Description
The Partagas Shorts: When You Want Full Flavor Without the Time Commitment
Look, I get it. You’ve got thirty minutes max, maybe during a lunch break or while waiting for your spouse to finish shopping. Thing is, finding a genuinely satisfying Cuban cigar that doesn’t demand an hour of your time? That’s trickier than you’d think. Most short smokes sacrifice complexity for convenience. The Partagas Shorts doesn’t.
I’ll be honest with you: I was skeptical the first time I picked one up. This was back in 2007, maybe 2008 – I was in Havana at La Casa del Habano on 5th Avenue, and the guy behind the counter kept insisting I try these. “Too small,” I thought. “How good could it really be?” Man, was I wrong. That little robusto packed more flavor than some Churchill-sized sticks I’d been smoking. It’s become my go-to ever since when I want the full Partagas experience but life’s got other plans.
Here’s the thing about Partagas – and this matters if you’re new to Cuban cigars – they don’t mess around. Founded in 1845 by Don Jaime Partagás, this brand built its reputation on bold, earth-forward blends that don’t apologize for being intense. The Shorts delivers exactly that punch, just in a format that respects your schedule. It’s aimed at smokers who know what they want: robust Cuban tobacco character without filler or fluff. If you’re someone who finds most petite cigars underwhelming, this’ll change your mind.
What Makes This Little Powerhouse Special
The Partagas Shorts is essentially a concentrated version of what makes the marca famous. It uses tobacco from the legendary Vuelta Abajo region – and if you don’t know why that matters, it’s basically the Burgundy of Cuban tobacco growing regions. The soil, the climate, the generational knowledge of the farmers there… it all adds up to leaves that simply taste different. Richer. More complex.
What strikes me most about the Shorts – and I’ve probably smoked a hundred of these over the years – is how it manages to deliver a complete smoking experience in just 20-25 minutes. You’re not getting a simplified or dumbed-down version of Partagas. You’re getting the whole symphony, just played at double-time. The wrapper’s got this beautiful Colorado Claro to Colorado shade, depending on the box. Smooth, slightly oily, with that telltale Cuban sheen that practically begs you to light it up.
Between you and me, I think this vitola is actually underrated in the Partagas lineup. Everyone goes nuts over the Serie D No. 4 – and yeah, that’s a fantastic cigar – but the Shorts flies under the radar. Which honestly means you can usually find them more easily. Not gonna lie, that’s worked in my favor more than once when Cuban supplies get tight.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Vitola | Shorts (Petit Robusto) |
| Length | 4.3 inches / 110 mm |
| Ring Gauge | 42 |
| Wrapper | Cuban (Vuelta Abajo) |
| Binder | Cuban |
| Filler | Cuban (Ligero, Seco, Volado blend) |
| Strength | Medium to Full |
| Smoking Time | 20-30 minutes |
The Smoking Experience: Every Third Counts
So you’ve clipped it – use a straight cut here, nothing fancy – and you’re checking the cold draw. Already you’re getting hints of what’s coming: barnyard notes, a touch of cocoa, that earthy Cuban funk that’s impossible to describe but you know it when you smell it. The draw’s usually spot-on. Partagas production has been pretty consistent in recent years, though I did get a box in 2019 that was rolled a bit tight. Happens.
Real talk: the first third comes at you fast. You light this baby up and boom – you’re immediately hit with earth and leather. Not subtle about it either. There’s this cedar note running underneath, and depending on the age of your stick, you might catch some coffee bean bitterness. I remember smoking one on my back patio during a rainstorm – yeah, I’m that guy who smokes in the rain – and the petrichor from the storm almost perfectly matched that wet earth character from the cigar. Weird moment of harmony there.
The construction? Pretty solid, honestly. The burn line’s usually razor-sharp, and the ash holds for about an inch before you need to tap it. It’s that classic light-gray Cuban ash that’s got just enough structure to stay put but crumbles easy when you knock it. The smoke production is generous for such a small ring gauge. Dense, creamy clouds that hang in the air and beg you to retrohale.
Oh man, speaking of retrohale – here’s where it gets interesting. Push some of that smoke through your nose in the first third and you’ll get white pepper, maybe some dried herbs. It’s got bite but it’s not harsh. There’s a difference, you know? Harsh makes you regret it. This just wakes up your palate.
