In celebration of a great new job that I landed (that will take us to Denver, Colorado, where I have always wanted to live), I broke out one of my Partagas Millenium Salamones. It was good enough to write a few notes down. Here's the play by play:
This cigar is absolutely gorgeous. The very unique shape is skillfully wrapped in a silky, soft wrapper with a tight wrap around the belicoso tip. The light dusting of plume is the icing on the cake! Just a small clip yields a nice draw w/ a little resistence. I VERY carefully toast the tapered foot. Just a few puffs yield that sweet Cuban tobacco taste that I have come to love. The smoke begins light, woody and a nice clean sweet finish. It is already clear that this is not a cigar that will be rushed. I am worried about the burn due to the tapered and unusual shape, but I trust that with careful and casual puffing it will correct itself.
Already after an inch, the burn is corrected and the taste has become earthy and a little leathery. Oh, wow. After 2 inches, it just opened up more – and what flavor! Much richer and fuller (of course this is at the peak of the ring gauge). Wow, so many flavors – I can’t pick them all out. Rich, leathery tobacco w/ a slight twang, a hint of spice, sweet cedary finish – wow! Oh crap – new flavor and I can’t figure it out. Sweet, herbal….hmmm…almost like sweet tea…
Oh, crap – this thing is kicking my butt now and I’m only half way through! Flavors are turning spicier.
1/3 left and it has developed again w/ creamy cocoa and coffee hints. Very complex – changes on you like a Taboada! I blacked out after this, but I can tell you – this cigar finished very well. Actually - it never became overpowering or as spicy as I thought it would. As is common with truly well blended cigars, the flavors were complex, but subtle. I especially loved how this cigar developed - a unique experience and a great celebratory stick!
