Partagas everyday-cigar comparison

[dB69]

I have thought for a long time about which one of the Partagas cheap cigars could be my chosen one as an everyday cigar. Formerly I have smoked many MFs, PCEs and SPs, but I have always been interested to check every possible choice and now I have finally managed to buy a box of each as the last box arrived yesterday.

So, the objective of this comparison is to find out which one of the cigars is my favourite and which ones to buy in the future.

I will smoke two of each in a relatively short period of time and will judge them as I am used to judge cigars overall. The age of the available cigars varies, the oldest is from 2006 and the newest from 2010, so there will be differencies between them because of the age. Anyhow, I try to be as objective as my skills allow me to and will try to count out the possible benefits of aging and the negatives of youth in the final judgement. I will also write a very short review of each smoking session. Drink will be Coke with every cigar and some toasted and salted peanuts always before and sometimes during smoking. It helps to balance my mouth and that's my way to go usually. The reviewed cigars will be stored in a same box within 70RH 19C.

Attendees in alphabetical order with box code and size:

Aristocrats PTS DIC06, 40x129

Habaneros ROU MAY10, 39x125

Mille Fleurs LRE ENE09, 42x129

Petit Coronas Especiales TEB AGO08, 42x132

Princess TEB ABR08, 35x127

Super Partagas GLP ABR09, 40x140

And some photos, of course...

Box ends:

Box codes:

Cigars in alphabetical order from left to right:

The smoking order will be: P1 - MF1 - SP1 - H1 - A1 - PCE1 - a little break - PCE2 - A2 - H2 - SP2 - MF2 - P2

I have learned something (really?) and will use the "standard" style to describe flavour (nose), body (mouth) and strength (nicotine). Please also note that I am a quite slow smoker, so the burning time may be much less with many people, I assume.

Now, let's go smoking!

Princess on Saturday 19 March.

Quite soft construction causing the draw to be a little bit too easy.

Typical nutty and peppery Partagas tobacco taste. A hint of toffee. Turns to very peppery. Some marzipan. Smoked bacon with pepper. Some cream. Hints of fruity sweetness a couple of times. Very strong tobacco in the end.

Very good cigar - fingers burnt. Quite complex cigar. The only negative thing was the open draw. I like these thin gauge cigars. Burning time 1:00.

Could be somehow compared to SdC -line.

Flavour 4/5, Body 3/5, Strength 4/5.

The former Princess I smoked was a way milder than this.

Mille Fleur on Sunday 20 March

Firm construction and draw, very good.

Tasty and rich nutty tobacco - quite mild though. Mild ginger. The taste has got a warm spirit. Mild sweet cream. Mild white pepper. Some herbal moments. Dark toasted tobacco. Coffee. Burnt wood. A small amount of dark cocoa. Pepper gets strong towards the end.

Good cigar, but not too complex. Started mild and got strong towards the end. Burning time 1:20.

The first half just like D4, the second half close to 898.

Flavour from 2/5 to 3/5, Body from 2/5 to 4/5, Strength 3/5.

This was an average Mille Fleur of my smoked ones.

Super Partagas on Monday 21 March

Firm construction. Very tight draw, but not impossible. Cold draw has remarkable amount of pepper.

Salty tobacco. Slightly nutty mild Partagas-flavour. Mild pepper wakes up slowly. Toasted whole meal bread. Dry toasted tobacco and white pepper. Nothing much happens in a long time. Sweet molasses-like smell in the room. Pepper strengthens a little. Hint of ginger. Light soil with pepper. Hint of cedar.

Not complex cigar at all. Quite mild. Burning time 1:20.

I cannot compare this to any Partagas "quality" cigar. (If must say something, the closest could be Bolivar Coronas Gigantes, but that's quite far away.)

Flavour from 2/5 to 3/5, Body 2/5, Strength 2/5.

This was one of the worst Super Partagas that I have smoked.

Habanero on Tuesday 22 March

Firm construction. Firm draw, very good. Some ginger and cocoa in cold draw.

Pepper and toasted tobacco. Dark flavoured. Very spicy. Coffee. Nuts come up slightly. A lots of white pepper. Somehow different Partagas. Cocoa. Dry sandy earth. Saltiness wakes up. Toasted and salty tobacco with some moments with coffee and light cream until the end. There was also some nice bright and sweet flavour in the end, but it was covered by the youth so I couldn't associate it.

