Partagas Serie P No. 2

Last week I was on holiday in Spain, the largest importer of Havana cigars, so needless to say, I have a couple of new entries. The first is the Partagas Serie P No. 2, a fairly large cigar by Cuban standards and one that packs plenty of punch.

It comes wrapped in a nice darkish EMS leaf from the Vuelta Abajo region. The foot was thick with woody and tobacco smells and the pre-light draw was nice and firm. Once lit it provides the expected Partagas full bodied tobacco that nearly overwhelms the subtle nut and cedar notes. By half way there is a noticeable black pepper spice that caries the smoke in to the final 1/3 where the tobacco core firmly reclaims the position as the major player in this rich full bodied smoke, and caries to the end with a bit of spice.

The construction was excellent and the aroma was potent, so much so that the band has smelled up my entire dossier! My only complaint here was that at times that flavor was a little too full and came off a bit harsh. This is no doubt a matter of taste and many others have seen this as a benefit. This is a great cigar and one that I think could be even better with a bit of aging.

Wrapper: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Rating: 92

Partagas Black Bravo

The Partagas Black is just 1 blend in one of the most extensive cigar brands on the planet. Partagas is one of the original Cuban names, and one of many who fled when Castro led his communist revolution to overthrow the Cuban government. Now Partagas has made its home next door in the Dominican Republic and produces some of the finest cigars on the market.

The Black label is a prime example of that fact. This Bravo measures 4.5 x 54 and is a perfect size for this blend. The sun-grown medio tempo wrapper is left to age on the plant in the Connecticut river valley. It is black, oily and has some texture from large veins. I found the construction to be excellent with an even, firm draw and burn. The ash came out white and firm giving it an attractive contrast to the body of the cigar.

I had difficulty pinning down the flavors but found a few different notes floating around. The most prominent was an earthy pepper. There was some toasted nuts on the tip of my tongue that came and went during the smoke. The finish was a bit creamy and added a warmth to the mouth.

Partagas is one of those reliable brands. The Black label was an excellent full bodied smoke. I would absolutely recommend giving it a shot for yourself. As for me, I'll be doing my best to pace myself.

Wrapper: Conn
Filler: Nic, DR
Binder: DR
Rating: 92