on more 8-9-8 I would be willing to- continue to drive my jalopy, defer fixing my deck, buy supermarket brand cereal, or possibly even try Vegemite.

I abstain, and yield my remaining time to the gentleman from Mississippi.

[Lucas Buck]

This is the toughest one yet. Love both of these fine cigars. Just smoked a vintage Especial last week so maybe recency bias as it was stupendous but I have to go Monte by a hair. I’ve been fortunate to have smoked quite a few of each from the 70’s to the early 2000’s and they are two of my favorites to this day. 

[99call]

Mentally its very difficult to compare these two cigars, because they are as such opposite ends of the spectrum.

Monte Especial =. Oozing class and poise, cool luxurious bittersweet chocolate smoke, 

Party 898 = A bracing robust cazadores type cigar, full of umami, wet woods, forest floor, paprika,  leather, fungal

The Party 898 is more interesting and enigmatic, but for sheer class the Monte Especial comes out on top for me.  

[MrBirdman]

898 is a great cigar, a complex and alluring blend evincing the best of Partagas, but the Monte Especial is one of the true classics of Cuban cigars. I put them in the same class as Winnies and Fundadores. 

It’s everything Monte, refined and layered to perfection while, as @99call said, exuding class in all respects, exactly what a Lancero should be. They may be the hardest to locate regular production, non-ultra premium cigar in the Habanos portfolio, but if you have the chance to smoke one, take it. And while they’re the class of Monte, the Double Edmundo isn’t far behind and obviously much easier to lay hands on. 

[Havanaaddict]

I love them both, but I have smoked way more Monte Especials from the 70's & 80's, so I have to go the Monte by a hair!

[Ford2112]

Never had an Especial but it doesn't matter to me because the 898 is my favorite Partagas and in my top cigars of all time. Hard to find these days.