Medium complex cigar. I liked this a lot and burnt my fingers. Powerful and "hearty" cigar. I could complain about the youth, but it was my own decision. Burning time 1:15.

I would say this is somehow close to Shorts.

Flavour 4/5, Body 4/5, Strength 4/5.

I have no earlier experiences of Habanero, this was my first one ever.

Aristocrat on Wednesday 23 March

Firm construction and draw, very good. Cold draw gives me a hint of brie cheese.

Very nice mellow start! Basic Partagas. Nutty tobacco. Very soft taste. Forest ground. Cheese-like flavour. Mild pepper sneaks in. Round toasted tobacco for a long time. Hints of cedar. Some coffee. Some cream. And coffee again. Nuts, coffee and cream keep playing each in turn in my mouth. Fresh wood, sawed pine. Tar. Heather.

Very nice cigar and quite complex. Four years have mellowed the flavours, but more time wouldn't be a bad thing I suppose. Burning time 1:15.

This reminds me just a little bit of Lonsdales.

Flavour 3/5, Body 3/5, Strength 3/5.

This was the best Aristocrat I have ever smoked.

Petit Coronas Especiale on Thursday 24 March

Firm construction, on the middle a little softer spot though. Medium draw.

Nuts, ginger and toasted tobacco, nice. The ginger is quite strong. Basic Partagas. The toastiness of the tobacco increases gradually. Pepper slides in and fades away after a while. Some mild cellar. Some mild toffee. Pepper comes in addition to the toasted tobacco and vanishes again. A lots of sweet cocoa - wow! The last third is quite dull, nothing much happens. Salty tobacco with a few mild hints of cocoa. In the very end some smoked wood.

Very good cigar, but overall not very complex. Burning time 1:15.

This could be somehow close to Lusitanias.

Flavour 3/5, Body 3/5, Strength 4/5.

This was an average PCE of my smoked ones.

First round ranking, ladies first when splitting:

1. Princess

1. Habaneros (+ some age compensation)

3. Aristocrats (- some age compensation)

4. Petit Coronas Especiales

5. Mille Fleurs

6. Super Partagas

It's difficult to rank these, but the four best are clearly my favourites out of this first round.

Now I will rest a little and smoke something else, but will definitely return after a while...

BREAK

On the second round I will not concentrate to examine the flavours so deeply, if I may say so, that I did on the first round. In another words, I just smoke the cigars.

Petit Coronas Especiale on Wednesday 30 March

Tight construction and draw.

1/3 Strong pepper and some nuts.

2/3 Strong pepper and tobacco. Hints of toffee.

3/3 Pepper and coffee. Some salty tar.

Not complex anyhow. Burning time 1:20. I felt almost bored, could be a wrong day to smoke a cigar though.

Flavour 4/5, Body 3/5, Strength 4/5.

Aristocrat on Friday 1 April

Tight construction and very tight draw.

1/3 Lightly smoked nutty tobacco and mild pepper.

2/3 Creamy toasted tobacco with pepper. A mango flavoured spot in the middle!

3/3 Toasted tobacco with some coffee.

Not very complex. Burning time 1:10. This was a nice and enjoyable cigar.

Flavour 3/5, Body 3/5, Strength 2/5.

Habanero on Saturday 2 April

Soft construction. Open draw.

1/3 Toasted nutty tobacco. Pepper.

2/3 Tobacco and mild pepper. Some toffee.

3/3 Tobacco, coffee and cream.

Not very complex. Burning time 0:55. Nothing special, just an everyday cigar.

Flavour 2/5 to 3/5, Body 2/5 to 3/5, Strength 3/5.

Super Partagas on Sunday 3 April

Tight construction. Very good tight draw.

1/3 Nutty tobacco. Earth.

2/3 Toasted tobacco. Brown spiciness. Sweet cream and cocoa.

3/3 Coffee-like tobacco. Some saltiness. A hint of orange. Cream. Burnt wood. Many different delicious flavours in the end.

The cigar grew from simple to very complex towards the end. Burning time 1:40. Wonderful cigar, WOW!

Flavour 3/5, Body 3/5, Strength 3/5.

