Partagas Petit Bouquet

[Lemon]

Topic pretty much says it all. An internetshop I've used several times sells these, and I was wondering if they're any good. I'd appreciate any information you guys can give me. Good? Bad?

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Funny you should ask, I just had one the other night with a really nice single malt for dessert after a nice Christmas Eve crab dinner. I thought it was fantastic; here's the review I submitted on cigars-review.org:

"I just finished one of these nice little figurados with a fine Single Malt Scotch Whisky -- The Balvenie DoubleWood -- for dessert immediately after Christmas Eve dinner last night. The pre-light aromas were characteristically Habano; sweet and fresh, yet aged, though not particularly remarkable, as other Habanos I've had and have, yet, still pleasant and nice to take out of the humidor and smell here and there.

"I had low expectations because of the last review (#2, by sasha), but I was very pleasantly surprised. Its behavior was exactly as sasha described; I didn't get so much as a wisp of smoke right away, and I was worried that it might've been plugged, but sure enough, after some careful massaging, it opened up. And when it did, beautiful, perfectly pearly smoke started blossoming out. It was spicy right away, the flavor presenting itself with full-bodied power, saturating my palate. The construction was marvelous; the ash held on all the way just until the middle, at which point it fell off without detection. Clearly, this was the Partagas plan for the Petit Bouquet blend.

"As mentioned earlier, I had a short glass of The Balvenie DoubleWood -- called such because it is first aged six years in an American charred white oak Bourbon barrel and then for a final six years in a Spanish Oloroso Sherry cask -- in a Christmas tumbler with my Petit Bouquet, served straight at room temperature. The whisky spice from the first cask, the sweet notes from the second, and the overall mellow character which bloomed from the total aging process perfectly matched the cigar. Bouquet is definitely the word; the bouquet of the cigar and the bouquet of the single malt married with such great clarity, power, and, of course, not to mention, zest. Never before have I ever experienced such unity of character in a cigar and a liquor. I took long, savory draws of the cigar, carefully tasted and wafted the smoke on my tongue and palate, and then blew out with satisfaction, to be rewarded with parting notes even in parting ways with it. The smoke wafting around me and the pleasant aroma coming from the cigar all smelled so wonderfully soothing. Then I washed a good sip of the single malt over my palate, the flavors were just so full-bodied, and they married like true lovers right in my mouth, leaving their wonderful spices behind.

"Just as it got past the first half, it mellowed; a very curious thing, as though it were growing to the soft-nature of the single malt. And indeed, they continued to complement each other and marry. It really didn't seem to me that they were simply compatible or good together; they were truly meant for each other. The farther it went, the more did it mellow, yet the more complex, sweet and broad the flavors became. I was very surprised that mellowness set in after a very spicy and powerful start, but I was just dumbfounded when the flavors took on the character of its pre-light aromas, yet intensified; magnified: something I had never really gotten out of a cigar before. This brought my thoughts to the little Cigar Shop in Montreal that I got it from. And I meditated calmly upon beautiful sandy beaches and swaying palm trees on the shores of Cuba, and the vast tobacco fields that lie on the warm and humid isle so far away from the snow covered one where the Cigar Shop lies. Despite this overall mellowness in palate, it was still no less than medium-bodied at this point. And as sasha indicated, spice was definitely an ever-present aspect of this cigar, which I liked very much; definitely a treat.

"As I like to do, I inhaled this cigar a couple times to get a feel for other notes I may otherwise have overlooked as they rushed past my palate as they go in and out again. It was pretty easy going, which also made it suitable for comfortable frenching. The combination of the single malt and the subtle nicotine of this cigar made for a very relaxing, intoxicating experience. I really savored this cigar, taking my time between draws, sipping and savoring my single malt, considerably lengthening the experience, which was most desirable. It was just such a wonderful smoke, such a relaxing time, I just tried to get everything I could out of this cigar; to the nub. It got to the point where I had to pinch it between my thumbs and forefingers of both hands to keep it up. I managed not to burn a finger, and I was willing to burn my lips if I had to to keep smoking it, but wrapper started slipping behind the binder and filler, and it got so short that it stopped drawing altogether! I was just left saying to myself, "Wow... " I've never felt so good after a cigar. And saying this to myself and smiling comfortably and sure, I drank the last little bit of my Scotch in one good sip.

