The sobresaliente has been the vitola de galera chosen in 2007 for the Replica de humidor antiguo by Partagas. The released humidors, 200 overall, were including 50 of these cigars, whose format has always been reserved to special releases (in particular for the regional editions).
▪ Country of Origin: Cuba
▪ Size: 53 x 153 mm (6″)
▪ Capa: Cuba
▪ Capote: Cuba
▪ Tripa: Cuba
▪ Price: 50 €
At sight the wrapper has a colorado shade, quite shiny and reddish. By touching it reveals a smooth texture. The global manufacturing is excellent: head closure, homogeneous and generous filling, bring to think that the production, less frenetic since it was intended for the celebration humidors, has been very careful.
Partagas Sobresaliente: before lighting the cigar up, the aromas are quite mild, yet well defined, and mostly belonging to the ones characterizing the tobaccos from the Real Fabrica: wood, earth and leather.
The first tercio is characterized by a slightly mineral taste, not very bold. Aromas are mainly almond, leather and a rich earth. Bbark and coffee are perceivable in the background. Strength is, surprisingly, mild (1/5).
The transition to the second tercio is slow and smooth. The mineral taste keeps being the major one, even though more intense, while the aromas evolve into notes of coffee. This coffee notes keep becoming bolder and bolder, reaching the same intensity of leather and pepper, while in the background, side-by-side to the bark one, a spicy character gives a very appealing tone to each puff. Strength slightly increases, becoming light-medium (2/5).
The last part of the fruition does not change much in comparison with the central one: the mineral notes stays well present, as well as the coffee, pepper and bark notes. However, some balsamic and cocoa nuances can additionally be perceived. Strength keeps growing, reaching a medium level (3/5). Draw and burn are perfect and even the ash is long and compact.
In few words: an “Old Style Partagas”. The strength is not the one smokers are getting used to by the current production; however in the past Partagas brand has also released cigars with a not particularly full strength, but renown and appreciated ones (such as the Seleccion Privada n. 1, discontinued in 2002). This characteristic has on the other side provided extra value to the fruition, giving space to the evaluation of particularly refined and elegant aromas (such as almond, bark or the balsamic notes).
Rating: 84