Mille Fleur on Monday 4 April

Spongy construction. Medium draw.

1/3 Lightly spicy tobacco. Mild ginger and white pepper.

2/3 The same. Nothing much happens.

3/3 Slightly creamy tobacco and white pepper. Some toffee sweetness and cedar. Ends to burnt wood, salt and tar.

Not complex anyhow. Burning time 1:05. Nothing special.

Flavour 2/5 to 3/5, Body 2/5 to 3/5, Strength 3/5.

Princess on Tuesday 5 April

Spongy construction. Quite tight draw.

1/3 Toasted and nutty tobacco with a sound of fresh leaves of birch. Some ginger.

2/3 Mild white pepper with toasted tobacco.

3/3 Spiciness. Salty and toasted tobacco coated with toffee. Cream and cocoa.

Medium complex cigar. Burning time 1:00. A very good cigar.

Flavour 3/5, Body 3/5, Strength 3/5.

2nd round ranking:

1. Super Partagas

2. Princess

2. Aristocrats (- some age compensation)

2. Habaneros (+ some age compensation)

5. Petit Coronas Especiale

6. Mille Fleurs

Conclusions:

I decided today not to even try to write any objective conclusions, because it occasionally seems to disturb some persons and I don't want to cause any disturbance to anybody. I am terribly sorry if I do.

So, the goal of this experiment was to help myself to decide which cigars I am going to buy in the future.

All of the smoked cigars are good choices for an everyday-cigar, but I will choose Princess and Super Partagas. Aristocrats and Habaneros were also quite close to my personal favourites. Time may change my opinion, but at the moment I think I will not buy Petit Coronas Especiales or Mille Fleurs anymore.

I have noticed before, that I have started to like thinner and thinner cigars more and more. This experiment clearly supports that direction.

Are these really everyday-cigars? Well - no, I don't think so. I would rather categorize these as workday evening cigars.

They are not even close to bad, but I am still very happy that I don't have to smoke these every day and also that I may smoke something else next! Working in a cigar factory as a testsmoker wouldn't be a top-job. It's not fun not to be able to choose a cigar for your current feeling.

PLEASE NOTE:

This whole post is just and only my own opinion, which I decided to share with you. It is definitely not any "holy truth" or nothing like it. I am very novice with cigars and have smoked very few stogies in my life, so more experienced persons are able to give much more trustable recommendations. So, don't make any decision to buy these same cigars based only to this particular post, please. I will not be responsible if you make a false decision. After all, I must say that there is one thing that I am pretty sure myself: If you do like D4s, then Mille Fleurs is your choice for a cheap cigar (IMO). Please don't kill me if you don't agree!

Gentlemen, sorry about my bad English.

Photos of the winners:

Princess:

Super Partagas:

[CanuckSARTech]

I've always enjoyed the Mille Fleurs of these listed Partagas cigars. The Mille Fleurs in both Party and R&J have always been relatively nice I've found, performance-for-the-dollar-value.

I'm interested to see how you approach this. Sounds like an interesting tasting "experiment". Be sure to update us with reviews and pictures. Sounds like a great little project to "taste" your way through.

Cheers and good luck.

[CBL]

Love this initiative! Been looking for a cheap cigar and Partagas is one of my favorite brands, but with so many choices it's hard to decide which one would make the cut. Online it's been hard to figure out which one I would prefer. I tried the Aristocrat most people recommend but didn't like it that much, so hopefully your experiment will give me some idea of what to choose.

Great idea!

[mazolaman]

Always a fan of the Millefleur myself.

Great choice of good value smokes in the Partagas line.

Great idea,and looking forward to the updates.

[frenchkiwi]

nice project... happy puffing!

my random thought is that with these cheaper cigars, the variability in terms of quality of tobacco seems to be greater. so the cuban lottery is even harder to win. anecdotally speaking i've had some tasty princess and PCEs but only when very young.

[thechenman]

This is a great experiment. Good luck with it. I've smoked half of these Partagas vitolas. As far as these C&Cs go...my favorite turned out to be the Super Partagas followed by the Mille Fleurs and then the Habanero. I haven't had the opportunity to try the Corona Especial, Aristocrats and Princess. Look forward to reading your reviews of these.

[stargazer14]

dB, this is also a post I will keep an eye on - I do love the larger Partagas but have had none of these little guys.