"I'm giving this cigar a nine for the good time it showed me to last night, and for marrying so well with the Scotch that I adore; The Balvenie. I would highly recommend this to anyone who's in for a good show, good spice, and good taste. I'm sure it would go nicely with a relaxed yet intriguing and enticing conversation. It will also go very well with any well-aged, spicy liquor, such as a fine Scotch, Cognac, or definitely Spiced Rum, like Havana Club Seven. I also greatly encourage those with half a mind to get a Partagas Petit Bouquet, a bottle of The Balvenie DoubleWood, and try "The Karlos Marxos Experience," to go out and do so; definitely worth duplicating. Definitely the perfect after-dinner cigar if you're too tired to invest much time in a long smoke, or if you just want something easy. I will happily try this one again; next chance I get, I'm buying a whole box!"

I made some changes from the version I submitted to cigars-review.org (the addition of paragraphs, one spelling correction, some nuances in wording, and a couple sentences). I hope this is helpful; happy hunting!

 

[scthornton]

Topic pretty much says it all. An internetshop I've used several times sells these, and I was wondering if they're any good. I'd appreciate any information you guys can give me. Good? Bad?

These are nice little machine made Partagas. From what I remember (haven't smoked one in a while), they have the typical Partagas flavor. I would recommend picking some up if you have a source selling them, as they are no longer made.

 

[insight]

Very nice review! Sort of unexpected 2 years after the OP but hey, I guess it address the question. Welcome to CP, tell us a bit more about yourself and maybe take some time and post an intro in our intro forum here (click me).

 

[indyrob]

I've had 1 and been on the search for them since, but I think for the price I've seen them go for, I'll pass.

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Very nice review! Sort of unexpected 2 years after the OP but hey, I guess it address the question. Welcome to CP, tell us a bit more about yourself and maybe take some time and post an intro in our intro forum here (click me).

Hey, thanks, insight. I can't be a hundred percent on the vitola, coz I never asked for it when I purchased it. I was on a tight schedule; it was my last day in Montréal, Québec on my latest visit avec ma fiancée, between Sunday, October the 26th and Saturday, November the 1st of this year (2008). I simply had to pencil in a trip to the local cigar shop, Cigare et Compagnie, where she lives in Picola Italia (Little Italy), to pick up a fine "selección de Habanos" to bring back to the land of unjust embargoes. I simply located the one Partagas cigar which matched the dimensions of mine on cigars-review.org, noted that the example not only looked exactly as mine, but, likewise, came wrapped in cellophane. That was all I had to go on until the day it was destined for consumption. At whence I found that it was exactly as described by the only other review posted for it. For these reasons, I am ninety-nine percent positive that it was a Petit Bouquet. Sadly, without a box or an identifying mark, there's no way to be totally positive. Although, there's nothing else it really could've been, and there's no doubt in my mind that it was.

Now, as for my "selección de Habanos," I find it to be worthy of note that despite the impression I may give from my perceivably well-written review, I am no veteran of the trade or aficionado. The first cigar I had was indeed a Habano that I had shortly after my eighteenth birthday, in August of 2006, right at the time of Fidel Castro's gastrointestinal surgery and transfer of duties, but this was coincidental. It was on a visit to ma fiancée that I realized that I was "not in Kansas anymore," so to speak, and spotted some Habanos in a local convenience store, Couche-Tard, and simply had to taste the forbidden fruit of my homeland.

I picked out a cigarillo, small even for a cigarillo, called a Cubanito, which I've had many times since, and, strangely enough, they're the one cigarillo that I actually enjoy, alongside the Quintero Puritos (don't judge me; I can be a man of simple tastes as well as decadent ones!) in a close second, having tried many, but I haven't been able to find them as of late, perhaps discontinued. To digress for a moment, while Quinteros have a bad reputation, I find that their puritos are actually better, in my humble opinion, than highly regarded marquees of the same format; perhaps it's a stroke of luck, perhaps simpler is just better when it comes to this format. Though, it doesn't seem to me that the purito market is one which is of great focus for the big-gun brands.