Moving into the second third – and we’re only talking about ten minutes in, this cigar doesn’t waste time – things get richer. The earth note that dominated the first third starts sharing space with toasted almonds or maybe hazelnuts. Some sweetness creeps in, almost like molasses but not quite that heavy. A friend of mine who’s really into wine always says he gets dried fruit here. Raisins, maybe prunes. I don’t always catch that, but when the cigar’s been resting properly, yeah, I can see it.
Here’s what gets me about this section: the complexity actually builds despite the short format. Most petite cigars peak early and coast to the finish. The Shorts keeps developing. You’ll notice the leather note transitions from new leather to old leather – that aged, worn quality. The cedar becomes more prominent. If you’re smoking slowly enough, you might catch some white chocolate or cream notes dancing around the edges. Might be placebo, might be real. Who am I to judge?
The final third is where this cigar reminds you it’s a Partagas. The strength ramps up noticeably – not to the point where you’re dizzy if you’ve had breakfast, but you definitely feel it. The earth comes roaring back, joined by stronger spice, maybe some black pepper this time instead of white. There’s often this mineral quality that shows up, almost like wet stone or granite. And the finish… okay, so the finish lingers way longer than you’d expect from such a short smoke.
I’ve taken this stick down to the nub – probably shorter than I should, honestly – and it never gets bitter on me. That’s saying something. A lot of cigars, even good ones, turn harsh in that last inch. The Shorts maintains its dignity right to the end. The retrohale in the final third is intense, no joke. Lots of pepper, lots of earth, but still balanced somehow. It’s like the cigar’s reminding you: “Yeah, I’m short, but I’m still a heavyweight.”
How Does It Stack Up?
| Cigar | Strength | Smoking Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partagas Shorts | Medium-Full | 20-30 minutes | Quick smoke with full complexity |
| Bolivar Coronas Junior | Full | 25-35 minutes | When you want more power |
| Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales | Medium | 25-30 minutes | Smoother, more approachable option |
| H. Upmann Half Corona | Medium-Light | 20-25 minutes | Morning smoke or milder preferences |
Look, if you’re comparing short-format Cuban cigars, the Partagas Shorts sits in this sweet spot. It’s bolder than the H. Upmann Half Corona – which is a lovely morning cigar, don’t get me wrong – but it’s not quite as aggressive as the Bolivar Coronas Junior, which can punch you in the face if you’re not ready for it. The Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales is probably its closest competitor, but I find that one a bit one-dimensional. The Shorts has more going on.
What to Drink and When to Smoke It
Okay, so pairing. This is where people get all precious and overthink things, but I’ll give you what actually works from experience. Coffee is the obvious choice – a proper espresso or a strong Cuban coffee if you can get it. That bitterness plays beautifully with the earthy tobacco. I’ve also had great experiences with bourbon, specifically something in the 90-100 proof range. Buffalo Trace works. Wild Turkey 101 works even better. The sweetness and vanilla notes from the bourbon cut through the earth and spice.
Want to go the rum route? Makes sense with a Cuban cigar. Try something aged, like a Havana Club 7 Años or a Ron Santiago de Cuba 11. The complexity in aged rum matches the tobacco’s complexity. Beer? Yeah, actually. A good porter or stout can hold up to this cigar. I had one with a Guinness once – felt very old-school Irish pub, even though nothing about that pairing is traditional.
Time of day matters more than people think. This isn’t a morning cigar for me – too much strength, and the flavors almost seem muted if I smoke it on an empty stomach. Post-lunch is perfect. After dinner works great too, though if you’ve just finished a heavy meal, you might want something milder. I usually reach for these in the afternoon, maybe around 2 or 3 PM, when I’ve got a break in the day but not enough time for a full robusto.
Occasion-wise? These are brilliant for situations where you want a quality smoke but can’t commit the time. Waiting at the airport – though good luck finding smoking areas anymore. Golf course, if you’re not playing too seriously. Walking the dog. I’ve got a friend who loves these during his commute home – he’s got about a 25-minute drive, windows down, cigar in hand. Lives dangerously, that one.
Your Questions Answered
How long do Partagas Shorts need to rest after buying them?
Here’s the thing – it depends on where they’re coming from. If you’re buying from a retailer with proper storage, you can smoke them right away. But honestly? I’d give them at least a couple weeks in your humidor at 65-70% humidity. A month is better. Three months to a year of rest really lets them settle and the flavors integrate. I’ve got a box from 2016 that’s smoking beautifully now, but they were pretty good fresh too. These aren’t like some cigars that absolutely need aging to be smokeable.
