Cigars.ie

The Lonsdales of Christmas Day 9 - Partagas 898 Varnished

2011 is here, finally, and  by the end of the weekend the holidays will be officially over and we will be back to our normal routines. Traditionally, we would cook a nice dinner, have a good wine with it and enjoy ourselves to welcome the new year. And getting all these done, it is time for a good cigar in order to welcome the new smoking year! My lonsdale of choice for today is one of my go - to cigars; the Partagas 898 Varnished.

The Partagas 898 was introduced in the 70’s and it is considered one of the best cigars in regular production, showcasing the earthy and peppery profile of partagas. It is a Dalia, measuring 6.7″ in length by 43 ring gauge. This partagas got its name from its packaging, where the 25 cigars  are sorted in 3 rows of 8, 9 and 8, in a varnished cabinet. It is not to be confused with the 898 unvarnished, which is a completely different cigar. My head is still a little tender from last night’s drinking session and I hope I will manage to hold it together and smoke a strong cigar like this!

Appearance 14 / 15

The Partagas 8 9 8 V is a beautiful cigar. The appearance is flawless, with the wrapper being smooth and shiny, with very little veins. The cap is perfectly applied and the bunch is so solid that the cigar feels heavier than you would expect. Mild aromas of wood and pepper are present on the foot of the cigar and the prelight draw is perfect.

Flavour & Body 23 / 25

The cigar starts with a smooth woody and earthy flavour, and settles down into the first third with a concerto of flavours. Sweet spices, moist earth, wood and white pepper are the dominant flavours; a true partagas. Hints of citrus, cedar and leather are also present and the texture is thick and creamy. The second third is as delicious as the first. The flavours are altering continuously, with cedar and white pepper alternating as the dominant flavours. The body is medium to full and the cigar has a long, woody and spicy finish. On the end of the last third the cigar loses its strong and elegant flavours and becomes harsh and acidic. The body is full and the flavours of cedar and pepper are overpowering. The finish is long and spicy with a touch of ammonia. Not a great finish for a cigar that was delicious on the front part.

Draw & Burn 23 / 25

The cigar draws and burns beautifully. The burn is even all the way through. The ash is dark grey, with a yellow hue, a little flaky, and falls off every inch, revealing a nice, pyramid shape coal. The 898 requires very little touch-ups, only on the last third, and produces plenty of thick, white smoke.

Overall 32 / 35

The Partagas 898 has always been a safe bet for all partagas fans. Two thirds of the cigar were great, with smooth and complex flavours that kept changing continuously. However, on the last third the cigar became overpowering and spoiled the, otherwise, perfect image. It still managed to pull a great score though as it tasted great for most of the time. Give this cigar some time to age in its box and it will become a lot more elegant. I have had the chance to smoke some 898’s with 10 years of age and they have been delicious!

TOTAL 92 / 100