I must confess that I started out conservatively when I started my love affair with the Habano, and I thought with sympathy for my wallet, and ended up buying a couple Guantanameras, which thankfully never made it home intact. I smuggled them home and didn't take any safety measures along the way, which resulted in their destruction. After reading the reviews, I'm confident I haven't missed anything, other than the money I blew on 'em, and may have actually dodged a self-inflicted gunshot-wound to the foot. On another journey I purchased seven Quintero Nacionales along with a bunch of puritos of various marquees. I gave most of them away to close friends and relatives and enjoyed a couple, don't find 'em too bad, m'self. But it was only recently that I've started to treat money as less of an object, which has yielded better results.

I decided to pencil in this trip to Cigare et Compagnie as a well-earned just-dessert for achieving my primary objective for visiting Montreal later that day avec ma fiancée (maybe I was knocking on wood and being presumptuous for doing this beforehand, but it was then or never, and we did it successfully, anyhow!): file a Notice for Civil Marriage with Le Palais du Justice de Montréal (i.e., become legally engaged)! I've done a great deal of reading on the subject, but it was all thanks to a great cigar shop with an even better salesman who helped me pick out a truly fine selection of Habanos this time around. With his help, I picked out the following, in order from shortest to longest:

That Partagas Petit Bouquet (Vitola: Infante; At Present: extinguished, and you know why! =P);

A Cohiba Siglo I (Vitola: Petit Corona; At Present: my humidor);

A Juan Lopez Selección No. 2 (Vitola: Robusto; At Present: my humidor);

A Quintero Nacionale (Vitola: Nacionale; At Present: my humidor);

A Vegas Robaina Familiares (Vitola: Corona; At Present: extinguished; I had it as soon as I got home to celebrate a job-well-done);

A Flor de Rafael Gonzalez Marquez Coronas Extra (Vitola: Corona Gorda; At Present: extinguished; Thanksgiving dessert);

A Montecristo Tubo (Vitola: Grande Corona; At Present: my humidor);

And the Crown Jewel of my collection:

A Bolivar Gold Medal (Vitola: Lonsdale; At Present: my humidor)

I asked for a Bolivar, and he looked through the Bolivars in stock, and then paused for a moment, and knew right away what to show me to. When he opened a box containing the last of a cigar I had only seen on the internet until then, I knew right away that I had to have it, and money was simply no object when it came to this one. I'd initially left with all of those except the Quintero and the Petit Bouquet, but quickly went straight back moments later to get some puritos and those two, for I knew it could be a while until I would be able to purchase Habanos again. I ended up spending 180$ CAN in total that day. A bit pricey, I know, but it was well worth it.

Out of the three of them that I've had, the Petit Bouquet has been the best so far, which is sayin' somethin' for a cigar that cost less than five dollars Canadian. The VR Familiares and the RG Coronas Extra, coming in a close second and third, respectively, were twenty dollar cigars, and were both still very good cigars, thankfully. The Familiares was very rich and creamy, somewhat spicy, and real woody, and the Coronas Extra was subtle, smoked really beautifully, inhaled and frenched like a dream, yet was severely lacking in complexity; it obviously had great potential, I could really feel it in the background flavors which should've developed more greatly, and thus, it really needed more time in the humidor, something I find very sad in retrospect. Given more time, I think that the RG could've easily won out. Poor choice on my part rendered this result.

Well, I suppose I've been a real windbag, so I think this should suffice for an introduction at present. I will consider starting an introductory thread at a later date. Thanks for hospitably welcoming me to the community.

Sinceramente,
El Profesor Karlos Marxos PhD

 

[Mr_Wolf]

Look out Wilkey!

 

[Kingantz]

Look out Wilkey!

Oh man, I almost choked on my ham biscuit! :laugh:

 

[Macion Grey]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

 

[DePasta]

Anyone have the cliff notes?

