Description
The Short Smoke That Punches Above Its Weight
You know what annoys me? When people dismiss short-format cigars as “beginner sticks” or something you smoke when you don’t have time for a “real” cigar. That attitude drives me nuts – and the Partagas Shorts is exactly the cigar I point to when I need to prove them wrong. This isn’t some compromise smoke you settle for during a lunch break. This is a concentrated dose of everything that makes Partagas legendary, packed into a formato that respects your time without sacrificing complexity.
I smoked my first Shorts on a business trip to Madrid back in 2007 – actually, might’ve been 2006. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’d just finished a three-hour dinner meeting and wanted a cigar but had to catch a train in forty minutes. The tobacconist handed me this stubby little thing and I remember thinking “this is gonna be unsatisfying.” Twenty-five minutes later, I was scrambling to buy a box before my train left. That’s the magic of this vitola – it delivers a full Partagas experience in the time it takes most people to smoke half a Churchill.
What You’re Actually Getting Here
Partagas has been around since 1845, which means they’ve had plenty of time to figure out what works. The Shorts came along much later – introduced in the 1980s during Cuba’s economic difficulties when shorter smoking times were becoming necessary. But they didn’t just chop down a Lusitania and call it a day. The blend is specifically calibrated for this ring gauge and length combination.
The wrapper comes from Vuelta Abajo, Cuba’s premier tobacco-growing region. If you’ve been around cigars for any length of time, you know that’s where the magic happens – the soil, the climate, the curing barns that have been standing since before your grandfather was born. The Shorts gets the same treatment as any other vitola in the Partagas lineup. Same tobacco. Same aging. Same attention to detail. Just concentrated into a shorter format.
This is the cigar for people who appreciate full flavor but don’t always have ninety minutes to spare. It’s for the aficionado who knows that ring gauge and length don’t determine quality – the tobacco and construction do. And it’s absolutely perfect for anyone who’s tired of rushing through the final third of a larger vitola because they miscalculated their available time.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Vitola | Shorts |
| Length | 4.3 inches / 110 mm |
| Ring Gauge | 42 |
| Wrapper | Cuban (Vuelta Abajo) |
| Binder | Cuban |
| Filler | Cuban Blend |
| Strength | Medium to Full |
| Smoking Time | 25-35 minutes |
How This Cigar Actually Smokes
The cold draw gives you leather and earth right away – not subtle hints, but bold, confident flavors that tell you exactly what you’re in for. The wrapper has this slightly oily sheen that Cuban tobacco gets when it’s been properly aged. Construction is typically excellent, though I’ll be honest: I’ve had the occasional one with a slightly firm draw. Maybe one in every fifteen? Not enough to worry about, but worth mentioning.
Light it up and – this is important – don’t baby it. The Shorts needs a proper toast to get going. Once it catches, that first third hits you with classic Partagas earthiness. There’s this deep, rich tobacco flavor that’s almost coffee-like, mixed with cedar and a spiciness that tingles the back of your throat. Not harsh spice – the kind that makes you sit up straighter and pay attention. Some people get cocoa here. I don’t, really, but my palate might be shot from too many years of this.
The middle section – and here’s where the Shorts surprises people – actually develops complexity despite the short length. The earth notes mellow slightly and you get more leather coming through. There’s a creamy quality that smooths out the spice without eliminating it. The retrohale (if you’re into that) gives you white pepper and something almost nutty. The ash holds to about an inch before dropping, and the burn line stays pretty even if you’re not smoking it in a windstorm.
Final third is where the strength really announces itself. This is full-bodied Partagas territory now. The spice returns with authority, the earth deepens, and there’s this lingering finish that stays with you for twenty minutes after you put it down. I’ve never had to chase the burn or relight a properly stored Shorts – they just perform. The wrapper holds together beautifully right to the nub, which is good because you’ll want every last puff.
A word about strength though – and I’m probably going to catch heat for this – I think calling the Shorts “medium” is underselling it. Yeah, the first few puffs are medium. But by the halfway point, this is a full-strength cigar. If you’re new to Cubans or haven’t eaten lunch, proceed with caution. I’ve seen more than one person get wobbly trying to smoke one of these on an empty stomach.
How It Stacks Up Against Similar Smokes
| Cigar | Strength | Smoking Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partagas Shorts | Medium to Full | 25-35 minutes | Time-conscious aficionados who want full flavor |
| Bolivar Coronas Junior | Full | 20-30 minutes | Those who want even more strength in less time |
| Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas | Medium-Full | 30-40 minutes | Slightly milder with more sweetness |
The Bolivar is fuller and more aggressive – think of it as the Shorts’ angry cousin. The Ramon Allones gives you more time and a touch more elegance, but sacrifices some of that raw Partagas character. If I’m being completely honest, the Shorts hits a sweet spot that neither of those quite matches for my taste. But I’m biased – I’ve been smoking these things for almost two decades now.
