2002 partagas culebra
To drink: johnny walker black with a splash of water.
Cold scent- very mild straight tobacco
Cigar tossted with three wood matches then cut.
Initial draws- very mild creamy cedar, leather and slight cocoa
1/3
Razor sharp burn which surprised me due to its irregular shape.
Filthy dirty ash, perfect draw, and now a bit of spice indicative of this brand. Ash only held for about 3/4 of an inch. As I get closer to the 2/3 there is a raisin/toasted marshmellow kind of flavor that I think I taste but it is quickly gone. What's funny is I smell this toasted marshmellow from the smoke coming from the head more than i taste from the draw. The spice and pepper was done like a sixteen year old in bed with Pamela Anderson minus the hepatitis. Still a mild smoke, still a razor sharp burn, still can't hold a long ash.
2/3.
A Hint of caramel and milk coffee now with a quick burst of pepper in the nose thAt fades quickly into a creamy finish. I am now past the most extreme of the curves in this stick and hope it will now maintain a longer ash. Wow, I just had an amazing draw from this cigar as I write this. It was a totally nostalgic flavor that I can't quite put my tongue on. Kind of like "having a Carmel hard candy mixed with the slight scent of a fall day (leaves burning on a damp day)". This lasted for one draw and one draw only. It was then covered by leather and cedar. Still mild to medium now. Definately more complex. The only diappointment now is the ash will not hold on past a 1/4 inch. On the contrary thick white billows of smoke and still a perfect draw and even burn.
3/3
Leather pepper and cedar have now taken over. This cigar has suddenly become a medium + smoke while keeping a clean creamy finish. Although it could be my mind playing tricks on me given the season and the pumpkin gelato I had after dinner... I swear I am getting the flavor of roasted pumpkin seeds, cedar and earth but sweet maybe some prune in there. I say this as another 1/4 inch of ash hits the deck. I don't know if this is because of the shape or that it is a machine made stick. The smoke has now moved back toward the burnt marshmellow raisin characteristics. And for an "ugly" looking stick it has still impressed me with a perfect draw and burn. I am now practically at a nub and the pepper is back in full force. A bit of mint or menthol almost... as I cuss because my fingers are burning. This nub has left my tongue and lips numb. The wife gives me a dirty look through the kitchen window and I know it's time to throw in the towel.
Summary
For a funky looking machine made this smoke was down right awesome. An ever changing- not knowing what's around the corner- super smooth cigar. The only thing that would make it better would be having a couple friends to share it with. Good thing I have two more pieces for a special occasion with a buddy. I am by no means a seasoned smoker, but if I must give it a rating I would say a 90. I come up with this rating based on ratings from other smokes I love. I wish the ash would have held longer- I had this idea about how cool of a picture I would have of a 1.5" corkscrew shaped ash. I have smoked several partagas vitolas recently and this one stands alone. As I write this I have a nice reminder lingering on my tongue. A great smoke. Thanks very much smokingjoe for gifting me such a wonderful stick.
"Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's
enjoyment of his cigar."
‐‐ Mark Twain
