I recently found some Sd#1 2004 El's after searching for over a year, to round out my Partags EL collection. Very much overshadowed, unfairly so, by the 04 Cohiba Sublime, these are some very rare and hard to fine cigars nowadays.
IMHO it seems that the Partgas blend with the EL wrapper makes the best EL blend especially with appropriate age. The complex leather and earthy flavors really start to marry and intertwine at about the 5 year mark. Yes it takes patience with the EL's but they do reward the patient collector in spades
The SD#1 2004's are absolutely outstanding and right up there with the 2001 SD#3 as the best of the lot for me. If you happen to come accross either of these just buy them..you wont regret it.
Also honorable mention to the 2006 SD#3, still available if you look hard and showing the early stages of greatness. Buy em now while you can.
Posts: 234 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: May 08, 2002
I had a PArty #1 EL2004 , when I was in spain, and it was fantastic. I completely agree that is underrated to the Sublime, but I would say on par in all aspects. The Flavor is different, and I like both of them, but construction, draw, smoothness, it's all there.
I agree that any SD's from Partagas before 2004 are very hard to find. I have a handful of the SD #2 from 2003, and they are outstanding, but bold and spicy smokes.
I have one SD #3 2001 left, and they are also very good. I have 1 SD #1 2004, and look forward to smoking it someday.
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
I have the PSD1 and PSD3. I'm still trying to track down a box of PSD2s. They are all great cigars. I'm debating on getting another box of the 3s while they are still fairly easy to find.
"Here's the deal. I'm the best there is, plain and simple. I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence." Ricky Bobby
I also liked the Brady Bunch. I mean, the Partagas Family was funny, and Susan Dey was cute even back then...but they didn't really even sing.
I'm partial to the SD2...although I don't see how any of the EL are representative of the brand under which they were released. There, they're their own breed.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10308 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Originally posted by ryj7x47: I also liked the Brady Bunch. I mean, the Partagas Family was funny, and Susan Dey was cute even back then...but they didn't really even sing.
I'm partial to the SD2...although I don't see how any of the EL are representative of the brand under which they were released. There, they're their own breed.
Which is why I'm looking forward to the Cuaba Piramides EL. Don't like Cuaba, but early reviews sound very un-Cuaba like.
I always liked the Hoyo Pyramid EL (initial release)...and they're smoking great. In the case of the EL, I don't think it matters WHAT the band or the box says...I consider the cigars to be an EL cigar of a particular size, whether cañonazo, pyramid, corona gorda, or whatever, and I don't think there's much difference between the brands under which they are released, either.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10308 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
I have to agree with RyJ about the EL's, they were invented to fleece the consumer of a inflated price point on a cigar that did not taste a thing like its band indicated. You could smoke a Partagas, Cohiba, Hoyo, or RyJ, they all tasted the same, burnt EL flavor over leather and earth. The only EL's to me that remorely tasted like their marca were the Montecristo's, and they needed years before they became smokable. Hey, if EL's are your thing, go for it. It is just my opinion that you have MUCH better regular production Habanos that are valued priced and not meant to fleece the consumer and line the pockets of the Habanos Distributors and vendors.
Now if you are the type that has to beat the Jones, and have the Newest thing out on the market just because you want to look cool, go for it. It just isn't very cool to be spending serious money on cigars that really are NOT that good.
It's interesting...in Cuba some say that the aged wrapper on the EL's was actually the h-2000 hybrid that they experimented with years earlier that nobody really cared for. Is it true? I have no idea.
Another interesting point...you talk about prices. I have always been surprised that they didn't price the EL's significantly higher. In Cuba, anyway, the prices of a Partagas EL Pyramid were about the same as the prices for any other Pyramid...Monte or Upmann 2, for example. Same with the SD3...the prices was only a matter of a couple of dollars more than, say, a Punch Punch. They could have SOAKED the conumers with higher prices, and the prices would have been paid.
I don't think that price point is really an issue, based on that. Whether vendors outside of Cuba marked them up, I don't know. But at least in Cuba, the prices were what I consider to be actually lower than what one would expect for a "limited edition" cigar with special tobacco.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10308 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Bob, the prices were greatly increased around the 2003 time period. When they first came out with the EL's they were just as you said, within a few dollars of regular production, yet once the Market Managers from Altadis started with their program of Habanos being a Luxury Item, so went the prices for the so called Premium EL's through the roof.
