Cigar Review: Partagas Serie P No. 2 (Cuban)
31 Oct 2012
Here’s one of those instantly recognizable cigars that needs no introduction, a Cuban that has received its fair share of praise since it was released as the “Partagas Pirámide†in 2000.
Notable among the Partagas Serie P No. 2’s commendations is the number four spot on Cigar Aficionado’s list of the best cigars of 2011. “The cigar shares the same dimensions as all of Cuba’s pirámides, and the Partagas Serie P No. 2 is currently smoking better than all of them, even the legendary Montecristo No. 2,†wrote the magazine. “It has been transformed into something incredible, a perfect example of the level of top-quality smokes that are being made in Cuba today.â€
When CA rated the Serie P No. 2, it was examining samples with box dates of March 2011. I don’t have the luxury of knowing the box date of the two samples I’m smoking for this review. While I’m very confident in the authenticity of the cigars, I did not acquire an entire box. I hope you’ll forgive me since each No. 2 costs about $18.
Carefully sliding the Cuban out of its black, cedar-lined aluminum tube, the first thing I notice is the tremendous amount of oils on the mottled Colorado wrapper. I also take note of the substantial weight of the cigar (6.1 x 52), which is explained by the dense cross-section of filler tobacco that’s visible from the foot. Pre-light the aroma is of hay and syrup.
After lighting the foot, the initial flavor is very well balanced with tastes as varied as white pepper, cream, and roasted nut. The texture is bready. I find a little spice and some kick, but the profile is decidedly medium-bodied. It’s the sort of start you hope for if you spend $18 on a single.
So I wasn’t terribly disappointed to find the Serie P No. 2 remaining consistent in flavor from light to nub. Aside from a gradual increase in intensity as the end draws near, there aren’t many discernible changes in taste, save for a texture change from bready to syrupy. Construction was OK, but the burn—which requires a few touch-ups along the way to stay even—leaves something to be desired.
I guess I was hoping for something a little more exciting given the Serie P No.2’s reputation and price. While I enjoyed the cigar thoroughly, I’m taking into account the fact that you can buy better (non-Cuban) smokes for a fraction of the price when I award it four stogies out of five.
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I tend to agree. This is a very fine cigar with a nice medium-bodied flavor. But $15 or more? I don’t think so. Too many better cigars on the market for $12 or less.
I dont really understand the hype surrounding these cubans. I've had a couple of cubans and was less than impressed. I'll take a Liga Privada over them anytime. Especially for $18 / stick. I agree with Reggie, there are too many better cigars on the market than to go hunting for these cubans.
Agreed completely , for the price its just not special enough to warrant this much attention.
You guys are on some other planet. USD 18 is a bargain. In the UK they cost GBP21 which is USD33 (GBP28 in a cigar bar circa USD 45), and in Europe they cost EUR14.5 which is about equivalent to USD18.50 dependent on exactly where you buy it. Cubans are wonderful cigars, some more overrated than others (Cohiba cough cough); however, the P2's are brilliant. unfortunately, this sort of commentary on pricing affecting a rating and being overly US centric is leading me away from reading this site, which is generally quite an enjoyable read.
My friend has a smnoikg room with a fan built into the wall and it sucks the smoke straight to the outdoors and the room just NEVER smells. It’s probably the best method I’ve seen in keeping smoke odor out of the house. It just sucks that I’m in the cigar biz and my wife hates the smell damn!