Partagas Serie D No.4

Incredible pre-light smell. Attractive medium brown wrapper with some veins.  Slightly uneven cap.  The clip caused some unraveling at the shoulder.


After toasting the foot and lighting up, initial tastes were of mild pepper.  Paired this smoke with Jack Daniels on the rocks.  As things progressed, I picked up some garlic notes (unusual, I know, but pleasant).  The first third proved to be relatively mild, with thick clouds of smoke.  After 20 minutes or so, the predominant flavor was that of woodiness, which led to a sort of walnut taste.  Mild retrohale at this point.  

Into the 2nd third, started to pick up a stronger nicotine buzz.  Took a deeper retrohale which was more harsh than in the 1st third.  Flavors shift to an earthiness/barnyard, but not in a bad way, and then to more notes of cedar.  I'm noticing at this point that my mouth and throat are getting quite dry even with the beverage.  At this point, the burn line has been good, with just a few minor snags.  No need for a touch-up yet.  The ash is a light gray with some black specs.

Going into the final third, I could tell that the cigar was close to going out.  Rather than wait for it, I torched it.  It didn't take long for the thick, cloudy smoke to return.  Not long after, the wrapper split, and I noticed some harshness on the throat and tongue. The nicotine packed a bit of a punch at this point.
Good smoke, however some aging would do these sticks more justice in my opinion.