Five to six hundred a box seems to be the price from private parties these days. Or you can pay stupid (Mo ;-))money of eight hundred per box in the UK but you do get a fancy EMS sticker on the box..LOL!
quote:
Originally posted by salibas007: outstanding cigar....
it is one of my favourite EL's.. if not THE favourite....
such complexity and depth.. leather and wood.. absolutely no harshness, and outstanding construction...
it is definitely overshadowed by the sublime.. which, IMO is a good thing.. as you can still have the PSD1 for a decent price...
Posts: 234 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: May 08, 2002
I guess by 2003, the releases included different PSD's, the Cohiba Prominente's, and they were expensive. But I didn't realize that the prices had jumped that much on the regularly sized items.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10308 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
You sound bitter about it. No one is forcing anyone to buy these so no biggie. Besides, If one is smart about it "all" the El's do go on sale once the initial hype has died down and they can be picked up at much better prices later which can put them more in line with the regular marcas.
If you think they gouge with the EL's how about the prices on some of the popular Regional Releases which can be up another notch on the fleece o meter!
quote:
Originally posted by Tampa1257: Bob, the prices were greatly increased around the 2003 time period. When they first came out with the EL's they were just as you said, within a few dollars of regular production, yet once the Market Managers from Altadis started with their program of Habanos being a Luxury Item, so went the prices for the so called Premium EL's through the roof.
Posts: 234 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: May 08, 2002
I am not bitter about the EL's, I just do not agree with charging a Premium Price for a product that is truthfully lackluster and has no differentiation from one marca to another. It is my belief that the regular production Habanos provides a better tasting cigar with more complexity and is available at a reasonable price point. I have stated this for at least 5 years now. The last EL's that I purchased were 5 boxes of the PSD No.3's. I have smoked several of each EL produced attempting to find the magic in them, and even with age, they come up being lackluster and basically tasting the same "EL, Burnt Wrapper, leather with some earth taste" There is no typical sweet peppery Partagas Spiciness found in the Partagas EL's never was from the time they were young until right now.
The question should be, do you enjoy the EL's flavor? If you do, then great for you. Some people also have the palate of a Billy Goat as well. All this means is that the EL's are NOT certainly the "End All, the Best that will ever be". Taste and enjoyment are subjective. I have smoked enough EL's to decide that for my palate, I find greater enjoyment from smoking regular production Habanos.
To address your comment about the fleecing, I reject business individuals that gouge the consumers. We all know that there are several that do and continue to do this, and they will continue to gouge the consumer base as long as people buy these cigars from them at those inflated prices.
I guess that you have not noticed that overall production has decreased each year and the prices have increased each year? If Habanos sells less cigars, but increases the price, they can still make more profit. Cut production lines, amount of line items and still increase profits because they sell less and charge more. Something is wrong with this picture coming from a Communist Country.
Let me cut this here, if you enjoy the Edition Limitada, then good for you. If you enjoy or are willing to spend your hard earned money on a product that many of the most experienced Habanos Aficionados find as a fad or a gag item, then it is your right to do so.
Fair enough, I can respect you have a strong opinion on the matter. BTW Are you interested in selling those 01 PSd3 EL's?
quote:
Originally posted by Tampa1257: bjm,
I am not bitter about the EL's, I just do not agree with charging a Premium Price for a product that is truthfully lackluster and has no differentiation from one marca to another. It is my belief that the regular production Habanos provides a better tasting cigar with more complexity and is available at a reasonable price point. I have stated this for at least 5 years now. The last EL's that I purchased were 5 boxes of the PSD No.3's. I have smoked several of each EL produced attempting to find the magic in them, and even with age, they come up being lackluster and basically tasting the same "EL, Burnt Wrapper, leather with some earth taste" There is no typical sweet peppery Partagas Spiciness found in the Partagas EL's never was from the time they were young until right now.
The question should be, do you enjoy the EL's flavor? If you do, then great for you. Some people also have the palate of a Billy Goat as well. All this means is that the EL's are NOT certainly the "End All, the Best that will ever be". Taste and enjoyment are subjective. I have smoked enough EL's to decide that for my palate, I find greater enjoyment from smoking regular production Habanos.
