Driving the worst rental car ever on a particularly nasty looking Ohio day, I stopped in at The Market today and picked up a brand new stick I hadn't seen before.  While this line of Partagas has been around for a few years - even scoring number 15 on the Cigar Aficionado top 25 of 2009 - this is the first time I have seen them in my area.  So, how masterful is this master series cigar?  Does it make the drive in my rental worth the cussing?  Let's see....

Construction: It's not a pretty cigar.  At least not in the usual sense.  The wrapper is a very interesting mottled brown, fairly blotchy, and relatively veiny.  In short it has a very rustic look. 

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cellophane there is an extremely light sweet cocoa and tobacco aroma.  Clipping is no issue and the cold draw is fairly tight.  As the cigar smoked the draw opened up quite nicely.

Light and Burn: It took me four matches to get the Majestuoso to come to life to my satisfaction.  The burn is actually excellent as well.  Nearly perfect with only a couple of mild issues that self-corrected.

Tasting: All I can say to start out is one-fifty.  This thing reminds me of a Partagas 150.  Silky smooth, sweet, a little spice off the start.  I picked up a peppery wood and lots of coffee as well.  It's consistent all the way through.  The peppery flavors pick up in the final third and blossom into something more than black pepper....maybe a touch of white pepper?  I got flashes of a nice New York strip steak crusted with black peppercorns.  Wow.  This thing made me hungry.  I would suggest a nice dram of scotch with this baby.  A nice single malt Glenmorangie or Laphroaig would touch it off perfectly.

Value: I coughed up $11 for this beauty.  Easily worth it.  Not an every day smoke, but still not too painful.

Final Thoughts: While not  as smooth or venerable as the 150, the Majestuoso really it a terrific cigar. It just reminds me that other legendary Partagas so much that I am shocked.  While not as complex as many of the Tatuaje or Don Pepin cigars I have had this year, it is certainly noteworthy with the upcoming top cigars list I plan on putting together after Christmas.  I can highly recommend this cigar.

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Habano Connecticut
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan

Strength: Medium

Size: 6&rdquo x 46

If you like a rustic looking cigar you will love this one...I certainly do

The band is the traditional Partagas with an addition that includes a cool lacquered watermark