Partagas Serie D No 2

Description

The band was halfway through a particularly uninspired rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon,” and that champagne at this wedding reception began to taste more like sugar water than something with bubbles. I needed an out. I’m not a big one for the “Electric Slide” or politely shooting the breeze with cousins who want to know (“what I’m doing with my life these days”). So, I slipped away.

Product Specifications

I ended up in the groom’s father’s study — a place that smelled of old paper, too-heavy curtains and floor wax. It was quiet. On the mahogany dask rested a pile of photo albums bound in leather. I opened one and flipped through it (mostly just to appear busy if someone came in, though).

There, sandwiched between two pages of a 1990s fishing trip, was an old, grainy photo. It was a picture of a guy I didn’t even recognize — maybe an uncle, maybe some kind of family friend — sitting on a porch in Havana. He had a look of pure, guarded joy on his face. And in his hand?

A large cigar with an unmistakable red and gold band. That photo was in my mind all night. It caused me to remember that I had something a little more special stashed in my own travel humidor back in the hotel room. I didn’t even stick around for the cake-cutting.

I apologized, stood up and rushed out to the balcony of my suite. That smoke? The
Partagás Serie D No. 2
. It is one of those cigars that feels like a secret though everyone knows the name.

This is not the ubiquitous No. 4 you see in every duty-free shop from London to Hong Kong. The 2 is just a little more substantial, a little bit more considered. The Specifications
Before I take too-deep a dive into how this thing smokes, lets get into the numbers of it.

If you’re a spec-head, let’s see what we’re looking at:
Attribute
Details
Product Name
For instance, take the Partagás Serie D No. 2 (Cuban)
Factory Vitola
Robustos No. 2
Popular Vitola
Robusto Extra
Tobacco Origin
Cuba (Vuelta Abajo)
Smoking Time
Approximately 50–120 minutes
Construction: The Hand-Feel
I have to tell you, as soon I took the stick out of the cedar wrapper, I had a feeling I was in for one hell of a night—in the best sense.

It has that “Robusto Extra” length of 156mm (6.1 inches) that feels substantial in your palm. It’s not a quick 45-minute blast while taking the dog out for a walk. This is a commitment. The wrapper on mine was a dark, oily Maduro.

Not that it was straight up and down Swedish furniture smooth, it had the fine honeyed-veiny tooth you’re supposed to have in good Vuelta Abajo leaf but yeah, it felt substantial. No soft spots, no lumps. When I squeezed it, it was exactly the right amount of give — a bit like you’d test out the flexibility of an old leather wallet. The pre-light draw was easy.

I went with a straight cut; the airflow was right where it needed to be — enough restriction that you know you packed the sucker and tight but wide open enough that you’re not straining. I got whiffs of cold cedar and a touch of that “barnyard” funk, which is how you know the fermentation was done properly. The First Third: Woke, and Sentenced
I toasted the foot slowly.

I’m a strong believer that you don’t rush the light, at least not when it comes to a Partagás. You’re looking for that deep dark gray ash to build and to build evenly. The first few puffs? Pure spice.

Just slam-dunks you at the very back of the throat — not a harsh burn, but a warm, peppery hello. It’s that traditional Partagás “full-strength” character making an appearance right off the bat. When that first pepper tamed down, the taste moved into something more anchored. I mean heavy cedar and a straight-up tobacco sweetness.

The smoke output was thick. I’m talking “cloud-sitting-on-your-shoulder” thick. There was a heft to it that makes it feel like something. Smoke a cigar that feels right or loose?

This isn’t that. This is about as flavorful as you can get from the moment it hits your mouth. The Second Third: Finding the Rhythm
As I progressed into the second third, the spice didn’t go away, but it settled down and become more of a seasoning on whatever you were smoking.

This is when things got really complicated. I began to detect leather — real, heavy leather — along with a wet, earthy aspect. It kind of reminded me of that study I’d ducked out of, in fact. There was also this light, woodsy quality that kept everything from being too heavy.

The burn was slow with absolutely zero unevenness. I never had to touch it up. The ash hung on, for almost two inches before I got nervous and tapped it off. And that, friends, is the mark of a well-rolled Cuban.

If it’s flaky or black, you know someone cut corners. This ash was a wonderful, uniform grey. Halfway through, I began to detect a shift in the sweetness. It evaporated from that raw tobacco sugar and became something closer to dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa.

That was a refreshing counterpoint to the “full” strength of the nicotine, which I was definitely beginning to feel by now. The Third and Final: The Big Thump
I had smoked this cigar for around 70 minutes when I approached the final third.

As usual, the flavors intensified, but they didn’t turn bitter. That’s good Serie D for you. The cocoa notes became a richer, nuttier taste — like roasted walnuts or coffee beans. The pepper returned for an encore, particularly on the retrohale.

If you’re not accustomed to full-bodied Cubans, the last third of a No. 2 can knock your socks off. I had to tamp down my cadence, taking a puff every minute or so just to ensure that the cherry didn’t get too hot. The finish was long. I still tasted a mix of leather and spice 10 minutes after I finally set down the nub.

This is a “sticky” flavor profile, one that leaves something residual on your brain, compelling you to sit in silence for a bit until it goes away.

Pairing: What to Drink?

You need a moisturizer that can meet the challenge. The cigar is going to roll over your palate if you attempt to pair a Partagás Serie D No. 2 with a light pilsner or delicate white wine. I ordered a glass of aged dark rum — something with enough caramel and vanilla notes to push back the earth and spice of the tobacco. A deeply peated Scotch could also do the trick, although you may tire of the smoked effect very quickly ( aka “smoke on smoke ” fatigue).

If you don’t drink, then a double shot of espresso or very strong black coffee is key. You want that bitterness to slice through the opulence of the leather. The Verdict
I mean, the Partagás brand IS from 1845 for a reason.

They know how to roll a “man’s cigar.” It is the senior line Serie D, which arrived in the 1930s, that forms the core of that reputation. Is the No. 2 for everyone? Probably not. If you’re a beginner or appreciate those light, creamy Connecticut wrappers, this can be a bit too much.

It’s a powerhouse. But, if you’re in search of a cigar that feels like history, that tastes like the earth from the Vuelta Abajo and one that will require your undivided attention for an hour-and-a-half, this is it. An old photo I discovered in the album comes to mind. That dude on the front porch in Havana?

He knew what he was doing. He wasn’t simply smoking; he was checking out of this world. The D is a real no-nonsense Cuban, it does what it should do – power, spice and plenty character. It’s the smoke that makes you happy you snuck out of 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 types of things age like a pair of fine leather boots — they get only get better with a little time and wear.