Partagas Cortado Corona

General Cigar Co./Forged Cigar Co.

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: STG Estelí
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
• Binder: Indonesia
• Filler: Honduras (Jamastran), Mexico (San Andrés) & Nicaragua (Condega and Jalapa)
• Length: 5 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 42
• Vitola: Corona
• MSRP: $6.39 (Box of 20, $127.80)
• Release Date: August 2021
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Original Score: 91

For the first time in the 10 years of presenting the top 25, the non-Cuban Partagas brand has made our list at number 24. The Partagas Cortado Corona is wrapped in an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, something you might not be used to seeing under this brand. With this blend, General—err, Forged—achieved a creamy, mellow profile that has a nice collection of flavors that meld together well, creating an enjoyable, yet different experience than the other blends under the Partagas brand.

Overall, the Partagas Cortado Corona was enjoyed by the majority of the staff, though severe construction issues on one score took what is otherwise a very impressive new blend and placed it towards the end of our list. Still, of the hundreds of new releases for 2021, 24th place is still something to be proud of. — Brian Burt.