My First "Strong" Cigar!!!

[longknocker]

On the advice of "Kansashat", I tried my first "Strong Cigar", his favorite, Partagas Black Label. I rested this stick in my Humi for 2 weeks at 69RH with several 69RH Boveda Packs. After opening the cigar from its cello, I noticed a wonderful, rich aroma from the stick. I toasted the foot, and lit the cigar carefully with my triple torch lighter from Rob at Taboo cigars. This lighter is my new favorite! Wind does not faze this flame! I noticed an initial spice, followed by clouds of rich, white smoke. I love a cigar with thick volumes of smoke! There was an initial bite for an aftertaste that evened out quickly. The first ash was very even and fell naturally at 1.5 inches. After the initial 'bite", I noticed a very smooth, sweet, woodsy taste. Oak, maybe? This was the first cigar that I noticed a strong, sweet, smell from the clouds of smoke enveloping my face! Sweeeet! As I said, the initial burn was perfectly even. Draw was perfect. The second half left a very uneven burn, however. Despite several touch-ups with my lighter, the burn was 1-1.5 inches more on the lower side of the stick! I could not even it out despite letting the cigar rest for several minutes. I also noticed the cigar wrapper "wrinkle" significantly. I nubbed the cigar on one side after 50 minutes. The upper side of the stick still had 1.5 inches left! Overall, a very smooth, sweet, complex smoke. I had my usual nicotine "buzz" after the first 1/2 which was not as strong as my RP ITC 10th anniversary that I reviewed last week. Overall rating 7/10. Any thoughts as to the uneven burn? Should I give the rest of my 5 pack a rest for a while? How long would you recommend? Thanks for all your advice, Gorillas!!!

[St. Lou Stu]

Great review. :tu

This is one of my all time favorites.
If you got your fiver from CI, let it rest. It sounds like it may have been a bit wet by the uneven burn you described. CI tends to ship 'em a bit wet.
I keep mine at 65% and they burn wonderfully! I always let these rest a week or more due to the fact that they are more prone to burn uneven if you don't.

[longknocker]

Great review. :tu

This is one of my all time favorites.
If you got your fiver from CI, let it rest. It sounds like it may have been a bit wet by the uneven burn you described. CI tends to ship 'em a bit wet.
I keep mine at 65% and they burn wonderfully! I always let these rest a week or more due to the fact that they are more prone to burn uneven if you don't.

Thanks for the advice, St. Lou!!!

[steelprostate]

Awesome review. I think I might just have to give one of these bad boys a shot.

[wharfrathoss]

seems like the thicker maduro wrapper benefit from lower RH, say 65% or so-to my tastes, natural wraps do too, JMHO

[bobarian]

Love the Partagas Black a really tasty MEDIUM smoke. Full is a Litto Gomez Diez! But you have made a great start on moving to stronger fuller flavored sticks. Try rotating or moving your smokes around to different areas of your humi if they are burning uneven. And once the Boveda packs dry out, go to 65% beads as Stu as advised. Congrats on your slide down the slope!:tu

[longknocker]

Awesome review. I think I might just have to give one of these bad boys a shot.

I think you'll like them! Just let them sit for a month or so! I think I'll try to keep all my cigars at 65RH from now on. Seems to be the most popular RH among the "Silverbacks"! Let us know what you think with a review! Thanks!

[longknocker]

Love the Partagas Black a really tasty MEDIUM smoke. Full is a Litto Gomez Diez! But you have made a great start on moving to stronger fuller flavored sticks. Try rotating or moving your smokes around to different areas of your humi if they are burning uneven. And once the Boveda packs dry out, go to 65% beads as Stu as advised. Congrats on your slide down the slope!:tu


Thanks for the advice, Bobarian! Is there anything you can do while the cigar is lit to even out the burn? Thanks for the help!

[bobarian]

Thanks for the advice, Bobarian! Is there anything you can do while the cigar is lit to even out the burn? Thanks for the help!

Sometimes it cant be fixed. But you can try rotating the between puffs, take about a minute between puffs and as a last resort relight the unburned section to even things out(touch up). :tu None of my advice is original, I am only passing on the wise words of the jungle elders. :ss

[Ratters]

That's one of the funny things about the Partagas Black, when it first came out it was considered a very strong cigar. Now it's considered about a medium. Funny how things have changed. Still a great cigar, I have a box of magnificos sitting in the humidor and the prontos are one of my favorite short smokes.

[ja3480]

Sounds like there not that bad. Will have to try one out. Thanks for the review!

[redryno247]

Dang, dang, dang, I almost lit one of these up tonight, but instead went with a Padilla Obsidian, which didn't go well at all (see review in this section). Anyhow, I'm glad you enjoyed this cigar, and thanks for a great review.

[MarkinCA]

Good review! It time for you to fire-up an AVO Domaine #10 longknocker...:cb

[Texan in Mexico]

Very nice review! I second the advice on lowering the RH to 65%, where I live the humidity is killer and remember every once in a while you get a dud. We can do a lot to minimize the risk - this is a great place to learn how.

I look forward to your next review!

[Pendaboot]

Thanks for the advice, Bobarian! Is there anything you can do while the cigar is lit to even out the burn? Thanks for the help!
One thing you can do, is smoke a bit slower. Most vitolas will burn evenly if you go slow enough. The other thing is, carry two lighters, like I do.

That triple jet is the best way to start a large rg cigar. Toast the foot for a few seconds, and smoke. Works perfectly almost every time. But if you have no patience (or are smoking something sub-par) you will need to touch up the vitola, and that triple jet will not serve you well here. For this job, you need a single jet. Nothing else will do.

A good side effect of carrying two lighters is, when your triple lets you down, due to not enough fuel or it just craps out on you (they all will sooner or later) your single jet will bail you out - with style!

[longknocker]

One thing you can do, is smoke a bit slower. Most vitolas will burn evenly if you go slow enough. The other thing is, carry two lighters, like I do.

That triple jet is the best way to start a large rg cigar. Toast the foot for a few seconds, and smoke. Works perfectly almost every time. But if you have no patience (or are smoking something sub-par) you will need to touch up the vitola, and that triple jet will not serve you well here. For this job, you need a single jet. Nothing else will do.

A good side effect of carrying two lighters is, when your triple lets you down, due to not enough fuel or it just craps out on you (they all will sooner or later) your single jet will bail you out - with style!


Thanks, Bro! I do have a tendency to smoke too fast! Hardly any of my cigars last 1 hour, and many of the gorillas get 1 hour or more from their smokes! Gre:tuat advice about the single jet! Thanks again!!!

[dwhitacre]

Nice Review!!!:tu


I had one and it burnt uneven as well. Had to correct like Bobarian said.

I found it a little strong for my taste but it was strong with nice coco and pepper. Tasty.

[steelheaderdu]

Time to try La Flor Dominicana, the Chisel....

Enjoy it, Knocker. By the way, I challenge you to a "who can knock it the longest" if you're ever in central Ohio.

:ss

[WyoBob]

I've smoked quite a few boxes of P.B's, mostly Clasico's and Bravo's and never had one run that bad. I think that one cigar had a construction problem. I'll vote with all those who mentioned these smoke better at 65%.

WyoBob

[mustang1]

Always been a fan of Partagas Black. :ss Good review.