Partagas Anejo Petit Robusto Review

Over the last several years, General Cigar has created several limited edition blends using heavily aged, vintage tobaccos. Early in 2022, a new entry joined this group of intriguing cigars in the form of the Partagas Anejo. This cigar is interesting on multiple fronts, as it is both an example of vintage tobacco and a barber pole. The two wrapper tobaccos used are a 1998 Cameroon and a 2013 Connecticut. With a Cameroon leaf that’s nearly 25 years old in play, I’m excited to get started on this Partagas Anejo Petit Robusto review.

Critical Stats

• Vitola: Petit Robusto
• Size: 4.5×49
• Wrapper: 1998 Cameroon and 2013 Connecticut shade grown
• Binder: Dominican
• Filler: Dominican and Mexican San Andres
• Strength: Medium
• Smoking Time: 40-45 minutes

First Third

Right off the bat, it’s apparent that this is not your typical Cameroon blend. The first puffs of the Partagas Anejo petit robusto are defined by a meaty, umami-like note that grips the palate and tells me right away that there’s an interesting smoking experience ahead. This initial meatiness is married to a fairly robust if not terribly well-defined wood note and a hint of white pepper. We’re off to a good start, though one I would not ordinarily expect from a combination of Cameroon and Connecticut tobacco.

As I continue to smoke, the white pepper builds. At first, this development is subtle, but it’s not long before I’m getting a healthy dose of white pepper with every draw. Around the same time, the cigar begins to present with a faint creamy undertone, finally informing me that the Connecticut leaf used to create the barber pole is actually affecting the flavor profile to some degree. I also detect a slight mustiness, something not entirely unlike the odor of opening an old trunk for the first time in many years. This flavor is a bit odd, though it’s not unpleasant at all and it fits in with the pepper and meat flavors quite nicely.

Toward the end of the first third, the Partagas Anejo petit robusto seems to have a very sudden change of heart. The pepper and meat notes that I’ve been getting up to now subside drastically, leaving the underlying creaminess much more evident on the palate. Even stranger than this change in flavor is how quickly it happens. This cigar continues to intrigue me and hold my attention with no difficulties.

Construction-wise, the Partagas Anejo petit robusto offers a light and even draw with no significant burn issues. One thing I will note here is that this cigar is an absolute smoke factory. The amount of smoke coming off of this small cigar is genuinely impressive.

Second Third

As I begin the second third, I notice another significant change in the flavor profile. The meaty note that has been with us to varying degrees since the first puff of the cigar begins to shift toward something more akin to a leather flavor. It’s very enjoyable, especially with the cream and more subdued white pepper. Alongside, I get hints of wood shavings, almost like the aroma of a well-used woodshop.

Around the midway point in the second third, the white pepper note comes roaring back. I’m reminded once again that this heavily aged barber pole is going to keep me on my toes. In this case, however, the sudden resurgence of pepper is perhaps a bit much. Not allowing itself to simply revert to form, the Partagas Anejo petit robusto throws in a bit of cayenne pepper along with the white pepper to keep things interesting. So, while the pepper surge may be a bit much, it’s anything but boring.

During the second third, I had to give the cigar its first and only touch-up. The wrapper had started to burn slightly unevenly, and I decided to get out in front of it. In truth, this issue may have self-corrected, so I can hardly fault the cigar for construction problems.

Final Third

Continuing the rollercoaster of pepper notes, the white pepper once again fades into the background as the final third begins. Here, cedar, cream and meaty notes largely define the flavor profile. I do get a tiny hint of sweetness just at the end, which was both unexpected and very pleasant. This marks the final change in the cigar’s flavor, and I have to say that it’s a nice way to end what has been a really interesting and enjoyable smoke.

While the flavors have been fairly bold, I think it’s worth noting here that the cigar never really went beyond medium in terms of strength. This is another point in its favor, as it’s quite well-balanced.

Partagas Anejo Petit Robusto Review and Closing Thoughts

Flavor

The flavor of this cigar both impressed and slightly confused me. While extremely enjoyable, few of the flavor notes I got while smoking this cigar were typical of neither the Cameroon or Connecticut wrapper tobaccos it uses. With that said, the Partagas Anejo Petit Robusto’s complexity is an excellent example of just how much a tobacco can evolve with significant age. This cigar kept me interested from start to finish. The only complaint I had was the rapid and almost overwhelming resurgence of white pepper in the second third, which proved to be a bit much. This is a nuanced cigar I very much enjoyed smoking and would happily smoke again.

Construction

One small touch-up aside, the Partagas Anejo smoked very well. The draw was light and the wrapper burn was even. The ash firmness wasn’t anything to write home about, but it wasn’t bad either. Better-than-average in terms of construction.

Value

To say that the Partagas Anejo Petit Robusto is a steal would be an understatement. I don’t recall the exact price I paid when I picked it up, but it was somewhere around $7-8. That also seems to be the prevailing price online at the time of this writing. When compared to other cigars in this price range, there’s really nothing to say. The Anejo is an extremely budget-friendly cigar that makes vintage tobacco accessible to practically anyone.

Final Verdict:

7.5/10

The Partagas Anejo Petit Robusto I smoked for this review genuinely impressed me, and this rating reflects that fact. In addition to the complexity of the cigar’s flavor, it’s well-constructed and is an amazing value. As such, it scores an extra half-point for construction and an extra full point for value, bringing up to a very respectable 7.5. While the flavor profile still confounds me a bit given the blend, I think this cigar is very deserving of a fairly high rating. I’ll likely be picking up some more of these when the opportunity presents itself, and I would suggest you do the same.