Initial Thoughts
I’ve been going back and forth between Cubans and non-Cubans for awhile now. I’m decided that I really enjoy both, a lot! The only thing that I don’t like about Cubans is the fact that it’s hard to find great information about each particular blend. I’ve checked out the Habanos SA official site and didn’t lead to much information either. I know Partagas is a company with rich history and culture throughout Havana. I was very excited to smoke this Partagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo / Piramide. I’ve seen it depicted as either one so we’re going to go with both!
I received this particular cigar in a sampler pack from our sponsor Cigar Terminal. They have been great to work with, so if you’re looking to acquire some Cubans online, make sure to check them out. (Although it’s still technically illegal to buy Cubans online, so use your best judgement here.) Let’s get into the cigar and get away from all the legalese.
Looks
When I initially set my eyes on this Partagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo I wasn’t blown away. It looks like you’re typical cigar. A nice torpedo shaped head. Gorgeous Colorado brownish red wrapper. Very few veins running through the wrapper, it’s silky smooth and has just a bit of an oily sheen to it as well.
The band on this cigar is rather unimpressive. It’s just a simple red band with a double gold pin stripe on the top and bottom. In the middle it says ‘Serie P No 2’ Partagas – Habana. It really gets right to the point and there’s no need for flash with this cigar. I truly believe the brand let’s the tobacco do the talking. They don’t need to make the cigar flashy to stand out on cigar store shelves. They know word will get around it will move these cigars. In fact this cigar was in the top 10 from CA in 2009. It was the Tubo version, but I’m fairly certain it’s still the same blend.
Function
I tested out Jeremy’s method of cutting this torpedo. He likes to cut the tip at an angle. He believes it helps open up the barrel more since it’s a tapered head. He couldn’t have been more right. Just when you think a guy doesn’t know anything about cigars, he goes and drops this knowledge on ya. I guess he’s good for something…
I tested out this Partagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo on the cold draw and it was superb. A great dose of air came rolling through the barrel and instantly I was beginning to pick up some delicious flavors.
I gave it a quick roll between my fingers and I couldn’t detect any soft spots in the barrel. There wasn’t a ton of bounce back either just a good solid cigar ready to be burned down.
Smoking
I’ve been using a new lighter since my Xikar Stratosphere kicked the bucket. For some reason the release valve stopped holding pressure and was releasing all the butane… Oh well, it was time for a new one anyway.
This Partagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo smoked like an absolute champ. It was pouring out a nice clean white smoke. Just an absolute abundance of smoke came out. I was actually quite surprised. Cutting it at an angle led to that great air flow that I mentioned above and it made it incredibly easy to draw throughout the length of the smoke.
From the first third to final puff I never had an issue with it. It had a nice solid ash that held just over an inch. It’s been a while since I’ve had a cigar that smoked this well. I was pleasantly surprised. I know very little about this cigar and didn’t have high expectations, but thus far it has really delivered in terms of quality.
Flavor
Finally, the flavor! This Partagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo was a huge question mark to me before I lit it up. I had not seen a ton of press on it, or really read anything about it. I jumped in and started reading some reviews after my initial smoke to get a better understanding of what this cigar was. I found out it comes from the Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba and it’s one of Partagas’ stronger blends. I can definitely see that after smoking it.
Throughout the smoke I could feel the cigar building in terms of body. By the time I got to the end it was definitely medium-full bodied smoke. It was fairly complex in terms of flavor, yet it stayed balanced the whole time. What more could you want in a cigar really?
On the initial pre light I got a good dose of just sweet natural tobacco. Followed up with some earthy notes and an overall sweetness. Once I got the cigar lit all sorts of flavors started to appear. I was hit with a nice thick leather note that was very pleasant. Behind that I got this big dose of coffee and some pops of spice throughout. Overall the most consistent note was a bready / toasted nut note that really made the cigar unique to me. I would find other flavors throughout, pops of chocolate and a bit of cream, but that consistent toasted note was the backbone for sure.
Overall, I was really blown away by this cigar. As I’m getting older in my smoking career I’m finding that I like finding the nuances in the palate of a cigar. This Partagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo certainly delivers that.
Would I Buy It Again?
Without a doubt. This might be my go to Cuban from now on.
Is It an Every Day Smoke?
Probably not, but I wish it could be!
Would I Buy a Box?
Absolutely.
Conclusion
I’m not gonna lie, this is my favorite Cuban to date. There’s something about it that really draws me in. Maybe it’s the simplicity and coming in with zero expectations. I just sat back and relaxed and really enjoyed thisPartagas Serie P No 2 Torpedo. If you ever get the chance to pick up a box or even a few of these then I doubt that you’ll be disappointed. In fact, if you’re interested, reach out to Cigar Terminal and get a box. I think you’ll be blown away!
