Partagas Festival Cigars

[Corylax18]

I hadn't touched most of the cigars I picked up last November in Havana. I have been travelling quite a bit for work the last 8 months, and winter doesn't typically lend to outdoor smoking here in Colorado. 

I finally had time tonight and decided to light up something special. My choice was a massive cigar I received at the Encuentro de Partagas opening dinner. I believe it was a Rodolpho, or something close. The foot got a little beat up on the trip back. (or maybe that night at Up&Down club, its impossible to say for sure)

Despite losing the closed foot at some point this cigar was AMAZING. Absolutely delicious, nuts in the main, some salty BO funk (maybe driftwood to some), mushrooms, other flavors I couldn't identify. Perfect burn and draw from tip to tail, zero touchups required in almost 8 inches of cigar is an accomplishment to me. I did not want it to end. Truly a special cigar, fortunately I have one more stashed away along with a couple presidentes.(or something close) I paired it with a Blood Orange Soda, Perrier, and at the end a Single Hopped Saison from Funkwerks brewery in Fort Collins. With their vastly differing flavors/sweetness they all highlighted different flavors in the cigar.

Now to my questions: Of the two dozen or so FOH members that were there, who has smoked one of these? I know that La Chine used to roll every single special cigar they handed out at the partagas events.(she handed these cigars to me herself) I have heard that she has been travelling quite a bit the last couple years and rolling less due to some arthritis or hand discomfort. I have never smoked any of here customs before, but for any of the members who have smoked both, do you notice similarities? If they are similar to these cigars at all, I will be loading up on my next trip. 

[madandana]

I don't think I got one of those. All though, after a bottle of Mastros and more at the Up and Down Club..........Who know what may have happened?????????????????

[bugman78629]

Haven't had a chance to enjoy mine..... But I will this coming-up weekend, I'll let ya know 

 

 

[El Presidente]

Can't help Cory. Jose and I gave our tickets to Keith and Mick. 

From previous Partagas dinners, I thought her cigars were the best of the trip. 

[Habana Mike]

Yep, that was one of Leopoldina's. Smoked one of mine a few weeks back as well. Was a great smoke!

[Corylax18]

10 hours ago, Habana Mike said:

Yep, that was one of Leopoldina's. Smoked one of mine a few weeks back as well. Was a great smoke!

Awesome. Thanks for the heads up.  I am definitely going to order a couple bundles from her in November. I may just have to stay a couple days longer to make sure she has enough time to get them rolled, I bet she is swamped for about 3 months before/during the festival. Are you heading down again this year?

[Corylax18]

11 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Can't help Cory. Jose and I gave our tickets to Keith and Mick. 

From previous Partagas dinners, I thought her cigars were the best of the trip. 

I remember them not having tickets for a few people that day we all went to pick them up, what a surprise. Haha

I had a Mote PE during the dinner itself that was a standout. distinct chocolate flavor fought through the background of the smokiest room I have ever been in. Smoky enough for the Canadian PM to complain.  But this cigar was heads and tails above that, very complex. I'm going to light up the presidente size later this week, I put a review up here. 

[ChanceSchmerr]

1 hour ago, Corylax18 said:

 

I had a Mote PE during the dinner itself that was a standout. distinct chocolate flavor fought through the background of the smokiest room I have ever been in. Smoky enough for the Canadian PM to complain.  But this cigar was heads and tails above that, very complex. I'm going to light up the presidente size later this week, I put a review up here. 

I havn't smoked any of the cigars handed out at the dinner yet - I saved them all as mementos to smoke in the years ahead - one each November around the time of the Festival, assuming I'm not at the current one!

I think the one you smoked was a La China Piramides, if I remember the announcer correctly.

The dinner was spectacular - don't pay any heed to the Cdn Media reporting about the smoky party for "Industry big-wigs" (I've been called many things before, but never a bigwig).

One of the funniest memories I had of the dinner was watching John DeCosta try each of the handed out cigars in turn.....and disgustedly toss each one away as either massively underfilled, plugged or flavourless....or some combination of the three.  I suspect they were a little too fresh to him

The other great memory was running into a good buddy from Southern California that I had met at the Islay Whisky Festival in 2015 - who had somehow brought with him a bottle of PC6 whisky  (Port Charlotte 6 yr) to the dinner.  A brilliant whisky - and a brilliant night!

[Corylax18]

On 7/17/2017 at 10:29 AM, ChanceSchmerr said:

I havn't smoked any of the cigars handed out at the dinner yet - I saved them all as mementos to smoke in the years ahead - one each November around the time of the Festival, assuming I'm not at the current one!

I think the one you smoked was a La China Piramides, if I remember the announcer correctly.

The dinner was spectacular - don't pay any heed to the Cdn Media reporting about the smoky party for "Industry big-wigs" (I've been called many things before, but never a bigwig).

One of the funniest memories I had of the dinner was watching John DeCosta try each of the handed out cigars in turn.....and disgustedly toss each one away as either massively underfilled, plugged or flavourless....or some combination of the three.  I suspect they were a little too fresh to him

The other great memory was running into a good buddy from Southern California that I had met at the Islay Whisky Festival in 2015 - who had somehow brought with him a bottle of PC6 whisky  (Port Charlotte 6 yr) to the dinner.  A brilliant whisky - and a brilliant night!

Haha. That article you posted had me cracking up. It really was a great night, and I loved the description they gave. I tried the D 5 or D 6 they gave us as we walked in the door, it was the spiciest cuban I have ever tasted, by a wide margin. I ditched it about 3/8" in. It just blasted my palate, I am still completely puzzled as to why you would choose a cigar with that profile to open a dinner. Fortunately the Monte PE I followed it up with was very good. I hadn't smoked any of the others until the Leopoldina the other night and now every time I reach for a cigar I wanna grab one of the couple I have left! 

I am starting to get my travel arrangements lined up for this November, I just got a load of United FF points from a couple work trips so I need to get rid of them before they burn a hole in my pocket.

[cybermadhatter]

I have not smoked my La China cigars from the dinners of 2016 or 2015.   I Love her cigars, and sadly, I do not think she is rolling any bundles for sale any longer. {Perhaps for people that have a strong relationship with her?}

Some say that perhaps the ones handed out were not rolled by her, b/c of her aforementioned arthritis.  If so, they are still beautiful, and I am under the impression that she did indeed roll them.

Glad yours was stellar.