Partagas Serie D No 2

Description

The band was halfway through a particularly uninspired cover of “Fly Me to the Moon,” and the champagne at this wedding reception was starting to taste more like sugar water than actual bubbly. I needed an out. I’m not much for the “Electric Slide” or making small talk with distant cousins who want to know “what I’m doing with my life these days.” So, I slipped away.

I found myself in the groom’s father’s study—a room that smelled of old paper, heavy curtains, and floor wax. It was quiet. On the mahogany desk sat a stack of leather-bound photo albums. I flipped one open, mostly just to look busy if someone walked in. There, tucked between two pages of a 1990s fishing trip, was a loose, grainy photo. It was a shot of a man I barely recognized—maybe an uncle, maybe a family friend—sitting on a porch in Havana. He had this look of absolute, secretive contentment on his face. And in his hand? A long, stout cigar with that unmistakable red and gold band.

That photo stayed in my head all night. It reminded me that I had something special tucked into my own travel humidor back in the hotel room. I didn’t wait for the cake cutting. I made my excuses, grabbed my coat, and headed for the balcony of my suite.

That smoke? The Partagás Serie D No. 2.

It’s one of those cigars that feels like a secret even though everyone knows the name. It’s not the ubiquitous No. 4 that you see in every duty-free shop from London to Hong Kong. The No. 2 is something a bit more substantial, a bit more deliberate.

The Specifications

Before I get into the weeds of how this thing actually smokes, let’s look at the numbers. If you’re a spec-head, here’s what you’re dealing with:

Construction: The Hand-Feel

I gotta say, the moment I pulled this stick out of the cedar, I knew I was in for a long night—in a good way. At 156mm, it’s got that “Robusto Extra” length that feels significant in your hand. It’s not a quick 45-minute burn while you’re walking the dog. This is a commitment.

The wrapper on mine was a deep, oily Maduro shade. It wasn’t perfectly smooth—it had those fine, toothy veins you expect from high-quality Vuelta Abajo leaf—but it felt solid. No soft spots, no lumps. When I gave it a gentle squeeze, it had just the right amount of give, like a well-aged leather wallet.

The pre-light draw was easy. I used a straight cut, and the airflow was exactly where I wanted it—enough resistance to let you know it’s packed tight with tobacco, but open enough that you’re not straining. I caught notes of cold cedar and a bit of that “barnyard” funk that tells you the fermentation was done right.

The First Third: The Wake-Up Call

I toasted the foot slowly. I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t rush the light, especially with a Partagás. You want to see that deep dark gray ash start to form evenly.

The first few puffs? Pure spice. It hits you right at the back of the throat—not a harsh burn, but a warm, peppery greeting. It’s that classic Partagás “full-strength” personality coming out to play immediately. Once the initial pepper settled down, the flavor shifted into something more grounded. I’m talking heavy cedar and a distinct tobacco sweetness.

The smoke output was thick. I’m talking “cloud-sitting-on-your-shoulder” thick. It had a weight to it that felt substantial. You ever smoke a cigar that feels thin or airy? This isn’t that. This is a mouthful of flavor from the jump.

The Second Third: Settling Into the Groove

As I worked my way into the second third, the spice didn’t disappear, but it moved to the background, acting more like a seasoning for the main course. This is where the complexity really started to show up.

I started picking up leather—real, heavy leather—and a damp, earthy quality. It reminded me of that study I’d just ducked out of, actually. There was also this subtle woodsy character that kept things from getting too heavy.

The burn was slow and incredibly even. I didn’t have to touch it up once. The ash stayed put, holding on for nearly two inches before I felt nervous enough to tap it off. That’s the sign of a well-rolled Cuban. If the ash is flaky or black, you know someone cut corners. This ash was a beautiful, consistent gray.

About halfway through, I noticed a change in the sweetness. It moved away from that raw tobacco sugar and toward something more like dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa. It was a nice counterpoint to the “full” strength of the nicotine, which I was definitely starting to feel by this point.

The Final Third: The Heavy Hitter

By the time I reached the final third, I was about 70 minutes in. The flavors intensified, as they usually do, but they didn’t get bitter. That’s the hallmark of a good Serie D.

The cocoa notes turned into a deeper, nuttier flavor—think toasted walnuts or espresso beans. The pepper came back for a curtain call, especially on the retrohale. If you’re not used to full-bodied Cubans, the final third of a No. 2 might knock you back a bit. I had to slow down my cadence, taking a puff every minute or so just to keep the cherry from getting too hot.

The finish was long. I could still taste that mix of leather and spice ten minutes after I finally put the nub down. It’s a “sticky” flavor profile, one that stays with you and makes you want to sit in silence for a while just to process it.

Pairing: What to Drink?

You need something that can stand up to this. If you try to pair a Partagás Serie D No. 2 with a light pilsner or a delicate white wine, the cigar is going to steamroll your palate.

I went with a glass of aged dark rum—something with enough caramel and vanilla notes to balance out the earth and spice of the tobacco. A heavy peated Scotch would work too, though you run the risk of “smoke on smoke” fatigue. If you’re a non-drinker, a double shot of espresso or a very strong black coffee is the way to go. You need that bitterness to cut through the richness of the leather notes.

The Verdict

Look, the Partagás brand has been around since 1845 for a reason. They know how to make a “man’s cigar.” The Serie D line, which showed up in the 1930s, is the heart of that reputation.

Is the No. 2 for everyone? Probably not. If you’re a beginner or you prefer those light, creamy Connecticut wrappers, this might be a bit much for you. It’s a powerhouse. But if you want a cigar that feels like history, that tastes like the earth of the Vuelta Abajo, and that demands your full attention for an hour and a half, this is it.

I think back to that photo I found in the album. That guy on the porch in Havana? He knew what he was doing. He wasn’t just smoking; he was taking a time-out from the world.

The Partagás Serie D No. 2 is a solid, no-nonsense Cuban that delivers exactly what it promises: strength, spice, and a lot of character. It’s the kind of smoke that makes you glad you slipped away from the party.

Final Thought: If you find one, buy two. Smoke one now, and put the other in the back of your humidor for three years. These things age like fine leather boots—they only get better with a little time and wear.