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.