Are Partagas Shorts too strong for beginners?
Real talk: they might be. If you’re brand new to cigars, this could be intense. But if you’ve smoked a few medium-bodied cigars and want to step up, these are actually a great choice because the short format means you’re not committing to an hour-long challenging experience. My advice? Don’t smoke it on an empty stomach, have it with food or a sugary drink nearby, and if you start feeling lightheaded, put it down. No shame in that. I’ve seen guys with twenty years of smoking experience get woozy from Partagas if they’re not careful.
What’s the best way to store Partagas Shorts?
Keep them in a proper humidor at around 65-68% relative humidity and 65-70°F if you can control temperature. I personally prefer 65% for Cuban cigars – they seem to smoke better at that level, burn more evenly. Don’t go above 70% humidity or you risk construction issues and potential mold. Store them in their original box if possible; Cuban cigar boxes are designed to help with aging. And keep them away from strong-smelling cigars because they’ll pick up those flavors over time. Not gonna lie, I learned that the hard way with some infused cigars years ago.
How do Partagas Shorts compare to the Serie D No. 4?
The Serie D No. 4 is more refined and complex, I’ll give it that. It’s got more ring gauge (50 vs. 42), so you get different proportions of wrapper to filler, which affects the taste. The D4 is also longer, so the flavor development has more time to evolve. But here’s what I’ve noticed: the Shorts is actually bolder in some ways, more in-your-face with the Partagas character. It’s like comparing a shot of espresso to a full cappuccino. Both are great, just different experiences. If I’ve got 40-50 minutes, I’m reaching for the D4. If I’ve got 25 minutes, the Shorts wins every time.
Do Partagas Shorts improve with age?
Absolutely they do. Young ones (under a year) can be a bit sharp, with more ammonia and less integration between the flavors. Give them 2-3 years and the earth notes mellow, more sweetness comes out, and everything smooths together. I’ve had 5-year-old Shorts that were incredible – less pepper, more cocoa and coffee, with this aged tobacco character that’s hard to describe. But diminishing returns kick in after about 7-10 years in my experience. They don’t really keep improving forever like some bigger vitolas do. Smoke them young if you want boldness, age them a few years if you want refinement.
What’s the best cut for Partagas Shorts?
Straight cut, no question. The ring gauge is only 42, so a V-cut or punch might restrict the draw too much. Just take a good guillotine cutter and clip about 2mm off the cap – enough to open it up but not so much that you risk unraveling the wrapper. I’ve seen people try to punch these and end up with draws that are way too tight. Keep it simple. And make sure your cutter is sharp; a dull cutter will crush the cap and ruin the whole experience before you even light it.
Why do some Partagas Shorts taste different from others?
Box variation is real with Cuban cigars, my friend. Different harvest years, different positions in the curing barn, even different rollers – it all affects the final product. I’ve had boxes where every cigar was perfectly consistent and others where there was noticeable variation. That’s part of the Cuban cigar experience, honestly. Also, storage matters huge. A box kept at 72% humidity will smoke differently than one kept at 62%. Your palate changes too – what you taste in the morning versus evening, whether you’ve just eaten, even what you drank the night before. It’s not always the cigar’s fault when it tastes different.
Bottom Line: Is This Your Cigar?
If you’ve read this far, you probably already know whether the Partagas Shorts is calling your name. It’s not for everyone. If you prefer mild cigars or you’re looking for something smooth and creamy, look elsewhere. But if you want authentic Cuban tobacco character, if you appreciate earth and leather and spice, if you’re tired of petite cigars that taste like nothing – yeah, this is absolutely your smoke.
I keep coming back to these for a reason. Actually, several reasons. They’re consistent in quality, they deliver way more complexity than they have any right to given the format, and they respect my time while still demanding my attention. That’s a rare combination.
Grab a five-pack first if you’re unsure. Smoke one fresh, let the others rest a month, try again. I’m betting you’ll end up buying a full box. I usually keep at least two boxes in my humidor – one that’s been aging a couple years and one that’s newer for when I want that bolder, rawer expression. That’s the mark of a great cigar, isn’t it? When you always want some on hand.
Look, life’s short. Sometimes you don’t have an hour for a Churchill. The Partagas Shorts gets that. It’s the cigar that fits your schedule without compromising on what matters: quality tobacco, real flavor, and that unmistakable Cuban character. Stop overthinking it and light one up already.
