Stogie Reviews: Partagas Spanish Rosado San Agustin

5 Mar 2007

The Partagas Spanish Rosado is a beautiful cigar. The oily cinnamon-tinged color of the Honduran wrapper from the San Agustin Valley and the slightly floral notes from the unlit foot promise an enjoyable smoke. And they deliver.

I got the Rosado – a 5.5 inch by 52 ring gauge stick called the San Agustin – in a buy-two-get-one-free sampler package from Partagas. It also contained a Black Label Clasico and a Partagas Naturales. I don’t recall exactly what I paid, but I believe it was a mere $9 or $10.

I’ve enjoyed a number of Partagas Blacks, but this was my first Rosado. It most definitely will not be my last.

The filler is a mix of Dominican, Honduran, and Mexican tobaccos, while the binder is Connecticut Broadleaf. Mine was packed tightly with some heft. The prelight draw felt a little tight, but once the cigar was burning the draw was excellent. The smoke was rich and full.

At the first puff, there was sweetness, followed quickly by a spicy finish. Both came and went throughout the smoke, as did some citrus notes and an underlying warm tobacco taste. I believe it was the slowest burning cigar I’ve ever had. In fact, I would be inclined to try one of the smaller ring gauges to see if they moved a little quicker.

The burn was the only problem I had with the Agustin. Several times, in the last half, the wrapper burned unevenly, requiring a touch-up.

General lists the price for a single San Agustin at $5.55 (before taxes). On the Internet, you can find a box of 25 for less than $100. All in all, this is a top-quality cigar at a price lower than might be expected.

For impressive performance, I give this medium-bodied beauty a rating of four out of five stogies.