To address your comment about the fleecing, I reject business individuals that gouge the consumers. We all know that there are several that do and continue to do this, and they will continue to gouge the consumer base as long as people buy these cigars from them at those inflated prices.
I guess that you have not noticed that overall production has decreased each year and the prices have increased each year? If Habanos sells less cigars, but increases the price, they can still make more profit. Cut production lines, amount of line items and still increase profits because they sell less and charge more. Something is wrong with this picture coming from a Communist Country.
Let me cut this here, if you enjoy the Edition Limitada, then good for you. If you enjoy or are willing to spend your hard earned money on a product that many of the most experienced Habanos Aficionados find as a fad or a gag item, then it is your right to do so.
Posts: 234 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: May 08, 2002
Now you're sounding bitter, 1257. To each one's own...but no need to get defensive (or offensive) about relative taste.
Personally, I think some of the EL's were and are pretty good! I like the Hoyo Pyramid (initial release), the Monte Robusto (first ones), the PSD2 and PSD3...and then the Monte Double Corona was nice, as is the Cohiba Prominente and the Sublime. I guess that covers about everything except for the Hoyo Gran Corona, the Cohiba Pyramid, and a couple others to be sure, so maybe I am partial to that profile...but then again, prices were not out of control and were similar to the regular production lines.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10308 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Originally posted by ryj7x47: Now you're sounding bitter, 1257. To each one's own...but no need to get defensive (or offensive) about relative taste.
Personally, I think some of the EL's were and are pretty good! I like the Hoyo Pyramid (initial release), the Monte Robusto (first ones), the PSD2 and PSD3...and then the Monte Double Corona was nice, as is the Cohiba Prominente and the Sublime. I guess that covers about everything except for the Hoyo Gran Corona, the Cohiba Pyramid, and a couple others to be sure, so maybe I am partial to that profile...but then again, prices were not out of control and were similar to the regular production lines.
Have you tried the latest Monti Robusto EL 2006? I bought a 10 pack and thought they were outstanding so I bout a box. The Hoyo EL 2007 is also amazing out of the box, but the RyJ 2007 EL was a bit disappointing. Hopefully with a few years of humidor time it will improve. I am also a huge fan of the Cohiba EL 2006 and the Sublime 2004.
The Monti C 2003 was also another very good EL, but they were a good example of a crappy EL out of the box, but improved dramatically with 3 to 5 years in the humidor. The RE's are OK, as I have not been too pleased with any of them that I have tried (Dante, Bolivar, etc.). Again maybe humidor time is needed here.
I find overall though, that the Partagas EL's are consistent, but they are an acquired taste as they are bold and spicy.
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
Ah, Steve you and the infamous Dante's...I had my first original release one recently and it was outfrigginstanding, easily one of my top 3 smokes in 08'
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Cohen:
quote:
Originally posted by ryj7x47: Now you're sounding bitter, 1257. To each one's own...but no need to get defensive (or offensive) about relative taste.
Personally, I think some of the EL's were and are pretty good! I like the Hoyo Pyramid (initial release), the Monte Robusto (first ones), the PSD2 and PSD3...and then the Monte Double Corona was nice, as is the Cohiba Prominente and the Sublime. I guess that covers about everything except for the Hoyo Gran Corona, the Cohiba Pyramid, and a couple others to be sure, so maybe I am partial to that profile...but then again, prices were not out of control and were similar to the regular production lines.
Have you tried the latest Monti Robusto EL 2006? I bought a 10 pack and thought they were outstanding so I bout a box. The Hoyo EL 2007 is also amazing out of the box, but the RyJ 2007 EL was a bit disappointing. Hopefully with a few years of humidor time it will improve. I am also a huge fan of the Cohiba EL 2006 and the Sublime 2004.
The Monti C 2003 was also another very good EL, but they were a good example of a crappy EL out of the box, but improved dramatically with 3 to 5 years in the humidor. The RE's are OK, as I have not been too pleased with any of them that I have tried (Dante, Bolivar, etc.). Again maybe humidor time is needed here.
I find overall though, that the Partagas EL's are consistent, but they are an acquired taste as they are bold and spicy.
Posts: 234 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: May 08, 2002