Keep up the good work!

[ksblazer]

I look forward to seeing how this works out as well. I've only tried the Mille Fluers, Super Partagas & the PCE's.

I've been thinking about trying some of the others that you have, but just haven't got around to purchasing them. Glad you did and are willing to review them for us.

[dB69]

Thanks for supporting the hard work!

I just added some half-time results to the original post.

[thechenman]

I guess it should not be surprising, but your bottom two Partagas C&Cs are actually my two favorite Partagas C&CS...go figure.

[LeafLover]

Love the Princess both PCE's but prefer the Princess as it is thinner and I feel have more flavor. Haven't tried the rest. Wish I knew where to find those Princesses again. Smoked through 3 boxes last year and now they're all gone. boohoo.

[dicko]

Thanks for this review!! Lots of work but I bet you enjoyed it

[Holysmokes]

This is a very interesting taste experiment. Can't wait for the rest of the results.

Keep on smokin

[dB69]

Added the final results. Have fun!

[BlackIrish]

Great post! I've really enjoyed the Super Partagas (my current box is TEB NOV 08) -- the quality/value ratio is outstanding.

[cigarroverzulu]

Enjoyed the post! Great photos...

[thechenman]

Glad to see we agree on the Super Partagas being the best of the group you sampled.

[coneatty]

Thanks for the post dB69. Incredibly interesting.

[anacostiakat]

Somehow lost track of this thread.

I am happy to see that others enjoy the Super Partagas.

It is, and has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I must try the Princess as I have not.

Thanks for the effort!

[Guest montrealron]

Brilliant post!

It is most telling that the cigar rated last in round one came first in round two.

There is certainly considerable variation at this level, even within the same box.

Smokers will prefer one over the other based on personal preference of their flavour profiles

and ring gague, rather than questions of quality, since all share a basically similar level of quality.

Except for the Princess, I currently have open boxes of all the rest,

including three of the Mille Fleurs - 05', 06, and 09 - and all are distinctive.

Each has something a little different to offer, and has a place in my rotation.

To Magste's question, I have noticed the same thing.

Even in Cuba's largest outlets, it is hard to find more than one or two of these at any time.

I have never even seen a box of the Princess.

Perhaps, as you suggest, retailers consider them as all the same, so only carry one or two;

maybe their distributors receive batches of one or two only from Havana at any given time.

[dB69]

It is most telling that the cigar rated last in round one came first in round two.

There is certainly considerable variation at this level, even within the same box.

Smokers will prefer one over the other based on personal preference of their flavour profiles

and ring gague, rather than questions of quality, since all share a basically similar level of quality.

Except for the Princess, I currently have open boxes of all the rest,

including three of the Mille Fleurs - 05', 06, and 09 - and all are distinctive.

Each has something a little different to offer, and has a place in my rotation.

That is so true.

I've noticed (or have had such a luck) that MF-06s are the best of MFs. I like other 06s though.

To Magste's question, I have noticed the same thing.

Even in Cuba's largest outlets, it is hard to find more than one or two of these at any time.

I have never even seen a box of the Princess.

Perhaps, as you suggest, retailers consider them as all the same, so only carry one or two;

maybe their distributors receive batches of one or two only from Havana at any given time.

In quite many places yes, but there are some retailers that have everything on stock.

[frenchkiwi]

Just had a partagas princess the other night, one of two remaining from an 08 box, and it surprised me by being twice as flavourful as the first one i smoked2-3 years ago.

Just nice, strong, partagas flavour that i never expected would develop in these lil'uns.

I should've aged them all ... (how many times have you heard that one lol).

[amosnaim]

great post. really enjoyed reading. thanks

[Ginseng]

Wonderful work! Thank you so much for doing this. And I hope you don't worry so much about sharing your thoughts and feelings on cigars, whatever they might be. I, for one, benefit from knowing how my fellow cigarists regard these objects of our admiration and fixation.

Wilkey

[j0z3r]

Fantastic write-up. And if english is not your first language, you definitely fooled me, it is pretty good, no need to apologize for it.

Thanks for your efforts, I've been looking at some of the smaller Partagas offerings lately and will have 2 boxes of Super Partagas coming soon. Seems it reviewed well, so I will be looking forward to trying that vitola.

Joe