Beneath the Band: Partagas 898

[El Presidente]

This series to explore whether a particular cigar is humidor worthy. Cost these days is an issue for many so let's see if we can highlight some absolute standouts. This should particularly assist those new to the cigar world.  

To be fair, most of the cigars we have featured to date have scored exceptionally well. Surprisingly well! 

Scoring is: 1-3 (Poor)   4-6 (Average to good)   7-10  (very good to excellent)  Use the Poll. 

You are more than free to comment away 

Partagas 898. I am on a lonsdale/Dalia lovefest currently. The 898 has always been in my wheelhouse but they have been very thin on the ground over the past 4 years. They do pop up from time to time but are they still worth chasing? 

Today: Partagas 898. Do you enjoy them? Fresh or aged? If aged...how long before they generally hit their stride.

Let's kick off the discussion 

 

[Lucas Buck]

The Partagas Lonsdales is one of my all time favorites but the 898 is a damn good substitute. I love them with age but they are approachable with as little as five years on them. 

[cnov]

The chance would be a fine thing. 

[Li Bai]

I love this cigar, I've smoked quite a few but still couldn't put my hands on a full box...

I could live off Lusis, Shorts and 898s and I would be happy 👌

[KCCubano]

1 hour ago, Lucas Buck said:

The Partagas Lonsdales is one of my all time favorites but the 898 is a damn good substitute. I love them with age but they are approachable with as little as five years on them. 

All correct!! 

[joeypots]

The 898 V was the first box of Cuban cigars I bought on line. I don't remember much about them except the last few were better than the first few I smoked. Feels like it's always been a difficult cigar to buy and I haven't smoked one since that first box. I did manage to get some a while ago and will be sampling them soon.

[Ford2112]

Hard to source. But when on they are up there with any other cuban cigar IMO. I absolutely blew though my last box of varnished 898 I had, haven't acquired any since. They had 5 years on them and I lament not saving a few. But I have zero impulse control. Bold cigars with lots of Partagas spice.

[JohnS]

My inventory on Cuban Cigar Website indicates that I've had a total of six (6) Partagas 8-9-8s since 2016. Before the site went down that year, I wouldn't imagine that I had any in the twelve to twenty-four months prior to that. Yes, these dalia-sized cigars (including the Cohiba Siglo V) have been like the albatross at sea...hard to sight and hard to hunt down.

[gormag38]

I certainly get down with the 898s. Great vitola. I've found that for me they need 10+ years to really shine. Then again maybe that just makes them more approachable to my palate. 

[avaldes]

The last box I had was 2017 or so. But I’ve smoked quite a few between 1997 and then. I’m hoping to grab another this year.

One of my favorite cigars, the only downside is that you will get tight ones. Seems like there will be 5 in a box that are ridiculously tight.

[riderpride]

Only way these could be any better is if i found some. I know there's been some sightings in recent years, but a lot of pics of acquisitions outside of 24:24 over that time period make me feel #skep.

Love these things.

[dicko]

13 hours ago, avaldes said:

The last box I had was 2017 or so. But I’ve smoked quite a few between 1997 and then. I’m hoping to grab another this year.
One of my favorite cigars, the only downside is that you will get tight ones. Seems like there will be 5 in a box that are ridiculously tight.

Agree with this. Far too many plugs.

But assuming good construction one of my favourite cigars. Maybe top 5 certainly top 10. With Lusis my favourite Partagas. Fresh or aged - doesn't matter. Best examples, to my taste, have a sweet spice / sweet wood thing going on in addition to the leather/earth/wood/tobacco/pepper core.

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

[westg]

For me the easiest cigar to identify taste wise. Gorgeous cigars. Partagas profile to its core. Love them. 

[Fugu]

One of my favourite cigars.… is the LGC MdO2. When I am looking for a bit more oomph I reach for the Party 898v. Though this cigar, from a good year (like e.g. 2008) can become very refined, too. Basically less floral, also less on elegance, more on the darker, earthy end of the spectrum, and the best showing that hallmark (red) bell pepper note. For me the pinnacle of Partagás of recent times, and among the very best coming out of Cuba.

On 9/18/2025 at 12:11 AM, riderpride said:

Only way these could be any better is if i found some. I know there's been some sightings in recent years, but a lot of pics of acquisitions outside of 24:24 over that time period make me feel #skep.

Love these things.

There has been some Villamil production in 23/24. sparse on the ground but no reason to doubt it. Who would’ve thought there’s even suppliers outside PCC who still have access to cigars. 😂

Though - grey market - I’d be leery indeed.

[Stevieboy]

Definitely my favourite cigar but they're often quite tight. I bought a load up from UK retailers when the prices were insane in the UK and now I'm very very glad I did.

[Jerryvonkramer]

I’ve never been even come close to having one of these, just never ever available as long as I’ve been into cigars.  Always sold out regardless of vendor and never come up in 24:24

[Lucas Buck]

3 hours ago, Jerryvonkramer said:

I’ve never been even come close to having one of these, just never ever available as long as I’ve been into cigars.  Always sold out regardless of vendor and never come up in 24:24

It’s really a shame with some of Havana’s finest cigars being so elusive. I feel very fortunate to have fallen in to this hobby when availability was flush in just about every standard production and even most limited production. I had boxes of 898 both varnished and unvarnished from the ‘70s up to the ‘90s. They were not rare or hard to find at all. In fact many sellers discounted them to move surplus stock. Good times. 

[zeedubbya]

Definitely a favorite, but as others have said, elusive in the last 10 years. Something I’ve always found interesting about the 898 is Min Ron Nee (RIP) states they are a milder cigar, but this hasn’t been my experience with them. Always have been rich and deep in flavor with some fresh examples having quite a lot of punch. I don’t have much experience with pre-2000 898, so maybe the blend took a dramatic turn at some point over the years.  

I have owned only a couple boxes over the years but they’ve been excellent. I personally don’t recall any with a tight draw, but again, my sample size is somewhat limited. Always have delivered a high level smoking experience, especially the 2012’s I received from a generous BOTL. There’s definitely high quality tobacco in the blend. I genuinely wish they were more available and at a more reasonable price point, as I don’t think I’ve ever found an adequate replacement for what is one of my favorite cigars in a favorite size.  

[HDGSN]

In my top 3 favorites. I wish I could have bought every box back when they were sub $250. I have a couple 2013 singles left and a 2020 box left and then I guess they’ll be gone.

[Jerryvonkramer]

On 9/19/2025 at 9:24 AM, Lucas Buck said:

It’s really a shame with some of Havana’s finest cigars being so elusive. I feel very fortunate to have fallen in to this hobby when availability was flush in just about every standard production and even most limited production. I had boxes of 898 both varnished and unvarnished from the ‘70s up to the ‘90s. They were not rare or hard to find at all. In fact many sellers discounted them to move surplus stock. Good times. 

I should have mentioned one of the few times in the past 5 years I’ve bought anything from a vendor other than Rob was trying to get some 898s and they were fakes! I knew instantly, fake bands, bright white ash.

I did get a refund but still lessons learned. If it’s too good to be true, it’s usually not true.