Partagas – 1845 Extra Oscuro

The past two weeks have been crazy on all fronts. Last week, both of my kids were fighting off mean viruses and work has been busy with some restructuring going on. So I am happy to be back here with a stogie in hand and letting the stresses of the world slip away, if only for a little bit. Today, I bring to you a review of General Cigar Co.’s Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro.

In mid-March, General Cigar Company released the Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro, an internet and catalog retailer exclusive, along side its brick and mortar counterpart, the 1845 Extra Fuerte. The release of “two unique, channel specific collections” is not new to General Cigar Company as they took the same approach with the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Esteli and Serie R Black.

The 1845 Extra Oscuro wears a Connecticut Havana Oscuro wrapper over a Dominican binder and Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers. While the 1845 Extra Fuerte showcases a Ecuadorian Habano Ligero wrapper, a Connecticut Habano binder, and Dominican Piloto Cubana and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.

The Extra Oscuro is available in five vitolas: Rothschild (4 ½ by 50), Robusto Gordo (5 ½ by 52), Double Corona (7 ½ by 54), Gigante (6 by 60) and Supremo (7 by 58).

The Facts

Samples Provided by General Cigar Company
MSRP: $7.49
Vitola: Robusto Gordo
Size: 5 ½ by 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Havano Oscuro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan
Drink: Water
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

Pre-light

The 1845 Extra Oscuro wears a dark, almost black Connecticut Havano Oscuro wrapper that is veiny and bumpy. The purple and silver band looks striking against the dark wrapper. A fine tooth can be seen down the crazy oily leaf. The wrapper aroma contains notes of hay, sweet barnyard, chocolate, as well as a slight pungency. Mainly chocolate, woodsy notes, and a mild spice can be found on the foot of the cigar.

Upon clipping away the first layer of the beautifully applied cap, a cold draw that is rich with flavors of chocolate and clove presents itself and I can feel a spice  tingle on my lips.

First Third

The cigar is beginning with the same richness I picked up on from the cold draw, however, there is a syrupy sweetness and some charred cedar notes that just do not suit my palate. Or at least the combination of the two.  I am going to play around with the time I allow the cigar to rest between draws to see if it will relieve some of the charred notes. Extending the resting time, I notice the flavors are meshing and rich tobacco notes, cedar (but not charred), leather, and some cocoa are now discernible. There is also a spice that is lingering in the back of my throat. Up until an inch in, the cigar was burning evenly. However, one side (are there sides on rounded objects?) of the wrapper is having difficulty burning. The flavors are medium/full and I am not picking up on any nicotine at this point.

Middle Third

The burn issue at the end of the first third quickly resolved itself. The flavors remain rather consistent  except for an added faint dark fruit sweetness. Due to the spice irritation I was feeling in the back of the throat, I was hesitant to retrohale early on. Finally, working up the nerve, I find the retrohale not overpowering but enjoyable. A dusty cocoa is very noticeable on the finish of the smoke, along with some coffee. The ash is holding to an inch but is a bit flaky.

Final Third

The flavors all around have stepped up a notch and I am beginning to feel a slight nicotine kick. The flavors are dark, rich and now earthy.  A yeasty, bread-like flavor has also arrived, which I find usually in Maduro cigars. Once again, one “side” of the cigar is not burning. Putting a quick flame to the wrapper, the burnline is back on track and I think can squeeze a few more minutes out of this 1845 Extra Oscuro. 

Wrap-up

I was immediately turned off by the Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro within the first few minutes of lighting it up. But, after adjusting my smoking pace, I found the cigar to be quite enjoyable.  The other sample used in the photos was smoked on a windy spring day in El Paso. Even with slowing my normal smoking pace, the wind caused the cigar to burn much faster resulting in charred flavors and several burn issues. This is definitely a cigar that you will want to enjoy on a calm day or indoors to avoid the flavor and performance issues. I am not sure if I will hunt down this cigar on the internet but I would not hesitate to smoke one again if I am provided the opportunity. I look forward to seeing how the 1845 Extra Fuerte experience will compare.