Partagas 8-9-8 Cabinet Varnished

[Ken Gargett]

Also at the Festival dinner and a welcome relief after the disappointment of the Short. Quite a mild effort for Partagas (gather that while this was always much stronger than the Unvarnished, it is much milder than it used to be). Still with lots of typical underlying Partagas power and spice and gentle hints of pepper, it was clean, fresh and with hints of green tobacco and dried herbs, finishing a little earthy. A complete and attractive smoke. 89.

Rob: I am going to come right out and say it....I have never been a fan of the Partagas 898 Varnished. I don't like them...hell I have tried...I have looked forward to every one I have smoked only to be let down by the dirty spice charachters. Partagas as a rule does not ring my bell with honourable exceptions being the Lusitania, the Corona Cabs and now the Serie P No 2 Pirimide which I found to be exquisite. For the Partagas 898 Varnished...I can only give it an 87.

[Diselfitter]

Oh Man You guys are Killing me.... I guess I am the odd one out...I love the partagas 898 Varn...it has that nice cocoa, coffee, a little earthness and oh ya.. that spiceyness, not as much say in a PSD#4, but none less I find this cigar to be very enjoyable after days work, Of the 898 varn. I prefer the younger ones as they seem to have a bit more strength, I would say this cigar is a Medium -strong cigar, but as they age they mellow out considerably, not nesessarly a bad thing, but I feel a bit underwhelmed by the mellowness. I would give it a solid 93.......D

[froghair]

im with rob i like the 898 Var

[Ken Gargett]

went back to this - it was one brought home spare from the dinner (there are only so many cigars you can smoke in one evening). Reasonably mild but enough to it to say Partagas. Some spice, some thick dense smoke, a little earthy note, though not as much as noted previously. Perhaps the few months to settle has helped that. Had some att sweet creamy notes. Last time was a very fresh one in Havana but this a step up in that respect. Slightly hot finish. i had it rated at a similar level to before though perferred it to last time. not much in it.

[El Presidente]

went back to this - it was one brought home spare from the dinner

Spare my ass No doubt someone at the gala dinner still thinks Habanos sa are cheapskates.

Ken "Fingers" Gargett strikes again ;-)

[Ken Gargett]

if i recall, i had to bring it back as every spare pocket of yours had cigars up the whazoo. were you not collecting them for your 'alleged mate who had to leave early'?

and before the pot starts screamimg noir, who among us has not brought a spare bag into the factories to shovel newly mades in as fast as you could hand out the dollar bills (aside from me, that is). i remain the only sad bloke never to get a cheap stick out of the factories - embarassing.

[El Presidente]

Touche.... Fingers

[habanohal]

» Touche.... Fingers

Just bought a box of 10 and waiting till they settle to give them a try.

[dragon]

It's been my experience with the 8-9-8 var. that the newer production ones are far better than older stock from '99-'01. I recently had a DIC03 that I felt was excellent and not the least bit mild.

[shrink]

» It's been my experience with the 8-9-8 var. that the newer production ones

» are far better than older stock from '99-'01. I recently had a DIC03 that

» I felt was excellent and not the least bit mild.

Here, here! My MAR03 box is excellent now: classic Partagas flavors of sweet decaying wood, leather, and earth, with hints of cocoa, cinnamon and loads of spice. One of my favorite Party animals, but needs some real time to bring out the fullness and complexity that is inherent in this blend. If you haven't had a good 898V, you haven't had a Partagas. :-)

[tmos]

I like 898's like a Pig likes corn.

[El Presidente]

Partagas flavors of sweet decaying wood, leather, and earth, with hints of cocoa, cinnamon and loads of spice.

The best description I have read

[Spud2]

classic Partagas flavors of

» sweet decaying wood, leather, and earth, with hints of cocoa, cinnamon and

» loads of spice.

Can't imagine sweet decaying wood or any other form of decaying wood is something I run out to buy and smoke!

[shrink]

» classic Partagas flavors of

» » sweet decaying wood, leather, and earth, with hints of cocoa, cinnamon

» and

» » loads of spice.

»

» Can't imagine sweet decaying wood or any other form of decaying wood is

» something I run out to buy and smoke!

People wouldn't eat Spuds either if they heard that they were swollen tubers, tasteless when fresh, lumpy, misshapen and covered with dirt.

- eh, Spud?

[Elric]

898V is a great classic cigar. I love the Dalias as a rule and with the demise of the Privada and the RA 898 the Part 898 is at the top of the heap.