Country: Cuba
Box Code: ??
It’s been a while since I’ve had a cigar so I’m coming out gang-busters tonight. A very special cigar that was given to me by a good friend and fine BOTL. The Partagas Serie P No.2 was introduced in 2005 along with its cousin the Serie D No.4 Reserva. Partagas is one of the most famous and best selling Cuban marcas and is also know for having the widest range of lines and vitolas with a little bit of something for everyone. Partagas has cigars ranging from the mild to the full bodied powerhouse, but every one of them is reputed to have what is commonly referred to as “Partagas Spice”, a flavor profile that is the signature of the brand.
The PSP No.2 is a beautiful cigar with a smooth chocolate wrapper and a sublime earthy aroma. The first puff was a blast of harshness but it almost immediately changed to a smooth earthiness wrapped in classic Partagas spice. One thing that jumped out at me about this particular Partagas was that there was a creaminess to it I never experienced in other vitolas I’ve smoked with the exception of the much smaller Partagas Short. As the smoke progressed the Partagas Spice faded into the background and notes of caramel and nuts intermingled with its Cuban earthiness. It’s an amazingly complex smoke that demands your full attention. The cigar started to pickup again towards the end. It was all spice and earth the rest of the way. I rank this among one of the best Cuban cigars I have ever had the pleasure to smoke. The burn was good and the ash held firm but was a little papery on the edges. What a great cigar to have after an extended break from smoking.
August 30, 2007 at 11:05 pm |
Sweet review, Matt. You certainly picked a nice one to break your fast.
My experience with this marca is, shall we say, limited, so I’m surprised to hear there is a mild Partagas. I’ve tried the PSD4 and the Short — both superb cigars (though not consistent from year to year) but not what I would call mild. Which vitola would you consider mild?
September 1, 2007 at 8:35 am |
Maybe mild isn’t the best way to state it, but I guess I meant it relative to other Partagas. I found the Coronas Senior to be a lot more moor mild than other Partagas I’ve had like the PSD4, Lusi, or shorts. I’ve also been told the 8-9-8s seem a little more mild compared to other Partagas offerings but I haven’t had the pleasure of smoking one of those myself yet. Also I seem to have noticed my percepetion of mild has changed since Tatuajes, and other Pepin Garcia smokes, and Camachos have been dominating my cigar smoking rotation for a while now. All that stout Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco has altered my perception of mild cigars I think.
September 1, 2007 at 10:04 am |
[...] Matt smokes a Partagas Serie P No. 2. [...]
September 1, 2007 at 10:34 pm |
You made me reach for MRN’s Encylopedia — it looks like the “mild” Partagas are mostly machine made — he mentions the mille fleurs and corona senior, among others, in this category. 8-9-8 Unvarnished seem to be the exception among the handmade cigars.
The Nicaraguan powerhouses are heavier than anything I’ve tasted from Cuba — I love the big Pepins and Camachos after a year or two in the box, but fresh they just blow me away. Thanks for the response Matt.
September 5, 2007 at 11:01 am |
The Coronas Seniors are the ones that I’ve smoked a handful of. I have found them to be on the mild side of medium. Suprisingly so for a Partagas.
October 16, 2007 at 11:40 am |
I prefer the P N°2 than the D N°4. More subtility, less “show-off” taste… And I think figurados look sooo trendy !
November 4, 2008 at 4:26 am |
I justed smoked the new 2008 tubos Partagas Serie P No.2 and agree it’s one of the best Cubans I’ve had in a while. The new packaging also brings the Partagas brand into a more modern look. Good review.