Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Robusto

In 2014, General Cigar Co. debuted a new line named Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte that was available in four different sizes and incorporated an Ecuadorian habano ligero wrapper.

It was one of two new lines that was released that year based on the Partagas 1845 blend, with the other one being the Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro. As General Cigar has done in the past, each of the two blends were exclusive releases for specific types of retailers: the Extra Fuerte was sold exclusively by brick and mortar shops, while the Extra Oscuro was sold exclusively by catalog and internet retailers.

Fast forward to this year’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, where General Cigar was showing off a new version of the Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte that sported not only a new blend, but also new packaging and three new vitolas. The new incarnation replaced the original Ecuadorian habano ligero wrapper with a leaf from Honduras and features a Connecticut habano binder as well as filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

There are four different violas packaged in boxes of 25, all of which began shipping to both brick and mortar and catalog retailers last month.

• Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Churchill (7 x 49) — $7.39 (Boxes of 25, $184.75)
• Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Gigante (6 x 60) — $7.69 (Boxes of 25, $192.25)
• Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) — $6.49 (Boxes of 25, $162.25)
• Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Toro (6 1/2 x 45) — $6.99 (Boxes of 25, $174.75)

• Cigar Reviewed: Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Robusto
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: General Cigar Dominicana
• Wrapper: Honduras (Olancho San Agustin)
• Binder: Connecticut Habano
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
• Length: 5 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Robusto
• MSRP: $6.49 (Boxes of 25, $162.25)
• Release Date: August 2017
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

From the first glance, the Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte is visually quite attractive, sporting a dark, slightly rustic brown wrapper that is extremely rough to the touch and featuring quite a bit of oil. In addition, there are a number of obvious bumps under the wrapper leaf and the cigar is nice and firm when squeezed. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of manure, wet earth, coffee beans, leather and allspice, while the cold draw brings a strong nutmeg sweetness along with wheat, cedar, earth and pepper.

While there was no obvious dominant flavor to be had, the first third of the Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte features some fairly distinct flavors of charred oak, leather, almonds, cloves and toast. In addition, the nutmeg sweetness from the cold draw is easy to pick out on the retrohale, along with a black pepper kick that makes me wince for the first few puffs and a bit of spice on my tongue. Construction-wise, the draw is excellent after a straight cut, but the burn is a bit wavy right out of the gate, forcing me to touch it up a couple of times. The smoke production from the foot is as massive as it is dense, and the overall strength ends the first third well south of the medium mark.

I am starting to pick up a couple of dominant flavors by the start of the second third of the Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte—namely roasted coffee beans and oak—along with other notes of earth, nuts, cocoa nibs, anise and wheat. The nutmeg sweetness is still present on the retrohale, along with a much reduced amount of black pepper, but the spiciness from the first third is long gone by the halfway point. The draw continues to impress, and while the burn has evened up nicely, it is still far from razor sharp. The strength has increased noticeably, and the cigar easily reaches a solid medium by the end of the second third.

The final third of the Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte mellows out quite a bit compared to the first two thirds, with significantly less black pepper and no spice at all. The roasted coffee bean note continues to dominate the profile, followed by flavors of earth, leather, nuts, hay, barnyard and toast. Adding to the mellowing out of the profile is a bit more nutmeg sweetness, along with an overall strength level that struggles—and ultimately fails—to make out of the medium range. Although the draw remains excellent until the end, the burn once again decides to act up, and I have to touch it up a couple of times before I put the nub down with less than an inch to go.

Final Notes

• The only vitola carried over from the original release of the Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte in 2014 is the 6 x 60 Gigante.
• One of the samples was noticeably tight on the draw after my first cut, forcing me to cut quite a bit further down on the cap than I normally do, albeit not far enough to ruin the cap. After that it was fine.
• In addition to the above, the burn had to be touched up multiple times on each sample.
• The ash fell off without warning throughout the time I was smoking all three samples, which is why there is no ash on the first third photo.
• The cigars for this review were sent to halfwheel by General Cigar Co.
• The final smoking time for all three samples averaged one hour and 29 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the new Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte cigars, site sponsor JR Cigar has them in stock.