Quick Smoke: Partagas 150 Robusto
16 Jan 2011
Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,†“hold,†or “sell.â€
Originally released in 1995, the ultra-rare Partagas 150 features a Cameroon wrapper that is over 30 years old. It shows no ill-effects from its age, with firm construction, an excellent draw, and perfect combustion. The cigar features surprising strength, with plenty of medium-bodied Cameroon spice and sweetness, combined with a myriad of subtle flavors including earth, cocoa, honey, and oak. Back in 1995 this sold for around $12 per stick, but the one I smoked featured a price tag of around $50. Despite the considerable cost, when you factor in the opportunity to smoke a piece of history, connoisseurs should consider picking up this exquisite smoke.
Verdict = Buy.
photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
Or, 10 4-year old ERDMs or …..
If a cigar tastes fantastic, then it is worth more than one that doesn't taste as good. How much more? Of course, for me & many others, $50 for one cigar, is not something to contemplate. No worries.
For a cigar that costs nearly $50, I'm obviously not going to tell you it's a good value or even "worth every penny."
What I can tell you is that it's a damn good cigar. And it's also the only cigar I know that can be bought fairly easily that features a wrapper grown in the late 1970's with binder and filler that are now over 15 years old. That's truly unique and if one were inclined to spend $50 on one cigar, this would be a fine choice.
The cigar shop in Ashburn has a box of these in 4 different sizes. At least I’m assuming they’re the same as they’re Partagas and are all somewhere around $50. What piece of history are we getting with this? What’s special about the wrapper other than its age? For $50, I can get 4 15+ year old Paul Garmirians. 🙂
All good points, Patrick. I guess I just take a Gestalt philosophy when it comes to cigar aging. A 15 year old cigar is going to have its flavor significantly influenced by the age. Age on the individual components don't seem to have as much of an impact, but maybe they're just too subtle for me to fully appreciate.
Patrick & Dave, A bit lost w/ the "Gestalt philosophy" but admire and probably understand the thinking of both of you: To keep a cigar for 15 years properly, is a great service; yet, one might not ever pay for that service if it goes beyond his budget.
I do like hearing about such old cigars. It tells us that we may benefit greatly for keeping some cigars in our humidors for very long times. So long, that I can look forward to enjoying them in my mid-70s.
Thanks.
Ethan – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I believe age is more important to the finished cigar that it is to the components individually. I'm thinking a cigar with a 30 year old wrapper that was rolled last month won't have the aged attributes that you'd expect from a 7+ year old cigar.
While I'm sure this Partagas wrapper is great and definitely something I may never get a chance to sample again, having the Paul Garmirian shop so close by kinda skews my expectations. There I've bought cigars that were 18 years old for $12 each.
Dave, Thanks. I did not catch that the cigar was wrapped w/ 30-yr. old cameroon. Now what you meant by "gestalt" is understood; moreover, I agree w/ you. I've come to set $6 as my maximum price & keeping all purchases to an average of $3; although I have a sampler of Padron 64, a sampler & a sampler of 26 bought 26 months back at a cost of $14 per cigar, & last summer bought a box of Diamond Cr. Max. Chur #2s at a cost of $9.60 ea. that I think were more than a year old. That is more $ than is sensible in my circumstances, and not necessary for enjoying cigars. I am putting away lower-priced cigars; so I can compare all levels & types that have aged. Keeps it interesting.
I've had the pleasure of trying two of the Partagas 150, and both were exeptional! Since the first was a gift and the second I received at roughly 40% of cost (pretty much a gift!), I would have to say that as much as I enjoyed both cigars, I would not pay $50 per stick. Heck, I wouldn't pay $50 for 2 of them.
These are one of my favorite cigars of all time, i still have 3 sticks from the original release in my humidor. An amazing smoke.
I once smoked 4 boxes of the Partagas 150's in a single year. This was back in the late 90's. I never knew what I had, otherwise I would have kept them. At the time I was single with disposable income, but even today, I buy them when I can find them. They are that good!!!!! If you have never smoked one you will never understand.
If money is the issue, screw it. You live once. SPLURGE on yourself. You can find them for around $30 a stick. What's $30 in the scope of life? Seriously. Stop complaining about the price and seek one out. Better yet…DONT…..leave them for me.
I have found a place, that has Partagas 150 Robustos in stock.
How would I go about telling if they are genuine, and not fake? If they are real, I'll share the location/ link
sean (sean@semdi.com
I have a huge chest of P-150 and Ramon y Ramon in my store i work at. Been kept in a walk in humidor it's whole life at 70/70 so great condition
Really…How much do you want for it, and where do I have to go for it ?