Cigar review: I smoked my first Partegas cigar in the mid eighties when I was a novice in the cigar world. In my view, Partegas was totally the best cigar in the market place. I still enjoy the Partegas line in both the Cuban and General Cigar versions.
General Cigar sent me their newest Partegas blend, the Legend to review. As always how and where I receive the sample does not impact my subjective take. Please try to cigar yourself and make your own judgment.
From the Partegas press release:
Partagás Legend pays tribute to forefathers of the handmade cigar business who brought this venerable brand to prominence. Don Jaime Partagás, Ramon Cifuentes, Edgar Cullman, Sr., Daniel Nunez and Benji Menendez all had a hand in setting forth the attributes of the Partagás brand: elegance, discernment, masterful blending and meticulous construction. Today, these qualities are perpetuated in this new, three-cigar collection.
Andrés Maturén, brand manager of Partagás said, “Partagás Legend was developed by Jhonys Diaz, our master blender whose expertise was honed by learning firsthand from the forefathers of the brand. To honor the tobacco men who raised him in the business, Jhonys selected tobaccos from Connecticut, the Dominican Republic and Honduras, all of which have historical significance to the legends of Partagás.”
Handcrafted of the finest aged tobaccos, the blend has been expertly configured with deeply aged Dominican Piloto Cubano filler leaves which are enveloped in a Honduran Olancho San Agustin binder and crowned in a lustrous Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The result is a layered, multi-dimensional smoking experience, where pleasant notes of cocoa and earth abound.
Jhonys Diaz describes the cigar as refined, medium-bodied, and befitting of the Partagás name. He suggests a fine single malt or aged rum as the ideal accompaniment to “Legend.”
Alluding to the future of the brand, the box-pressed vitolas are presented in sophisticated, white lacquered boxes that bear the updated look of the brand. The collection consists of three cigars, each presented in boxes containing 20 cigars.
Corona Extra Leyenda (5.25” x 44); SRP per cigar $11.49
Fabuloso Leyenda (6.5” x 48); SRP per cigar $12.49
Toro Leyenda (6.25” x 54); SRP per cigar $14.49
Partagás Legend cigars are handcrafted in Santiago, Dominican Republic at General Cigar Dominicana.
Cigar review:
Brand/Name of Cigar: Partegas/Legend
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 6.25 x 54
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Dominican Republic
Shape: Toro
Price: $14.49 MSRP
Where and When Smoked: Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge, Los Angeles, Ca. 10/6/18
Appearance/Construction: A deep brown wrapper , box pressed with superior construction, small almost invisible veins. Striking appearance with a classy cigar band. Oily feel, smooth and firm as box pressed cigars should be.
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: First third : Lead with a pleasing mix of nut, cream and nougat.The flavor worked well as the cigar featured a smooth, milder tasting profile.
Second third: I was waiting for an appearance of spice but it did not happen. The cigar still was fun to smoke but could use a bit of an edge.
Final third: The spice did arrive at this juncture which help make the cigar more complex overall. Would have enjoyed the spice earlier in the smoke but this really is very subjective. Overall the Legend blend has worked well.
Smoking Characteristics: I did have one relight and had an uneven burn line around the end of the second third. This did not damage the cigar’s overall performance. A friend of mine who was smoking too but not the Legend had the same issue as he smoked. I suspect the HVAC of the lounge impacted the cigar. Grey ash was the dominant color. The cigar timed out at about 1 hour , 20 minutes.
Conclusion/Overall Impression: The cigar gave me a very good smoking experience but I do like other Partegas products more. Still, the flavor, and consistency was good enough to keep me in the moment.
Final Thoughts and the Numbers: General Cigar and Partegas have developed a very good new smoke. For those who understand the nature of a cigar that delivers and are not afraid to spend a bit more, this will work for you.
Buy a five pack or if your local B and M have it in stock, buy it and enjoy.
Appearance/Construction: 4 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 4 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 3.5 out of 5
Conclusion/Overall Impression: 3.8 out of 5
Keep smoking