...my last Cab!

[PigFish]

Looking through the replies and likes... Thanks guys.

To some questions: What year are they...? Funny! I put the box back and was scrambling some boxes around to do some humidor testing. I am not quite sure where I put it.... -LOL I am pretty sure that they are '02 and am almost definite that they came from our friend/host. I seem to recall asking him if he had a box of these in 'blond' or we were discussing something and he mentioned something about having a light colored cab and I snapped them up immediately.

Ah yes, I remember the day that I could get a cab of Partagas londales from my friend in Oz.

Rob, it is a deal mate. If you (don't) bring Ken, I'll give you two... -LOL (Just a joke Ken...)

About how they smoke. You know anticipation right? Well, I am a regular smoker of the Diplomatico #1. I bought just about any box I could find early in the century. I therefore have a few. I have smoked thought a lot of them... When I smoke a lonsdale, I mainly smoke these.

Well just like many of you that get a new box of BigHillBillies and really can't wait to jump in, I have hoarded this cab for quite some time. When I lit it up, I was a tad disappointed. (Don't stop reading here!)

You see, I mainly smoke PC's today and a variety of sub-PC sized cigars. They more or less fit my taste for more robust cigars, and they suit the time frames that I wish to smoke. I easily smoke a PC or less sized cigar 8 to one over other sizes. They develop fast, or don't develop at all, and you get a great cigar from start to finish.

In that way, you (I mean me) get a little out of touch with how a proper, longer cigar can and should develop. That is what happened to me here. I don't know if I have smoked a lonsdale yet this year! I want to say that a coronas or a belicosos is likely the largest cigar that I have smoked so far, before this one.

So the story continues. The cigar opens very mild. There is a slightly sweat, creamy taste like milk off an oat cereal that has been sugared. That was nice of course, but no why I smoke cigars. The cigar simply developed from there to what was nothing short of fantastic. I did not light this cigar to review it, so beyond the initial 'slow' start, and the memorable experience of being able to note how a properly made cigar can and should develop and not freight-train though your palate, that is about all that I can describe about its flavor. Sorry...!

Now a note about honesty and about past cigars. Of course I love many of them and they cannot be replaced. No, I cannot just move to the 8-9-8. But here is what the collectors won't tell you my friends... Tabacuba is still making great cigars!

The story continues more! Would I love to never run out of these? Yes! Do I wish I had the numbers to send you all one or two? Yes! Experience is wonderful and it adds to the depth of your smoking wisdom. But here is the kicker. I have been smoking though a cab of '06 Bolivar PC's, that when judged individually, at least 3 or 4 have been cigars that I would rate as good as this one. As good, good as in smoking experience, not the same mind you, but excellent cigars.

So Piggy is outside of the box on many things, like turning threads from specific issues to philosophical concepts, my idea of smoking is very much in line with my philosophical mind. I am a philosophical smoker. My money is on getting the best cigar you can get your hands on that you can afford. I love these cigars, but if I were offered another cab, for what I could have likely sold this one for, I would pass. They are cigars!

I also enjoy the Partagas Seleccion Privada #1. No, not the recreated abomination, never had one, but the real thing. These are not those either. But for those of us left with only the 898, actually a second tier cigar when I rated against this and other dalias and cervantes in the past, they will do. There is nothing in the tobacco, the band or the box that will hold any cigar from being your best cigar, cheap, expensive, old or new and that is the philosophy under which I do and will continue to smoke cigars. I believe it to be true. If the 898 is to your liking, you are likely smoking every bit as good a cigars as these!

I don't have anymore older 898's. As I said, I had options for Partagas dalias and I chose different. But I do have a couple of the small 898 boxes form '06 I believe. It is not out of the question to torch one of those and say if I liked it as well. But, the truth be told, smoking one cigar for a one to one comparison is a silly practice and means very little in the whole world of cigars. Two cigars and one mans opinions about them; it does not add up to a hill of beans!

Happy smoking!

-Piggy

[Guest photorob]

Really enjoyed reading your thoughts. Thanks

[JamesNYC]

Great thread.

I find myself hoarding but in a slightly different way.

I'll open a box of cigars and smoke almost all of them if I really like them, and then saving 1-5 of them.

I'm the same way about a great whisky. If I really like the bottle, I save 2-5 pours.

The problem is that I run out of space to keep the bottles.

The problem is a little easier with cigars because space constraints are not a big problem when saving a few cigars. Keeping track of them can be an issue though!

I just took delivery of a 50 count Cab of Lusis, PUR Sept 15 from our host.

I'll put these down for a few years, dipping into them from time to time.

But for me, the point is to smoke them, so when they are ready, they will be smoked.

And if they are really good, then they will be smoked until I just have a few left, at which point they will be set aside for that special moment, or for that special mate, and then enjoyed again.

[Guest]

Enjoy the good times, Amigo

[TheMonk]

Beautiful!

[LGC]

Wise words there Ray! After outgrowing the checklist stage, I no longer seek fancy bands, shiny boxes, and "limited" production as a guarantee for a special cigar experience. History and age are fun to think about, but they no longer affect my impressions of a cigar, or my taste buds. Most of the cigars I own are now collectable, which were mostly purchased before being axed. I concentrated on smaller RGs solely due my preference towards certain vitolas, as well as budget constraints. It was actually 7 years before I owned a box of PSD4s. lol I can't honestly say that the $300 cigars I've smoked were not any more superior than many of the $5-$8 cigars I've aged or held onto. Bottom line... all I care about is whether or not the vitola and flavor profile suits my taste.

[eswary]

Boing!!!!!

All your articles and explanations are never dull, but refreshing and highly informative to read. What a treat.

Appreciate the time you put into it. Thanks Piggy!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PigFish]

Thanks for the kudos mates. Your servant, Piggy!

[Ralphanator]

Thanks for sharing Ray. If you smoke this cab at your normal rotation of cigars how long do you think this cab will last you?