Connoisseur’s Corner: Partagás Churchills Deluxe (1995)
Back when this Churchill was rolled, it was considered a fairly big cigar, but over the past 30 years cigars have grown so fat that a 47 ring gauge appears remarkably slim. It’s beautiful—expertly pressed, with a reddish-brown colorado wrapper. It draws like a dream. It’s a slow starter—the first inch or so is extremely tannic and overly woody, austere, a bit rough on the palate. But after that shaky start it reveals layer after layer of flavor: coconut, red meat, Valrhona chocolate and Irish Breakfast tea. The finish still shows the wood, but also notes of rice pudding. A pleasant reward for the patient. —David Savona
I’ve smoked a ton of Monte 2s over the past 30 years, and they tend to age well. This 17-year-old version is no exception. It has a slightly jagged burn but draws perfectly. The flavor parade begins with some gingerbread and allspice, moves to tangy wood, then picks up a little cappuccino and leather. There’s a reason this smoke has been beloved for such a long time. —David Savona
This was Cigar of the Year in 2012, and the sample I smoked is from that same production run. I was stunned to see how much power was still left. Bursts of nutmeg, cinnamon and ground ginger meld wonderfully with spicier, more piquant hints of black and white pepper. They dance around the savory core of bridle leather before everything weaves together seamlessly. —Gregory Mottola
The long-retired matte brown band tells you right away that this is an old cigar. It’s short, thin and fairly rough, so it’s not going to win a beauty contest, but it has considerable flavor. After 30 years resting in a standard dress box, the petit corona takes some time to warm up, but it reveals salted caramel, oak and graham cracker notes. The finish is a touch dusty. —David Savona
