#NowSmoking: Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 Toro
#NowSmoking: Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 Toro Cigar Review (Video)
Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 – Cigar Details:
Factory: General Cigar Dominicana – Santiago, DR
Size: 6”x52
Strength: Medium-full
Wrapper: Proprietary Brazilian Cameroon
Binder: U.S. Connecticut Havano
Filler: Nicaraguan Ometepe, Estelí, Jalapa, Dominican Piloto Cubano
Presented in boxes of 10
The Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 Toro Cigar Back Story
Released in November of 2021, the Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 is an artisan blend released annually, with each year offering a different size. As is usually the case, this year’s model was created to honor the spirit of Partagas’ founder Ramón Cifuentes by using an exotic, proprietary Brazilian-grown Cameroon wrapper—a first for Partagas.
“Partagas Decadas 2021 was created for cigar connoisseurs who seek extraordinary smoking experiences,” said Partagas senior brand manager Matt Wilson. “The blend was developed to deepen the intrigue of our proprietary, Brazilian grown Cameroon wrapper and delivers the ultimate super premium indulgence. This is a smoke that the true cigar lover should seek to add to their collection.”
Cifuentes, himself, was famous for using Cameroon wrapper on his Partagas cigars, and odds are you’ll be seeing more of this Brazilian varietal from Partagas in the future.
The Basics At-a-Glance
Construction: The proprietary Brazilian Cameroon wrapper is a handsome-looking leaf with the same muted brown color found on prime African Cameroon. It also seems to be a bit thicker than the African variety. The cigar is seamlessly rolled with a firm rolling. The triple seam cap is perfectly applied. The neck bands are a mostly blue and gold color scheme. The thinner, secondary band has the vintage, tribute image of Ramon Cifuentes.
Cold Draw: Sweet leather.
Base flavors: Nutmeg, leather, caramel, cedar, nuts, light peppery spice.
Aroma: Caramel and campfire.
Burn & Ash: Excellent. The burn on both my samples was even with a barely visible carbon line. The ash was firm but tapped-off easily.
The initial few puffs issue black pepper spice out of the gate with a bit of earth. Once the cigar gets going it’s well-balanced, medium-bodied, and issues a mix of baking spices led by nutmeg and leather with a sweet honey-like flavor. Some cedar and nuts enter the fray with a lingering black pepper spice finish on the palate.
The mid-section continues with nutmeg, leather, and nuts, but the cedar plays a more dominant role. The burn is impressively even, while the aroma reveals a note of caramel and the relaxing fragrance of a well-built campfire. Some spice continues to linger on the palate as the body shifts into a more medium-plus mode.
At this juncture the cigar has transitioned into a full-bodied smoke. The flavors appear to have weakened but for a sharp leathery taste, and even the spicy finish has left the building. Yet with a little over two inches remaining, a combination of caramel-like sweetness, cedar, and leather suddenly appear out of nowhere. As I said in the video, your experience may differ, so if you did have a different experience, leave a comment.
What whiskey pairs well with the Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 Toro?
This is a tough one. I think the Decadas would be fine with just about any good dark whiskey, but I would go with a good dark añejo Rum. For more combinations, see our Cigar & Spirit pairing guide.
Is Partagas Limited Reserve Decadas 2021 Toro worth smoking?
As the star of this latest Decadas edition, the Brazilian Cameroon wrapper performed beautifully. It had to cut through a wad of pretty bold tobaccos like Ometepe, Estelí, and Connecticut Havano so, BRAVO to the creators of this new varietal. Just be careful when you’re removing the bands. This Brazilian Cameroon may be a little less delicate, but delicate, nonetheless.
Overall, the Partagas Decadas 2021 checked all the right boxes. As advertised, this blend is definitely up there with the more refined, “connoisseur” class cigars, and that includes its price.
Suffice it to say, you’re gonna get a lot of smoke time for your money, especially if you sip it rather than gulp it. Both of my samples went a full 90 minutes. If yours happens to do so, then you should have yourself a very rewarding session.