PARTAGAS Lusitanias Gran Reserva Cosecha 2007 Tasting & Review

Length: 19.4cm
Ring Gauge: 49
Factory Name: Lusitanias
Vitola: Lusitanias
Type: Double Corona
Presentation: Box of 15 cigars (Only 5000 Serial Numbered)
Release Date: Last quarter 2013
Price: N/A

I have finally decided to smoke the Partagas Lusitanias Gran Reserva Cosecha 2007 after putting it off for almost 2 months. This cigar came from the sample giveaway from the last Habanos Festival and was given to me by my dear friend Mr. Mishal Almisnad to taste and review. As I have done in the past, I try my best to rest the cigar for a while to make sure its ready for smoking... nah... actually that's just an excuse to not smoke it until it close to the actual release of this cigar (hoping it will be end of fourth quarter this year).

Also prior to smoking this Gran Reserva, I have revisited the Lusitanias twice by smoking a 2007 and a 2010 cigar to see what I might be expecting from the Gran Reserva. So lets take a look...

The Construction - a smooth shiny dark colorado claro wrapper with no visible veins, firm cigar from foot to cap with a superb elegant finish. The Gran Reserva Band has a new element of the GR logos on the back of the band. As for the Partagas, its the standard band used similar to the normal Lusitanias.

The Draw - slight resistance in the draw from the Gran Reserva Lusitanias size but not totally obscured. The wrapper gives off a nice delicate caramel scent with a toasty finish and you can also pick up from the draw some sweet tobacco flavor that are signs of extra fermentation which is not present in the normal Lusitanias.

The First Burn - after toasting the foot a clear coffee scent is present and a sweet mellow caramel notes are tasted in the very first draws. Unlike the normal Lusintanias, the Gran Reserva offers little of the peppery start with light cedary notes. Some spices are present but very mellow and reminiscent of cloves without the tingle aftertaste. Smoke is very light and draw resistance is just perfect.

The Middle Burn - here is where the Gran Reserva excels from the regular Lusitanias in my opinion. We often experience a distinctive spicy and earthy notes in Partagas which gives it its character we are familiar with. The woody notes in the Gran Reserva tend to be very sweet with a nutty finish, the accent of caramel and cloves lingering lightly in the background makes for a subtle aftertaste while producing an even burn with a silky smoke to be enjoyed fully! Even though I like the full spicy notes and heavy cedry taste of the normal Lusitanias, this velvety smoke of the Gran Reserva makes it a classier version and more refined in this vitola.

The Final Burn - towards the final part of this smoke the characters intensify to really showcase the robust flavors of the Partagas Lusitanias Gran Reserva. White pepper and sweet woodiness profiles brings out more tasty notes that really make this journey to the end so wonderful. Even though I have rested the final part for a few minutes to cool off the burn, relighting it continued to deliver great flavors and creamy nutty smoke. The build up of tar, heat and concentrated flavors made this Gran Reserva worthy of smoking til the nub.

The Pairing - As the Partagas Lusitanias  Gran Reserva turned out to be a very elegant and refined smoke with mellow and not too over powering flavors, I highly recommend going with the Nespresso Arpeggio, with intensity level 9, the cocoa notes and a heavy roast will complement the silky characters of the Lusinatians.

Enjoy!