Partagas Serie D No. 1 LE 2004 (GKI NOV04)

[shrink]

"Starry Starry Night"

Winter has come to the High Sierra. Billowing storm clouds surged over the mountains today, dusting the peaks with white. Down in the valley, a light rain pattered on sandy soil. I decided to take my Samoyed Taj for a walk. As we wandered down the trail, the clouds parted and a big, beautiful rainbow arched over the valley to the East.

Up here at 6,000 feet, cold nights make for clear skies and brilliant stars. This was going to be a good night for the hot tub, I thought. And a great night to celebrate by cracking my box of Partagas EL’s on the occasion of their first birthday. Although I had sampled a couple in 2004 before investing in a box, those were young, with muted flavors and a somewhat bitter finish. But that was almost a year ago, and tonight I was filled with curiosity and anticipation.

With a 50 ring size, and at nearly seven inches long, the big Partagas is a bold and impressive cigar. The wrapper is a rustic, dark reddish brown, deeply veined and rough to the touch. It exuded aromas of barnyard, spice and wood, with a strong and distinct dark cocoa scent. It was so enticing that I passed it under my nose again and again, inhaling deeply. As compelling and mouth-watering as they come.

Act One: I slipped naked into the steaming, bubbling water, and ignited my Super Robusto. The initial onslaught was almost too intense, with strong flavors of charred wood and spice, followed by coarse ground black and fine red pepper. This spicy mélange was layered with a deep but satisfying cocoa-like bitterness. The profile was recognizably Partagas, but stronger and more spicy than usual. The cigar had gotten my attention; I pressed on. The night was cold, but the water was hot and relaxing.

Act Two: My cigar burned evenly, but slowly, and the draw was perfectly firm. The ash cone glowed red when held up against the moonless sky. To my relief, the hot pepper and spice began to cool, and underlying wood and chocolate flavors began to predominate. Soon, it evolved into a strong bittersweet, tangy quality very reminiscent of an aged Monte No. 2. Hmmm… delicious, but not like a Partagas at all. What a sky! The sparkling stars of the Milky Way swept from horizon to horizon. Occasional shooting stars punctuated the darkness and kept my eyes oriented towards the belt of Orion in the southern sky.

Act Three: This cigar is superbly constructed, I thought. And the smoke was thick and creamy. Still, the flavor metamorphosis continued, becoming less spicy and developing a sharp twang which began to overbalance the wood and spice. It had a strong citrus quality, which made my mouth water and left me thinking of a young Series du Connaisseur. Young, but very promising and complex. Another meteor streaked across the sky.

Act Four: The master blender saved the best for last. Instead of the strong and peppery finish that I expected from such a young Partagas, the last quarter was exceptionally rich and smooth. I could easily have been smoking a Cohiba robusto. In fact, it was quite similar in flavor to some aged Lanceros I have been enjoying recently, revealing notes of vanilla, cedar, and flavorful cooking spices. There was also white pepper and a subtle semi-sweet fruitiness, like unripe honeydew or kiwi fruit. At last, the Partagas was in balance, and as a final flourish, it provided its own dessert. A sumptuous finale!

The big cigar provided two hours of intrigue and satisfaction, but left me somewhat confused. Remember the story of the four blind men and the elephant? Each touched a different part of the animal, and each came to a different conclusion. One compared it to a snake, another likened it to a tree, still another said it was flat like a wall, and the fourth insisted it was just like a rope.

Trying to integrate my experience and the elements of this cigar into one review is beyond me. Did Vincent Van Gogh smoke cigars? I don’t know, but he should have smoked one of these. It might have inspired him to create a vision of intensity and color, at once beautiful and unbalanced. Like Van Gogh, this amazing cigar is destined for madness, or greatness, or both.

[Ginseng]

I hope you don't think my response trivializes your experience and account...but wow!

Wilkey

[Bill Hayes]

Great review. Summed it up perfectly. I tried one recently, also in a tub, watching the AFL Football Grandfinal. But I was a little drunk so I reserved my judgment. I'm glad someone else had a great experience with these at 1 year old. Can't wait for them to be 2 years old.

[Phailure]

Nice review as always shrink. You are one lucky man for having a hot tub. Its getting rather cold here so the amount of smoking is decreasing. Now if only I had a hot tub...

[El Presidente]

Great review

I am off to buy a Hot Tub now :-D

[Freefallguy]

Quite the picture you paint there Shrink AND quite the review as well...

