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Home > What's New > Connoisseur's Corner, February 2004
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Connoisseur's Corner, February 2004
Posted: Friday, April 02, 2004
Reprinted from the February 2004 issue of Cigar Aficionado
Classic cigars are rare, so this tasting of aged cigars is extra special -- we found two.
An eight-year-old Cuban, the Partagas 150th Anniversary Double Corona, was one of the finest cigars we've ever smoked. It performed brilliantly and had complex layers of flavors. The cigar was nearly perfect, 98 points.
Our second classic hails from Nicaragua. The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Imperial Maduro was only six years old, which is fairly young by Connoisseur's Corner standards. It was smooth and balanced, packed with flavor and had a long, cedary finish.
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Partagas 150th Anniversary DOUBLE CORONA (1995)
98 Wow! This double corona cigar was one of three sizes made especially for the 150th anniversary of the Partagas cigar brand in Cuba. It is a very rare cigar; only 150 numbered chests were produced, with 150 cigars each. It is a tremendous smoke today. It is filled with a sweet earthiness with leather, cocoa bean and sweet spice flavors. It is completely smooth. It draws like a dream and burns perfectly. An absolute classic.
--Gordon Mott
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Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Imperial Maduro (1997)
95 A glistening maduro wrapper draws you into this perfectly balanced smoke. There are strong notes of pepper and licorice on the palate, and it has a sweet, cedary finish that lingers. This cigar, which was smooth in its infancy, has rounded out even more into a wonderful rich soft texture in just six years.
--Gordon Mott
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Partagas de Partagas No. I (1991)
92 A lonsdale that is good to the last puff. Has aromas and flavors of a fine black tea, with cream and hints of cedar. Long and refreshing.
--James Suckling
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El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme (1995)
92 This came out of a cedar cabinet of 50, and had been sitting in my cellar for eight years. With a dark and rich-looking wrapper, this Hermoso No. 4-sized smoke delivers powerful and spicy character, almost peppery, and a long, long aftertaste. After all these years, it's still very strong.
--James Suckling
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Bolivar Corona Extra (1981)
91 An excellent 20-year-old plus cigar. There is a depth of cedar and a smoky woodiness that gives this cigar almost a Scotch-like character. There are strong hints of pepper on the palate and a long cedar finish. It performs beautifully, with an easy draw and a nice white ash.
--Gordon Mott
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Vegueros Especiales No. 1 (1998)
90 This is an underrated cigar. It seemed rather light and medium bodied initially, but with a few years years of age it became splendid. Spice and coffee notes. Loads of tobacco character.
--James Suckling
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