Friday Fight Night: Partagas D4 V Upmann Connie 1

[Jimmy2]

like the D4's always liked the HUC#1's love there profile.

The last FoH party at the lounge i was gifted a recent date HUC#1 and it was a much stronger and flavorfully than my 05's.

Have to say they were much much better than my 05's!!

[shrink]

Excellent and entertaining review, coach!

I find this a rather unusual pairing, not because of the very different flavor profiles, but because the D4 is well-known as a cigar that smokes well young, while the Connie needs a few years under its belt. I smoked a '98 Connie a few days ago, and it was just grand, with that deep 'musty' Upmann profile, finishing with just the right amount of peppery spice. My last D4, a few weeks ago, was an early '04. It really flexed its muscles, seemingly stronger than in 2004, and just loaded with powerfully dark flavors.

Both cigars were at their peaks, but one was six years older. My nod went to the D4.

[tigger]

Great review Rob!

[stever]

Excellent review!

Really liked the format. Very helpful.

[1f1fan]

Great review...liked the head to head competition between the two. Looking forward to more like this!

[greenpimp]

Nice fight! Both of em fought hard, gave it all they got. Left it all on the canvas. One round at a time. Praise God.

I really want to believe the PSD4 is coming back. I really want to believe it.

And I like what they're doing to recent Upmanns. My 05 Conn1s have been quite good. Young but strong.

[jwm8592]

Great review Prez., and the format was very interesting & entertaining at the same time. Hey where's my beer?

[El Presidente]

Partagas Serie D No 4 (GTA NOV 06) V Upmann Connoisseur No 1(ROA DIC 06)

In the left corner we have a former champion of the Robusto class who has lost his way over the past three years but has made a rather inspiring comback over recent tastings. Currently ranked 7th in the Robusto EPR world rankings (El Presidente WR) behind Cohiba Robusto, Ramon Allones Specially Selected, Bolivar Royal Corona,Juan Lopez seleccion no 2, R&J Short Churchill and SLR Regio. The Partagas D4 is out to regain its reputation after numerous years in the wilderness during which it put in many ...many lack lustre efforts resulting in being booed and pitched from Deck arena to the garden below. Some stellar efforts by equal sixth ranked contender "Rey Del Mundo" could see the D4 fall to 7

8th.

In the right corner we have serial underperformer H. Upmann Connoisseur No 1 who traditionally brings up the rear of the Robusto field and is so consistently found pitched from the Deck arena to the garden below that it could apply for a job as Deck Gardner. Efforts since the late 90's have been insipid with rare performances of greatness and a reputation for mediocrity which sees it today hold the crown of Robusto class dunce.

Weigh in sees both the D4 and Connie 1 in tip top condition with excellent construction. Marks off to the Connie 1 for a slighlty loose wrapper.

5 rounds, 18 points per round. Tasting completed early morning over two seperate days. Cigars held for 30 days at 65% relative humidity and 17 degrees centigrade.

Let the best Robusto win!

Round 1: Construction/aroma at cold/draw.

Good silky wrappers on both Robusto's. Purists will point out that the Upmann is a Hermoso no 4 but it fights for consumer retail dollars in the Robusto class so it had better learn to live with it.

There are no hard or soft spots on ether cigar with good caps and well bunched feet.

The Partagas D4 displays a tobacco and sweet paprika aroma at cold while the Upmann Connie one is more pure toasted tobaccco with a hint of cheese cake.

Cerrated the cap. The D4 comes with a perfect draw requiring a slight pull. Pure partagas on the dry draw leaving a sweet paprika and aged cheese on the lips.

The Connie one hits back with an equally good draw. Toasted tobacco and sour cream on the lips.

Can't speperate them bar the Connie 1's slight loose wrapper roll nearing the band.

Round 1

D4: 16/18 C1 15.5/18

Round 2: The opening

Cigars are highly penalised for any elements of amonia. Greenness and sourness are especially despised.

Gently torched D4 which revealed a smooth and compliant opening. Medum in body with some light white pepper spice through the nose. Settles quickly into pure Partagas mode with that sweet paprika, quality tobacco and sour cream note.

Can't fault it. Perhaps a little more oomp! in the opening. Smoke quantity good.