Put the D No. 1 LE on my wish list!

[strayvector]

» Great review

»

» I am off to buy a Hot Tub now :-D

Are you talking about the bath house opposite the shop?

BTW, great review. This is my favorite LE.

[dysfunctional]

The D1 EL are smoking great now

had one the other day and one last night

pity I only have 1 more as I bought loose sticks when I was in HK

[android]

» "Starry Starry Night"

»

» Winter has come to the High Sierra. Billowing storm clouds surged over the

» mountains today, dusting the peaks with white. Down in the valley, a light

» rain pattered on sandy soil. I decided to take my Samoyed Taj for a walk.

» As we wandered down the trail, the clouds parted and a big, beautiful

» rainbow arched over the valley to the East.

»

» Up here at 6,000 feet, cold nights make for clear skies and brilliant

» stars. This was going to be a good night for the hot tub, I thought. And a

» great night to celebrate by cracking my box of Partagas EL’s on the

» occasion of their first birthday. Although I had sampled a couple in 2004

» before investing in a box, those were young, with muted flavors and a

» somewhat bitter finish. But that was almost a year ago, and tonight I was

» filled with curiosity and anticipation.

»

» With a 50 ring size, and at nearly seven inches long, the big Partagas is

» a bold and impressive cigar. The wrapper is a rustic, dark reddish brown,

» deeply veined and rough to the touch. It exuded aromas of barnyard, spice

» and wood, with a strong and distinct dark cocoa scent. It was so enticing

» that I passed it under my nose again and again, inhaling deeply. As

» compelling and mouth-watering as they come.

»

» Act One: I slipped naked into the steaming, bubbling water, and ignited my

» Super Robusto. The initial onslaught was almost too intense, with strong

» flavors of charred wood and spice, followed by coarse ground black and

» fine red pepper. This spicy mélange was layered with a deep but satisfying

» cocoa-like bitterness. The profile was recognizably Partagas, but stronger

» and more spicy than usual. The cigar had gotten my attention; I pressed

» on. The night was cold, but the water was hot and relaxing.

»

» Act Two: My cigar burned evenly, but slowly, and the draw was perfectly

» firm. The ash cone glowed red when held up against the moonless sky. To my

» relief, the hot pepper and spice began to cool, and underlying wood and

» chocolate flavors began to predominate. Soon, it evolved into a strong

» bittersweet, tangy quality very reminiscent of an aged Monte No. 2. Hmmm…

» delicious, but not like a Partagas at all. What a sky! The sparkling stars

» of the Milky Way swept from horizon to horizon. Occasional shooting stars

» punctuated the darkness and kept my eyes oriented towards the belt of

» Orion in the southern sky.

»

» Act Three: This cigar is superbly constructed, I thought. And the smoke

» was thick and creamy. Still, the flavor metamorphosis continued, becoming

» less spicy and developing a sharp twang which began to overbalance the

» wood and spice. It had a strong citrus quality, which made my mouth water

» and left me thinking of a young Series du Connaisseur. Young, but very

» promising and complex. Another meteor streaked across the sky.

»

» Act Four: The master blender saved the best for last. Instead of the

» strong and peppery finish that I expected from such a young Partagas, the

» last quarter was exceptionally rich and smooth. I could easily have been

» smoking a Cohiba robusto. In fact, it was quite similar in flavor to some

» aged Lanceros I have been enjoying recently, revealing notes of vanilla,

» cedar, and flavorful cooking spices. There was also white pepper and a

» subtle semi-sweet fruitiness, like unripe honeydew or kiwi fruit. At last,

» the Partagas was in balance, and as a final flourish, it provided its own

» dessert. A sumptuous finale!

»

» The big cigar provided two hours of intrigue and satisfaction, but left me

» somewhat confused. Remember the story of the four blind men and the

» elephant? Each touched a different part of the animal, and each came to a

» different conclusion. One compared it to a snake, another likened it to a

» tree, still another said it was flat like a wall, and the fourth insisted

» it was just like a rope.

»

» Trying to integrate my experience and the elements of this cigar into one

» review is beyond me. Did Vincent Van Gogh smoke cigars? I don’t know, but

» he should have smoked one of these. It might have inspired him to create a

» vision of intensity and color, at once beautiful and unbalanced. Like Van

» Gogh, this amazing cigar is destined for madness, or greatness, or both.

