I'm posting this here since I feel that I'll get the best responses out of this group, but I was dissapointed in my 898. i found it to be a mild-medium bodied mild strength smoke, lacking in depth and complexity of flavor. Anyone else notice this, or did I get a bad stick?

Maybe a bad stick? My 898 (varnished) are smoking really well, and stronger than I anticipated, and lots of flavour throughout...always a matter of taste I suppose
The only "problem" I have, is the color...I prefer dark cigars, and these seem somewhat light for my personal taste...but I can overlook that as well if the "taste" is there!

What year was it? My 99s, while tasty, are rather mild. My 2002s have quite a kick.

That's exactly why I like the RA 898's more. The Partagas 898's are merely OK, if you like strength. The RA 898's are mucho stronger.

this may seem like a dumb question, but did you get the varnished box or the un-varnished box?
I am sure that you know that there is a huge difference in taste and size, right?

Varnished.

That's a shocker...When you cant count on the P898V, what else is there?
For some interesting news about another Pvitola, check out my reply to may own thread about the Presidentes...shocking info.

i just got a box of 10 partagas 898V (or is that 343's) anyway, they are very full bodied with plenty of flavor. try another one definitely what you experienced is not normal for these.