Quintero Panetelas 1998 (SRW23)

[Capn_Jackson]

Today I’ll be taking the cellophane off a 1998 Quintero Panetelas, kindly given by a forum member. Thanks, Tom!

 

Had to sneak in some pictures with my precious drums. I don’t gig a lot anymore, so they don’t get to be seen too much these days.

Fairly cold morning as I step outside to enjoy this oldie. About 45 degrees on my porch, but not windy. This one has a bumpy wrapper, with an appetizing dark color and a slight box press. The cold draw doesn’t tell me much, nor does a sniff of the body and foot. “All right then, keep your secrets.”

First third: On light-up, I get big notes of sweet tea and vanilla. Through the first third, the vanilla fades eventually, and tea is replaced by a roasted pecan flavor. There are hints of some kind of fruit I can’t place. A very long finish on each puff, alternating between maple and chocolate. Good rich smoke.

Selfie time:

The second third begins as a thin but solid chunk of ash falls in my lap, not long after my GQ selfie shot. Not as much chocolate here, more like a nice dry dusting of cocoa powder. The pecan sticks around, but tastes more like raw pecan, not roasted. Also a lot more sweet baking spices around the middle of the cigar, reminding me very much of an Upmann. 

Vanilla sneaks back in the mix here and there. Plumes of smoke coming off this little guy, getting more and more chewy as it nears the end.

Last third: The pecan is just about gone, replaced by some nice coffee notes, and the chocolate jumps back in to say hello. As we heat up toward the end, I’m getting a taste of slightly burnt maple, but not at all unpleasant.

Another selfie... you know you wanted to see that smiling pirate face again.

At this point, the skinny nub burning my fingers with each puff, the neighbors might think I’m enjoying a different kind of cigar. Maybe it’s the ponytail... “Should I get the clips, or throw it in the bowl??”

This smoke stays good right up until the point where I can no longer hold it, and doesn’t disappoint.

Good aged smoke. Fifty minutes, at my pace. The strength remained a couple touches under medium throughout. Smoke output was fantastic the whole time, and the flavors were never harsh, not even when they got more charred toward the end. Very sharp burn line. This old man - the cigar, not me - gave a good show after waiting all those years. Bravo!

[MoeFOH]

Nice one! 

[99call]

9 minutes ago, Capn_Jackson said:

roasted pecan flavor.

Hats of to you, great review.  This note in particular rang a lot of bells, for old cubans i've smoked

[KCCubano]

Great review! I have a few boxes with tight draws. Makes me want to not touch them again for another 10 yrs

[CaptainQuintero]

Great stuff!

Maybe blueberry is that flavour you were getting? I occasionally get hints of it with these older Quintero 

[Capn_Jackson]

59 minutes ago, CaptainQuintero said:

Great stuff!

Maybe blueberry is that flavour you were getting? I occasionally get hints of it with these older Quintero 

Thinking back now, that could’ve been.