Partagas Selección Privada Edición Limitada 2014
Box Code: ARG OCT 14
Pre Light:
Wrapper: Dark mottled wrapper
Feel: Solid hard to the touch
Aroma at cold: Slight barnyard/coffee scent at cold
Cut: Punch
Cold draw: quite tight, earthy flavour
Draw after lighting: a wee bit tight but good.
1st Third:
Medium body to start off.
Quite earthy, hints of dried mushrooms and hay. very subtle white pepper spice.
Some leather and a faint sweetness of corn syrup a bit more strength in white pepper spice into the last of the 1st third.
A pretty damn good first third to start off this cigar. reminds me of an old luisi.... interesting.
2nd third.
Slight increase in strength. Toasted sweet tobacco with a nice bit of white pepper spice, pleasant earthiness and leather. Very nice balance.
Last third
Was expecting this young cigar to get some bitterness and tannin's into the last third but this has not yet occurred.
It has however picked up in the spice department with a nice white/cracked black pepper blend now and the corn syrup sweetness is now more of a molasses flavour. Getting into the latter part of the final third now. Spice has picked up with some very faint tannins but not over powering nor unpleasant. Smoked it down to the nub.
Overall
This started off Medium and finished full bodied. The cigar remained smooth and well balanced with the right amount of spice, earthiness and faint sweetness. The distinctive earthy partagas flavour profile is very evident. Not quite the old pre-1995 one but definitely more robust than current partagas blends.
I am giving this cigar a 91. Very good potential for aging. I would say that in 3-5 years this cigar will hit its stride and unless I am wrong should get to a 94.
Box Worthy?.. Yes