My 2007 Experiences Thus Far

[inventory0297]

Like many people I always like to try a cigar out of each new box before laying them down. Impatient bastard that I am, there is always the hope that some of these cigars will be "on" straight out of their rest period, and exhibit a flavor profile which makes them worth smoking now (The exception are larger vitolas which in my experience are NEVER ready for at least 1.5 years, so they go right to sleep).

2006 was especially good for this, with many vitolas showing great balance and approachability, while retaining the power and complexity to also merit aging. Truly the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, my limited experiences with 2007 stock have not been the same so far.

PSD4 (PSL ABR 07):

The two I smoked fooled me. Both times I was instantly met with the signature spicy kick, with mouth coating undercurrents of honey and earth. "This is going to be a great cigar", I would think. Apparently not, because within half an inch the spices were GONE. Nothing through the nose, no note on the palate. The honey notes remained and at times interpersed with cream and cinnamon, but on the whole the cigar was understated and one dimensional, especially for a PSD4. Nice enough, but not what I am looking for. Needs development. 7/10, come back in a year. Possibly buy another box.

Partagas 898V (MAY 07, Factory code indistinct): Wow. I have never smoked a cigar this deep into its dumb period. Great pre-light barnyard smell, but NOTHING happening here. Acrid smoke which hurts the nose, and straight young tobacco which is not pleasing. Metallic and bitter like a non cuban. A purely miserable cigar. Will smoke another in a year, and if they have not improved they will be given away to people I don't like. 2/10 simply because it had nice construction and I love the 898 presentation. Would consider buying another box if they were free and I was threatened with having a leper spit in my mouth.

Bolivar Petit Corona (POS ENE 07):

In fact, not a piece of ****. Slightly unbalanced with earth tones dominating, but nice muted spice and unsweetened cocoa alternating with sour cream. Exactly what was expected from this young cigar, which was welcome. Will likely be perfect in a year or two. 8/10, buy another cabinet.

I also tried a gifted Jan 07 Partagas Lusitania recently, and was pleasantly surprised. Much less muted than recent Lusi's, more reminiscent of the pre-95 blending. Unbalanced and young, but the best potential of any Lusi in years, with lots of spice, sweet cinnamon, mouth coating milk and honey. 7/10 with unlimited potential. Buy two boxes and hide for 8 years.

Obviously any 07 stock is very young, but so far it seems to be a reasonably good year, moderately behind 2006. All cigars have had excellent construction, with good draws (unlike the 02-04 period which were wind tunnels in my estimation). I will have no hesitation buying 2007 stock after the 06 runs out, but not until then.

[shrink]

Interesting and entertaining reviews.

Sorry to hear about the PSD4, but I haven't been happy with any in '06, Rob's glowing reviews nothwithstanding. These were so good 'fresh' in '04 and '05. I fear that, since the advent of 'aged' fillers, this one might very well be finito. Let's hope not.

What a shame about the '07 Party 898V. The early '06s are totally off the scale. Best 898V's ever rolled, IMO. Lord, what a heavenly cigar.

Agree on the Boli PC. I got an '07 cab, and don't regret it. Will be good in a few years.

And yes, yes, yes on the POS ENE07 Lusi. Somebody snuck some extra ligero in there. I tried one, slyly nodded my head, and put the rest down deep for a later celebration.

[inventory0297]

» Interesting and entertaining reviews.

»

» Sorry to hear about the PSD4, but I haven't been happy with any in '06,

» Rob's glowing reviews nothwithstanding. These were so good 'fresh' in '04

» and '05. I fear that, since the advent of 'aged' fillers, this one might

» very well be finito. Let's hope not.

»

» What a shame about the '07 Party 898V. The early '06s are totally off the

» scale. Best 898V's ever rolled, IMO. Lord, what a heavenly cigar.

»

» Agree on the Boli PC. I got an '07 cab, and don't regret it. Will be good

» in a few years.

»

» And yes, yes, yes on the POS ENE07 Lusi. Somebody snuck some extra ligero

» in there. I tried one, slyly nodded my head, and put the rest down deep

» for a later celebration.

I had the same thought about the PSD4's. Although it is hard to tell, it seemed like the flavor profile was not an ageing issue. I remember thinking as I was smoking one, "I hope they're not all going to be like this from now on."

