Partagas Valle Verde is a new, full-time collection that debuted this year as the first Partagas blend to be crowned with a Mexican San Andrés leaf.
John Hakim, brand manager of Partagas said:
“Partagas Valle Verde builds on the Partagas tradition of rich, refined blends and calls upon its rich Mexican wrapper to deliver a unique smoking experience to the brand portfolio. It is the ideal choice for cigar enthusiasts who are drawn to well-aged tobaccos.”
The line was named after a lush agricultural region called the “Green Valley” where the brand’s wrapper tobacco was grown. Bordering the Gulf of Mexico, the valley has a comparatively cool climate, a prolonged rainy season and a nutrient-rich volcanic soil. There, the region’s growers yield a pristine, light brown wrapper tobacco that is rich and layered.
The Partagas Valle Verde has a blend of well-aged tobacco described by the company as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés (Harvested 2020)
- Binder – Cameroon (Harvested 2015)
- Filler – Mexican San Andrés, Nicaraguan Jalapa and Esteli (Harvested 2020)
Partagas Valle Verde is expressed in three full-time vitolas, each packaged in 20-count boxes, and a limited edition, box-pressed Belicoso that comes in a ten-count box. The line is handcrafted in Honduras at HATSA and is distributed by Forged Cigar Company.
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $7.99
- Toro (6 x52) – MSRP $8.49
- Double Corona (7.5 x54) – MSRP $9.49
- (Limited Edition) Belicoso (6.5 x 52) – MSRP $9.99
For this review, I sampled 4 of the Partagas Valle Verde toros, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Partagas Valle Verde is draped in a dark brown, slight oily wrapper. The cigar is firmly packed and has some veins and noticeable seams. A simple cap finishes the construction.
A single band adorns the cigar using a vibrant green, gold and white motif. The band proudly and boldly displays the Partagas Logo.
As I ran the barrel along the nose, I quickly picked up notes of natural tobacco sweetness and baking spice while the foot exuded pungent barnyard notes notes.
Using my CigarMedics Baller cutter I opened the cap perfectly and drew in the first cold puffs that seemed just fine with restriction and offered notes of a light pepper and some pungent notes.
I used my single flame Xikar lighter to warm the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery smoke to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Peppery start right off the of the first puff with a touch of earth
- Light grey ash forms on top of a medium thick, wavy char line
- Full volume of smoke
- There is an initial harshness on the palate at the start of the journey
- Sweet cracker notes begin to form as the burn develops
- Ash fell early revealing a small but decent burn cone
- Sweetness gradually morphs into a tasty caramel note
- Some dark chocolate notes begin to grace the palate
- Mild spice and popcorn nuances entice the palate
- Ash starts to get flaky
- Earthy notes remerge deep in the second third
- Spice grows moving into final third
- Medium Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 45 minutes
Final Analysis
The Partagas Valle Verde Toro starts the journey with a fiery burst of pepper, igniting the senses with a subtle hint of earthiness. As the journey unfolds, a mild but discernible harshness makes its presence known on the palate. Gradually, the burn takes on a delightful transformation, giving rise to the subtle sweetness reminiscent of sweet crackers, building layer by layer. This sweetness, akin to caramel, slowly evolves, creating an inviting complexity. Soon, the palate is graced with the emergence of dark chocolate notes, bestowing a rich character to the experience. Hints of mild spice and subtle popcorn nuances playfully dance on the taste buds, enticing the senses further. As the journey progresses into the second third, earthy undertones resurface, adding depth and intrigue. The spice, once mild, and takes center stage, growing in intensity, delivering a bold and satisfying conclusion to the experience. This is one that I kept going back to and enjoyed each time. Add the price point in and this is a box buy easily. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Early Harshness; (-1) Flaky ash in second half
Bonus Points: (+1) Consistent and Pleasurable across multiple Samples; (+1) Box Buy
