Review: Partagas Serie D No.4 Reserva
This was a great friggin’ smoke. This is an incredibly difficult cigar to find. Even when it was released in 2005, there were only 5,000 boxes (100,000 cigars) total produced for the entire world market. Manufactured with tobacco leaves specially selected from the 2000 harvest and aged for three years prior to being rolled, the cigars came in a small box (20 cigars to a box) that looked like a humidor. The cigars have the normal (kick ass) red Serie D band, but just below is a black and silver band reading “Reserva.”
- Cigar Reviewed: Partagas Serie D No.4 Reserva
- Country of Origin: Cuba
- Factory: Fernando Perez German
Wrapper: Cuba - Binder: Cuba
- Filler: Cuba
- Size: 4 7/8 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 50
- Vitola: Robusto
- Est. Price: $50.00 or more (if you can find them)
- Number of Cigars Released: 5,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (100,000 Total Cigars)
I have to say, I LOVE the Robusto size. It is almost like the perfect sized cigar to me … not to short, not too long, and not too large a RG. This Reserva was no exception, in fact, it was perfectly constructed. The stick was fairly spongy when squeezed, and the wrapper is a nice golden brown color that smelled of tobacco and just a bit of cinnamon. After punching it and taking a prelight draw, there were strong flavors of oak and spice. It lit very easily, and I immediately tasted a large amount of spice; not pepper, but spice (the difference to me in a cigar is that spice makes the mouth tingle, while pepper is more of a scent and taste … if that makes any sense). Also present was the always easy to identify Cuban sweetness, kind of a creamy, earthy sweet flavor.
In the second third of the cigar, the spice leveled off (but was still very present), and the dominant flavor was a great combination of sweetness and oak, with a little bit of what tasted like roasted nuts.
The Final third was quite a bit more reserved (get it? Reserved?) then the first two. The spice almost disappeared, the cigar mellowed out quite bit, and the oak and sweetness were the main flavors. There was also just a touch of chocolate and it was VERY nice to taste after all the spice. These flavors made for a smoke that was extremely enjoyable to the end.
Final Notes:
- This is a cigar with a lot of spice, but it never overwhelmed the other flavors that were present. In fact, it actually made them quite a bit more enjoyable, since I could taste the contrasts between them. I would categorize this as one of the smoothest and most complex smokes I have smoked till now.
- Interestingly, the ash did not stay on longer then about half an inch the entire stick.
- The Burn and Draw were perfect for the entire stick.
- Smoking time was exactly 1 hour and 36 minutes.
The Bottom Line: This is a cigar that I will remember for a long time. The wonderful combination of spice and sweetness is what quite a few cigars try and accomplish, and usually fail at. I had a heck of a time tracking them down, but I managed to get 7 of them, and I will be waiting for the right time to smoke the rest of them. Basically, this stick was worth every penny I paid for it, and that is saying a lot.
Final Score: 94
Had one last night to celebrate my 50th Birthday. An awesome changing smoke, that had some very rich knock-out strength at the end, that just capped a great experience. Thanks Abel, for saving this one cigar for me - I thought about you, your store and your homeland on this special occasion.
I just found this sight from your post on CA I appreciate your reviews. This Partagas Series D No 4 Reserve in my opinion is a work of art and I have smoked a lot of great cigars over the years.
Brooks, I'll be needing one of these cigars "poste haste".....do what you can, you da' man!
Keep up the awesome reviews, I'll be watching.
Badfish
Nice review. Definitely be interested in trying a few of these.
Man that looks good... I just had one of these, they are great.
Nice!
Id love to get my hands on some of these... I hear amazing things about the regular PSD4.
Definitely on the "must smoke" list... came very close to a PSD5 a few months ago... just gotta wait it out I guess, and hope I get lucky in the search.
Awesome review and photos as always.
Great review Brooks wish I had one to try
Great photos, sounds like you really enjoyed this cigar. I'll keep it on my list to buy when they become available. Thanks and great job on the site.
Great review and pics! From your review, it appears that the final 3rd of the stick is the real difference between the Reserva and the regular line.
I have *one* Cuban (Shhh.... don't tell Obama!) and I am saving it until I collect enough experience points to understand how to enjoy the darn thing!
MJ,
Yes, cubans do tend to be quite a bit more mild (ie, very little pepper IN GENERAL, there are always exceptions, like this one), and it sometimes allows more flavors to come through...I think the main problem with the "pepper/spice" in cigars is that most cigars that use it overwhelm the flavors to the point of distraction...There are some cigars that use the pepper/spice as a great addition to flavors (Tatuaje is one of the best at this, IMHO), but in my experience, quite a few cigar makers try and fail to find the balance....
Remember also that anyone who reviews cigars is using words to describe flavors in THEIR context, so what I think of as "Spice" or "Pepper" or whatever, could taste like something else entirely to someone else...
Another great review, Brooks. I especially like your description of "spice" vs "pepper". Recently I chatted with Ernie Padilla concerning spice and pepper notes and he said that that is an undesirable characteristic in a cigar. He said Cubans never heard of their cigars having spice and that it was a result of unproperly fermented tobacco. He even referred me to a CA online video interview with Jorge Padron where he also agreed that he had never heard of 'spice' as a flavor characteristic in Cuban cigars.
Any thoughts on this? I assume you have had your fair share of quality Cubans and would be able to shed some light. Thanks!
I've heard nothing but great reviews of this stick and am really kicking myself in the arse for missing out on this one.
Great review, but $50 for just one cigar?
Mmm. This review made me want to did down in my box for some cubans.
Nice review. One of these days I'll get around to trying a "regular-ol' PSD4". Sounds like the Reserva is a step up from an already highly regarded cigar!
Sounds like a great cigar. I won't be smoking one at $50 each though.
Wow that looks good. I want to try and pick up a few Partagas' when I am in Cabo San Lucas in a few months
The PSD4 is one of my favorite habanos, can't even imagine how great the reserva is!
Great review. I'm a big fan of regular PSD4's and can't wait to try the Reserva!
1 down...6 to go! Good Luck keepin' your hands off the rest, Brooks!
Sounds like you had a good night BW, and a killer smoke... looks like a beauty.
fantastic review, as always. looks like another that i wouldn't mind crossing my path
That sounds like a fantastic smoke. I also appreciate your take on spice and pepper. Great pictures, as always.
looks excellent. i have a couple regular PSD4's in my humidor i've been sitting on. i might crack one out after reading this. Not a reserva but why not.
Wow man.... What a GREAT looking smoke. Lucky you!!
Sounds awesome. I'll probably never smoke one, but hey, it's nice to know it's out there. Thanks for spelling out your distinction between pepper and spice - too often I see reviews that don't provide an explanation of what they mean by "spicy." It helps to know where you're coming from.
Great Review! I might just have to settle for the regular release instead of the reserva.
I was sitting next to a guy smoking one of these; the smell was intoxicating, but what bummed me was that the guy seemed like he did not know how to appreciate this cigar!! pity... but, great review!
Wow!!! Great review Brooks! I have never had one of these - don't know if I ever will, but I love it when you find that perfect cigar, enjoying every moment of it and every puff is just heavenly. I'm fortunate enough to have had it happen more than a few times & look forward to the next cigar nirvana experience!
Great review, even though I don't think I'll ever get to smoke one....
Awesome review. Thanks Brooks.
BOOOOO....I was hoping for one of your reviews on the SBII. Oh well it was a cool review for the PSD4, hell I didn't even know they existed.