If the blend we have seen is consistent throughout the line, I think the Lusi might be the all star of 2007. It is great smoking a new example which has some of the presence this regal cigar deserves. Hopefully they continue on this path.

[jdbrown]

Thats a real bummeruski on the PSD4. All my recent one's have been 06 and very good. I just bought the Partagas 898 Varnished with same date. Guess I will wait for it's 1st birthday after reading your take. Other's have told me several of the Bolivar 07's are very good to excellent right now. Maybe a Cab of PC's are in the future!

Thanks

[bassman]

The only 07 I've smoked so far is a MAR 07 BPC. Fantastic strong earthy cigar. Much better than the weak 04s & even beats my 98s.

[inventory0297]

» Thats a real bummeruski on the PSD4. All my recent one's have been 06 and

» very good. I just bought the Partagas 898 Varnished with same date. Guess

» I will wait for it's 1st birthday after reading your take. Other's have

» told me several of the Bolivar 07's are very good to excellent right now.

» Maybe a Cab of PC's are in the future!

»

» Thanks

I would be very interested in your opinion of the 898Vs. Maybe I just had a bad box............

[Ginseng]

» Like many people I always like to try a cigar out of each new box before

» laying them down. Impatient bastard that I am, there is always the hope

» that some of these cigars will be "on" straight out of their rest period,

» and exhibit a flavor profile which makes them worth smoking now (The

» exception are larger vitolas which in my experience are NEVER ready for at

» least 1.5 years, so they go right to sleep).

Thank you for sharing your experiences! This is great information for all the handicappers out there. I presume 06 are still available in quite a few vitolas but going fast?

Wilkey

[mgillett]

While we are on the Boli PCs, I had one on the weekend (bought as a single but would likely be late 06/early 07). Very strong ammonia taste was present on the first few puffs even though this was not evident at cold. I nearly tossed it immediately as it was so offensive but battled on for about 7 or 8 draws where it cleared. This has not happened to me before. Is this a "sick" Boli PC and I should lay the rest down for a while? The remainder was not too bad but certainly not what I would call a good CC.

Any ideas?

[El Presidente]

»

» Any ideas?

One of the problems of singles is how were they stored. Too dry, too wet...too young...hard to tell.

My thoughs on 2007 are still being formed. While I thought 2006 was an excellent year for Habanos...I had plenty of disappointing 2006 experiences. Like everything else it is an assessment "on balance". Frighteningly I would have tried somewhere between 200-250 2006 cigars and across all major Marques and most Vitola's. I would have tried less than 50 2007's to date and personally I don't think that as yet they have reached the same "wow" factor. Then again the review of the 07 Winston was a review of an excellent cigar. The 07 BBF's have continued to be great (from the great late 06 BBF's). Upmann 2 as well. The 07 SLR DC is close to the legendary 01's

I need the last quarter of this year before I can have an opinion worthwhile. Looking forward to it

[inventory0297]

» While we are on the Boli PCs, I had one on the weekend (bought as a single

» but would likely be late 06/early 07). Very strong ammonia taste was

» present on the first few puffs even though this was not evident at cold.

» I nearly tossed it immediately as it was so offensive but battled on for

» about 7 or 8 draws where it cleared. This has not happened to me before.

» Is this a "sick" Boli PC and I should lay the rest down for a while? The

» remainder was not too bad but certainly not what I would call a good CC.

»

» Any ideas?

Any time ammonia is present the cigar needs rest. As aged tobacco has gained use over the last several years this has (in my limited experience) become less of a factor.

Normally the classic "sick" period refers to ammonia outgassing in young cigars. There may also be a "dumb" period, where the cigars are closed and lacking in flavor.

Normally the ammonia period passes fairly quickly, 6 months or so. "Dumb" periods may come and go over differing periods, but conventional wisdom is they come on at approx. 6 months and last approx. 1 year. The final arbiter is obviously taste.

So, yes, your PCs will probably settle down and become enjoyable with age. Try another in six months and see what has happened.

On another point, I had occasion to try an 07 SLR DC yesterday, and found it noteably more full bodied than my 03 reference cab. Same complexity (the most complex DC?), starting out floral, and descending into delicious fruit and caramel notes, just more "oomph", and a more "full" mouthfeel.

In light of the greatly improved Lusi blend, I wonder if the 07 HdM DC might be less insipid than recent vintages as well? Any experiences?