Cigar of the Week: Partagas

When one hears the name "Partagas," it immediately sends smokers dreaming of the famed Cuban brand, founded by Jaime Partagas in 1845. It’s a cigar with a long and glorious history.

But the Partagas for the American market, first offered as a Jamaican-made cigar in 1974, is no slouch either. It’s not the Cuban model, that’s for sure. But it is a delight in its own right.

General Cigar obtained the rights to the Partagas and Ramon Allones brands from the Cifuentes family, which owned the brands in Cuba prior to the Revolution in 1959 and the nationalization of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960. In fact, it was Ramon Cifuentes who worked with General Cigar to help establish the brand in the U.S. and contributed significantly to its status as one of the top brands in America . . . just as it was in its Cuban days.

What can you expect from the Dominican-made Partagas line today? Pure pleasure.

Featuring a Cameroon wrapper, it offers a bright, high-intensity, caramelized flavor that’s enchanting, sweet and rich. There’s a toasty aroma and just the right touch of spice to the finish that makes each puff memorable. Naturally, it burns perfectly and has an easy draw. With a medium-to-full-bodied character, this cigar is both bold and intense, but never overpowering or off-putting.

It’s also consistent in temperament, regardless of the size. And there are enough sizes to meet the interest of any smoker on the planet! General Cigar now manufactures 18 sizes of Partagas, from the small Mini – 3 3/4 inches by 24 ring gauge – all the way up to the dramatic Fabuloso at seven inches and 52 ring. Which are the best?

The flavor of the Dominican Partagas is lively enough that it is perhaps best enjoyed in a medium-sized format that does not overwhelm the mouth. Here’s a vote for three different shapes that are close in size, but offer distinct advantages:

>> The Almirante, at 6 1/4 inches and 47 ring a little bigger than a Robusto, giving you some extra time with this marvelous blend.

>> The Padre, a true Toro at six inches and 50 ring, offered in an aluminum tube so it can be enjoyed anywhere without fear of damage.

>> The No. 8, a 6 1/8-inch by 48-ring cigar that clothed in a savory maduro wrapper that increases the depth of flavor.

Best of all, the entire Partagas line is reasonably priced, with suggested prices of about 90 cents for the Miniature up to $8.80 for the torpedo-shaped Aristocrat, not including local sales and tobacco taxes. Delicious and accessible; what more could you want?

(Rich Perelman is editor-in-chief of CigarCyclopedia.com, offering comprehensive daily coverage of cigars, accessories, issues, people and prices at www.CigarCyclopedia.com.)

Rich Perelman

1/28/08

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