Cigars.ie

12 Robustos of Xmas, Day 7: Partagas Serie D no.4

The 12 Robustos of Xmas, Day 7:
Partagas Serie D No.4

The new year is now with us, the old one has been and gone and what a year it has been! Having smoked some great cigars in 2009, the bar for 2010 has been raised pretty high. One of the cigars that I enjoyed the most in 2009 was the Partagas D no.4. Beautiful every time, the D4 has been extremely consistent and every year’s production has been getting better and better. Even though our smoking shed is covered in snow, the three heaters seem to manage to keep the temperature up to a humain level, and the scenery is perfect for a good smoke.

Appearance & Prelight 14/15

This D4 is a prime example of what a cuban cigar should look like! The construction is flowless and the wrapper is chocolate brown and very oily. The veins are hardly noticeable and the bunch is good and solid. Strong sweet and floral aromas are present on the foot of the cigar and the prelight is good, with just the right amount of drag. This D4 looks so good that makes you want to eat it!

Flavour & Body 23/25

After spending a few minutes just staring at it, it is time to light up… The D4 starts with a medium body and strong taste of wood and earth. A few minutes later, more flavours join the mix; nuts, honey and vanilla, all in good balance, offering an ususual sweetness. On the second third, the sweetness disappears, leaving its place to a pleasant dark, bitter chocolate flavour, as well as the saltiness of freshly roasted almonds. The D4 finishes as strong as it started, easing off on the compexity, with spicy flavours of earth and peat.

Draw & Burn 23/25

Even though the cigar is tightly packed, draw is slightly loose. A hefty amount of thick and creamy smoke with a long creamy finish is delivered. The ash is grey in colour and solid, reaching more than an inch in length before it falls off, leaving a perfectly pyramid shaped coal on the foot of the cigar. The burn is even all the way through and any minor inconsistencies are being corrected quickly.

Overall impression 33/35

This D4 is a good example of why this vitola is - in my opinion- one of the best “value for money” robustos. Its medium to full body and it complexity make this cigar a pleasure to smoke. Altering so much from the beginning to the end, the D4 has something different to offer in every puff. Its construction has always been good and I have yet to smoke a bad D4 from the ‘08 batch. A solid 93 point cigar and a major contender for the winner of this review…

TOTAL 93/100