Hey Shrink....came across this older review or yours---very nice my friend. I have a friend with a box of these (GKI NOV04) and I had a quick question regarding the Limitada bands on these cigars. Is the lettering on EL bands supossed to be embossed or does it just appear to be because of the shadowing of the letters? His box of Partagas D 1 04 have neither....just was curious what yours look like. Thanks in advance for the info.

Andy

[Guest rob]

» Is the lettering on EL bands supossed to be embossed...?

Yes.

Absolutely.

Definitely.

[shrink]

» Hey Shrink....came across this older review or yours---very nice my

» friend.

» Andy

You know, I haven't had one of these since trying one example in 2005. I was thinking of pulling one out, and I guess I'll have to do that.

Just opened the box, and gave the remaining 24 sleeping beauties a sniff. Pure heaven. Lots of dusty cocoa and well-fermented compost on the nose. I'll have to post a review.

[android]

» » Is the lettering on EL bands supossed to be embossed...?

»

» Yes.

» Absolutely.

» Definitely.

Thanks Rob....I've been trying to tell my friend this....I have many boxes of EL and all are embossed. Once againg thanks for the confirmation. Have a great weekend.

[android]

» » Hey Shrink....came across this older review or yours---very nice my

» » friend.

» » Andy

»

» You know, I haven't had one of these since trying one example in 2005. I

» was thinking of pulling one out, and I guess I'll have to do that.

»

» Just opened the box, and gave the remaining 24 sleeping beauties a sniff.

» Pure heaven. Lots of dusty cocoa and well-fermented compost on the nose.

» I'll have to post a review.

Nice...I'm so jelous of those man....let me know what you find on your EL bands!

[Guest rob]

» » » Is the lettering on EL bands supossed to be embossed...?

» »

» » Yes.

» » Absolutely.

» » Definitely.

»

» Thanks Rob....I've been trying to tell my friend this....I have many boxes

» of EL and all are embossed. Once againg thanks for the confirmation. Have

» a great weekend.

There are exceptions though.... the original 2000 releases are all non-embossed and only say "edicion limitada" (there is no year identifier)

Then as of 2007, the bands, especially the year identifier are only lightly embossed... and are not as pronounced.

On the subject of the Series D No1's... I recently acquired a box and have to agree they are amazing. One of the sweetest smelling bouquets I have had the pleasure of smelling.

[bassman]

The Partagas D1 AND the D2 seem to be the forgotten ELs. Rarely discussed on any cigar boards. I like them a lot.

[android]

» » » » Is the lettering on EL bands supossed to be embossed...?

» » »

» » » Yes.

» » » Absolutely.

» » » Definitely.

» »

» » Thanks Rob....I've been trying to tell my friend this....I have many

» boxes

» » of EL and all are embossed. Once againg thanks for the confirmation.

» Have

» » a great weekend.

»

» There are exceptions though.... the original 2000 releases are all

» non-embossed and only say "edicion limitada" (there is no year

» identifier)

» Then as of 2007, the bands, especially the year identifier are only

» lightly embossed... and are not as pronounced.

»

» On the subject of the Series D No1's... I recently acquired a box and have

» to agree they are amazing. One of the sweetest smelling bouquets I have had

» the pleasure of smelling.

I do remember that now....just found a box of RyJ Exhibicion No. 2 EL 2000 and they are non-embossed. Enjoy those Series D1's from 04.

[android]

» The Partagas D1 AND the D2 seem to be the forgotten ELs. Rarely discussed

» on any cigar boards. I like them a lot.

They are very nice....sounds like Shrink has been inspired to smoke one and and provide a review.

[brian1]

I have said it before but IMHO Partagas make the best EL cigars accross the board. Something about the strong partagas leathery blend with the EL wrapper just works wonderfully.

Piramides,PSD 1, 2, 3 they are all superb and age beautifully.

» » The Partagas D1 AND the D2 seem to be the forgotten ELs. Rarely

» discussed

» » on any cigar boards. I like them a lot.

»

» They are very nice....sounds like Shrink has been inspired to smoke one

» and and provide a review.

[joeypots]

I am glad I held off on smoking my Partagas ELs. I smoked a PSD #3 EL last week and was stunned at how good it was. Many people liked them young and punchy, not me. I would call what I loved about this 6 year old cigar "smooth power". The Monte DC ELs are'nt bad either.