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I’ve decided to write about this habano because it was an extremely pleasant surprise to me. I’m usually suspicious of maduros, as in my experience they tend to provide a smoke that doesn’t evolve much. I chose this factory as it’s been the source of my best 2019 Bolivars and Partagás (my two favourite brands). In fact, the best batches of Libertador also came from it – February 19. The Maduro nº 1 has a gorgeous oily wrapper. The smell of this baby is simply incredible. If I close my eyes, it reminds me of a 70% cocoa dark chocolate. I literally feel like almost giving it a bite. Cold draw brings leather and cocoa. First third This is a special Partagás. Right from the start there’s the brand’s strong taste, but it’s somewhat tamed (actually an upper medium) and is so sweet. It feels like I’m smoking a chocolate liqueur. The smoke is so thick and beautiful. There’s also a faint taste that I can’t pinpoint exactly. Somewhat caramel but not exactly, it reminds me of my grandma’s milk pudding. The retrohale has a slight pepper taste, typical Partagás goodness. The one unpleasant surprise is that this particular stick does not have a perfect burn line, unlike the other ones I’ve smoked. But not retouches were necessary. Honestly, it smokes so well that I have to pace myself not to smoke it too fast because it is delicious. Second Third The dark chocolate takes over. It’s significantly less sweet. I feel like I’m smoking a delicious dark chocolate bar. The smoke is just superb. I feel it’s oily wrapper come to life when touching my lips. The cigar is getting stronger. It feels like a meal. Last Third Wow, this is amazing. The pepper is back. It feels like I dipped a dark chocolate bar in a 30 year tawny porto. The flavours of the first two thirds all mix together, like in beautiful dance. Simply superb. No bitterness. I usually don’t like smoking much of the last third, as I find it lingers and makes wake up the next day with a weird taste in the mouth. Not with this one. I cannot waste any bits of it. Verdict A young cigar that smokes as a much older one. So deep and complex. Evolves over the smoke in a beautiful way. It deserves more attention than it’s currently getting. And hopefully an appearance in 24:24. 96/100 truly superb cigar, perfect for a late afternoon early evening smoke.

Partagas Maduro No 1 Date Smoked: August 9, 2015 Vitals: Dimensions: 52 * 5.1" Vitola: Robusto Pre-light observations. A bit of barnyard on the foot. Hints of pine. dare i say cherry? Something sweet and fruity. Construction is a bit squishy and somewhat under filled it seems. I punch the head, easy draw..maybe too easy. Reviewers Notes: My style of cigar reviewing is “open”. I try to jot down what I’m experiencing with every draw. When you see a “//” consider that a break in between puffs. What I leave out in fancy prose is made up with observation. Consider each segment a play by play. This style works for me. I hope you enjoy it. This min-review is a bit light in comparison to previous reviews. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. First Third cedary/fruity draw // smooth // easy draw..not a wind tunnel thankfully // kinda toffee flavour // lots of smoke // fairly monotone // some licorice on some finishes and fruitiness on others // fairly light but interesting // the cigar smells like coffee when I'm not puffing // bit of marshmallow now and then too // barely a ½ inch in and it gives out.? do a purge and relight // the cigar is loaded with ammonia..though I can't taste it on several purges..lots of flame! makes you wonder whats going on? aging a leaf to maduro stages should result in a very fermented and "clean" leaf no? // slight , bitter chocolate finish on a few draws // I feel like I'm smoking a PSD4 so far. Odd. Second Third A prevailing sweetness on a few finishes. // a bit of pine // bit of a concave burn // less ammonia now.// hints of black pepper on the tongue on most draws // light coffee ground flavours // lots of smoke ...impressive // some breadiness now // some pepper // cigar now smells a bit like BBQ, but no taste of it on the draws, // growing a bit bitter, acrid on some draws // cigar goes out again // toasty tobacco // hints of pine again // not much going on really, not horrible either but not something that makes me take notice // some hints of sweetness // the cigar does have a slow buildup of tobacco strength/nicotine, or its the ammonia that was present during the 1st half coming out? // pine again, Third Third toasty tobacco // pine // a bit of hickory // still lots of smoke & some mushroom // BBQ flavours emerge // very savoury flavours now // black pepper in the back of the throat as well // a swig of water // hickory again // nice sweet smell from the cigar // touch up needed // more toasty tobacco // good rich tobacco taste // hints of coffee as well // very strong draw! like coffee grounds and pepper // back to more pine // a slight beany flavour appears // some dark chocolate on a few draws FIN FINAL THOUGHTS Grabbed this from the local LCDH. A wallet gouging $41 CAD. Such is the price of early adoption I guess? It is an attractive cigar for sure. From a flavour perspective, I'd say this is a somewhat predictable mix of a PSD4 and Genios. More Partagas than Cohiba though. The final third did give way to that trademark Cohiba Maduro 5 "chocolatiness". The amount of ammonia on the purges was a bit unsettling. I suspect these are still fresh. No indication as to whether or not they're made to the same standard as the Maduro 5 series. Given the lack of nomenclature, perhaps not? Overall it was an enjoyable cigar. I'd smoke one again. Maybe not so soon. It looks like they might need to settle down a bit. I'd like to hear what others think once they get their hands on these. For being a decent cigar and somewhat besting my expectations I'll give this a decent score of 90. Thanks for reading.