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

I guess theater's a bit too much to ask for around here.. But yeah, I getcha; I'll readjust my text for the convenience of all. How's that?

 

[Ginseng]

Look out Wilkey!

Now that's just cold, Dan.

Wilkey

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Anyone have the cliff notes?

Sorry, I can be a real windbag...

 

[Ginseng]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

I guess theater's a bit too much to ask for around here.. But yeah, I getcha; I'll readjust my text for the convenience of all. How's that?

Start with the Three Stooges...then work up to the Samuel Beckett.

Wilkey

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

I guess theater's a bit too much to ask for around here.. But yeah, I getcha; I'll readjust my text for the convenience of all. How's that?

Start with the Three Stooges...then work up to the Samuel Beckett.

Wilkey

:laugh: Yeah, comedy tends to do a better job of breaking the ice. I dunno, I was just kinda goin' with a theme for this account. Lame? Maybe. Fun? Why not? Oh well, you readin' me ok?

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

I guess theater's a bit too much to ask for around here.. But yeah, I getcha; I'll readjust my text for the convenience of all. How's that?

Start with the Three Stooges...then work up to the Samuel Beckett.

Wilkey

:laugh: Yeah, comedy tends to do a better job of breaking the ice. I dunno, I was just kinda goin' with a theme for this account. Lame? Maybe. Fun? Why not? Oh well, you readin' me ok?

Oops! My end reported an error in posting, so it came out twice!

 

[Ginseng]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

I guess theater's a bit too much to ask for around here.. But yeah, I getcha; I'll readjust my text for the convenience of all. How's that?

Start with the Three Stooges...then work up to the Samuel Beckett.

Wilkey

:laugh: Yeah, comedy tends to do a better job of breaking the ice. I dunno, I was just kinda goin' with a theme for this account. Lame? Maybe. Fun? Why not? Oh well, you readin' me ok?

Humor is always a good way to get started. But one must carry out a little recon to determine what counts as humor in any new, unfamiliar environment. A couple of things would have revealed themselves to you with just a bit more reading and research.

1. political topics, even humor are touchy subjects on this forum
2. brevity of discourse is appreciated, take it from me, you have to work your way up to "windbag"
3. all subjects Cuba need to be approached from a rather more conservative, apolitical standpoint

Wilkey

 

[Karlos Marxos]

Hey Marxos... I know you have a PhD and all... but could you increase the size of your text when you post, so all of the CPers who do not hold a doctorate can understand your magnum opus?

I guess theater's a bit too much to ask for around here.. But yeah, I getcha; I'll readjust my text for the convenience of all. How's that?

Start with the Three Stooges...then work up to the Samuel Beckett.

Wilkey

:laugh: Yeah, comedy tends to do a better job of breaking the ice. I dunno, I was just kinda goin' with a theme for this account. Lame? Maybe. Fun? Why not? Oh well, you readin' me ok?

Humor is always a good way to get started. But one must carry out a little recon to determine what counts as humor in any new, unfamiliar environment. A couple of things would have revealed themselves to you with just a bit more reading and research.

1. political topics, even humor are touchy subjects on this forum
2. brevity of discourse is appreciated, take it from me, you have to work your way up to "windbag"
3. all subjects Cuba need to be approached from a rather more conservative, apolitical standpoint

Wilkey

1. I understood that when I started that thread, and actually, I was not committing an act of parody. I know that there really wasn't any way to approach that subject (the subject of the Victory of the Cuban Revolution) from an apolitical standpoint, and thus should not have even "gone there," but since the date is comin' up fast, I just wanted to see if there was anyone who was going to have a nice Habano to go with it, as I will be. Admittedly, I didn't really think it through, and made a spectacular ass-hat of myself.

2. Agreed.

3. Understood (see: 1.).

 

[Goldie]

I can't say I have heard a thing about these

 

[Karlos Marxos]

It really was a very good smoke for such a small figurado. Does anyone else have experience with the Partagas Petit Bouquet? I'm interested to know what other CP members think about this one.