YFRS: Partagas Serie De Connoisseur No 3 POS FEB 07

[CIGARHead]

Nice Rob!

How would these compare to the Connoisseur No 1? The No 1 is the only of the du Connoisseur that I have tried. Actually have about 20 left in a box I got from you awhile ago and I am trying to age them as they are like smoking a chocolate bar and I have very high hopes they will be stellar a few yrs from now. They arent very strong though...earthy, but not strong.

[El Presidente]

» Nice Rob!

» How would these compare to the Connoisseur No 1? The No 1 is the only of

» the du Connoisseur that I have tried. Actually have about 20 left in a box

» I got from you awhile ago and I am trying to age them as they are like

» smoking a chocolate bar and I have very high hopes they will be stellar a

» few yrs from now. They arent very strong though...earthy, but not strong.

I find the three Connie's have a similar profile yet the Connie 3 is stronger than the rest. In my experience theyall become chocolate sticks at 5 years but they loose a little of their strength.

I prefer them fresh or 5 -8 years. I tend to miss their strenth in older examples but that is a personal preference.

[Colt45]

I almost grabbed one of these today - but I'm trying to leave them alone :-)

[shrink]

» How would these compare to the Connoisseur No 1?

I agree with Rob that the profiles of the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are very similar. I imagine that they are rolled with the same tobaccos.

The difference is in how the cigars develop, over the course of their length. Rob might say that the No. 1 offers a longer, and more interesting "journey". I would say that the greater length offers the No. 1 the opportunity to start a bit 'softer' in profile, and demonstrate a greater degree of evolution and complexity over it's hour to hour and a half. Both cigars offer a comparable spicy, peppery finale.

For me, it's simply a matter of how much time I have for a smoke. I stock and enjoy all three of the Series.

[pnutbutrsangwich]

Thank you for the review, Rob.

Can you comment about how these compare with the old Charlottes? I have some 98s that are stellar and these appear to be nearly the same size.

[El Presidente]

YFRS is short for : "YOUR FAVOURITES REVIEW SERIES"

Over the next few weeks as we all enjoy the Christmas season we will generally be pulling out our favourite go to cigars. I would like each of you to post a review of the cigars that you reach for. The reviews need not be complicated but it will help form a body of work as to what members are enjoying. Just preface the title with YFRS.

Let me kick off:

Partagas Serie De Connoisseur No 3 POS FEB 07

It should be illegal for such a small cigar to deliver any one person so much pleasure over so many years. Consistently great, it showcases a perfect mix of power and complexity. I have plenty of cigars which I would classify as acquaintences (I visit out of necessity) others which I call friends (I enjoy their company) and a select group that I would refer to as mates.....we are soul brothers. Connie 3 is a mate of mine.

This example chosen from an open box looked a little like myself....battered round the edges...patchwork wrinkles showing on the surface. It wasn't really constructed that well....no hard spots but a few soft ones.

Aroma at cold is old chair leather and a touch of cajun spice. Slightly oily to the touch. Clipped the cap and the draw was slightly firm. Perfect. Just dank tobacco on the lips.

Fired up Connie and it is like coming home. Medium full bodied and rich in chewy Vuelta Abajo tobacco. It has a controlled confident strength which it retains throughout the cigar. The first flew draws through the nose produce that loveable white pepper spice. On the palate it is dark coffee, charred wood and smoked paprika spice. The weight on the palate is substantial, the aroma dark and brooding.

Some bitter chocolate notes play with you in the second third and they combine well with the charred wood and now disappearing paprika. There is almost a stewed morello cherry note there in the mix and I think that this will be its future direction. Truly satisfying.

Sweeter elements now giving way to woodier and pepper notes. Still some black unsweetened coffee. Full bodied cigar with a swagger. Just so bloody good that you want to put boxes and boxes away. I always do.....only to smoke the same boxes and boxes before they have three years of age.

Connie 3 finishes perfectly with a complete absence of bitterness. A faultless performance.

90/100 and that is marking it down on construction.