The Connie one is similarly gently torched. Plenty of white smoke billowing from the foot but it is cool and calm. This is Upmann. Toasted tobacco coates the palate along with some early hints of cream. Medium in body. A far cry from some recent insipid efforts.

Can't split them except that I like to see a little more power in the Partagas D 4 from the outset.

Round 2:

D4: 15.5/18 C1 16/18

Round 3: 1st third (flavour/aroma/complexity).

D4 is building in power and now up to medium full. Pepper spice through the nose also building. Flavour is fleshing out introducing some dark roasted coffee notes along with the sweet paprika. Sour cream note now moves into baked ricotta. Nice aroma from this cigar. Sweet, rich tobacco. Smooth on the tongue. Well balanced with not a rough edge in sight.

Connie 1 really surprises. Toasted tobacco and cream abound but it is joined with a nice mix of toasted almonds. Fuller than I had expected but just on the fuller side of medium. Clean robust flavours yet smooth as silk. One can see the Upmann pedigree here as it reminds me of the better elements of a Sir Winston. Veulta Abajo tobacco aroma...pure tobacco. Very well blanced, rich on the palate.

Can't seperate them.

Round 3:

D4: 16.5/18 C1 16.5/18

Round 4: 2nd Third (flavour/aroma/complexity).

This is the money round for me in cigars. We are looking for the absence of any bitterness or harsh notes as well as the introduction or evolution of flavours or body which signifies complexity.

D4 powers through the second third much as it finished the first. Pure Partagas but now in the realm of a full bodied cigar. Strong white pepper through the nose, real dark roasted coffee and paprika on the palate with that delicious baked ricotta. I am happy with its evolution on power and given the youth of the cigar the absence of bitteness is a great achievement. Rich and satisfying. Aroma has not changed but punches the air tobacco spice.

Connie 1 continues to be a surprise packet. It is medium full in body and outting in a classy display of toasted tobacco, cream and roasted almonds. i am occasionally getting a nuance of honey/citrus but it is on the edges of the flavour spectrum. What I am liking is the entry of a woody/cedar flavour to round out the finer elements. The aroma is pure Upmann being a mix of tobacco and slow smouldering kiln dried wood.

Round 4:

D4: 17/18 C1 17/18

Round 5: Last Third (flavour/aroma/complexity).

This is where many cigars fall apart and meet a premature end. The darkside of heat and bitterness assault the palate to the point that there is little use in pursuing the cigar to its end game.

D4 holds on to everything it had worked for right to the very end. It was only into the last inch that charred BBQ notes emerged and finally ....with little to go...that it became hot and losing all of its flavour delivery. The aroma in the final third is burning pine cones with that spicy aroma. The flavour for the most part a mirror of the second third holding on to the tobacco, spice, baked ricotta and dark roasted espresso. Good complexity, great balance of flavours.

Connie 1 ...until the very last draws never lost its composure. The woody notes it developed in the second third are accentuated in the last. Slowly the cream leaves the table of flavours on display. Toasted Vuelta Abajo tobacco/cedar wood/toasted almods remain to the very end. The aroma is what you would expect of a tobacco drying barn alight.

Hard to seperate the 2 but I will give a slight points nod to Connie 1.

Round 5:

D4: 15.5/18 C1 16/18

Final judging points:

Overall Burn:

The burn on both cigars was generally excellent with the D4 just a touch ahead. I never had to touch up the D4 and hence the win. I mark burn on young cigars more generously than I would on aged ones particularly as they are being enjoyed outdoors.

D4 10/10 C1 9/10

Overall Points:

Partagas Serie D No 4 (GTA NOV 06) 90.5 points

Upmann Connoisseur No 1(ROA DIC 06) 90 Points

Wrapup.

Two cigars which really surprised the hell out of me...particularly the Connie 1. I have had some excellent recent (06) D4's but it has been a long time since I have had a great Upmann Connoisseur No 1.

What impressed me most was that they were true to their Marque. Both exhibited the best elements of Partagas and Upmann.

Their was a split hair between them in the final count and the connie 1 only lost due to a slightly loose wrapper.

There is strong competiton in the Robusto ranks and should the these two Robusto's maintain this level of excellence then this class will be one of the finest and most highly competitive of all Habanos Marques.

I hope you enjoyed the head to head ;-)