What to Drink With It (And When to Smoke It)
Coffee. Dark roast, black, no sugar. The Shorts and a proper espresso is one of life’s perfect pairings – the bitterness and earthiness complement each other perfectly. If you’re drinking it with coffee at 10 AM, you’re my kind of person.
For spirits, go with a robust rum – something like a Havana Club 7 or a good añejo. The sweetness of aged rum plays beautifully against the earthy spice of the cigar. Scotch works too, but stick to the peatier Islay malts. A Laphroaig or Ardbeg won’t get bullied by this cigar’s strength. Bourbon? Sure, if it’s barrel proof. This isn’t the cigar for delicate sipping whiskeys.
Time of day matters more than people think. The Shorts is aggressive enough that I wouldn’t recommend it as a morning smoke unless you’ve already had breakfast. Late morning through evening is the sweet spot. It’s also perfect after a heavy meal – that full flavor cuts through beautifully when you’re satisfied and just want something concentrated and satisfying. I’ve smoked countless Shorts after steak dinners and never once regretted it.
How long should I age Partagas Shorts before smoking them?
Right out of the box? They’re smokeable but a bit aggressive. Give them at least six months in your humidor at 65-68% humidity and they’ll smooth out considerably. I’ve got some from 2015 that are absolutely singing right now – the spice has mellowed, the earth has deepened, and there’s more complexity in the middle section. But honestly, even fresh ones are pretty damn good if you like them bold.
Are these really strong enough for experienced smokers?
This question bugs me because people assume short cigars are weak. The Shorts is legitimately full-bodied by the final third. I know guys who won’t touch anything milder than a Partagas Serie D No. 4, and they smoke Shorts regularly. Don’t let the size fool you – this has the same tobacco as the larger vitolas, just concentrated into less length. Respect it accordingly.
What’s the ideal ring gauge humidor humidity for storing these?
I keep mine at 65% humidity, which is lower than the 70% that used to be standard advice. At 65%, the wrapper stays supple, the draw remains perfect, and you don’t get the mushy, over-humidified taste that can plague Cuban cigars stored too wet. Some people go as low as 62% – that’s too dry for my taste, but experiment and see what works for you.
Can beginners smoke Partagas Shorts or are they too intense?
I’m gonna be blunt: if you’ve only smoked mild Connecticut-wrapped cigars, the Shorts might punch you in the face. But if you’ve worked your way up to medium-full cigars and want to explore Cuban tobacco, this is actually a great entry point because the short smoking time means you’re not committing to ninety minutes of overwhelming strength. Just make sure you’ve eaten first and maybe have some sugar on hand if you start feeling lightheaded.
How does the Shorts compare to the Partagas Serie D No. 4?
The Serie D No. 4 is richer, more complex, and gives you about twice the smoking time. It’s also got a 50 ring gauge versus the Shorts’ 42, which changes the flavor concentration. The Shorts is more direct and punchy – less nuance, more immediate impact. I love both, but they serve different purposes. The D4 is for when I have time to settle in. The Shorts is for when I need that Partagas fix in half an hour.
Do Partagas Shorts need to be Cuban, or are there good alternatives?
You’re asking the wrong guy if you want me to recommend non-Cuban alternatives. The Cuban tobacco from Vuelta Abajo has a character that just doesn’t exist anywhere else – that earth, that fermented complexity, that particular spice profile. There are excellent short-format cigars from other countries, but they’re not going to taste like this. If you want the Partagas experience, you want the Cuban version. Period.
What’s the best way to cut a Partagas Shorts?
Straight cut, clean and shallow – maybe 1/16th of an inch. The cap is well-constructed, so you don’t need to overthink it. I’ve seen people try punch cuts on these, which is fine if that’s your thing, but a straight cut gives you the best draw in my experience. V-cuts work too. Just avoid cutting too deep because with a 42 ring gauge, you don’t have much margin for error before you’re into the filler.
The Bottom Line on These Little Powerhouses
The Partagas Shorts isn’t a compromise. It’s not what you smoke when you can’t have a “real” cigar. It’s a deliberately crafted expression of what makes Partagas great, formatted for the modern world where not everyone has two hours to dedicate to a smoke. The earth, the leather, the spice, the strength – it’s all here, just delivered more efficiently.
I keep a box of these in my humidor at all times. They’re my go-to for busy days, for unexpected opportunities, for those moments when I want a serious cigar but don’t have serious time. After nearly two decades of smoking them, I still reach for a Shorts at least once a week. That should tell you something.
If you’ve been avoiding short-format cigars because you think they can’t deliver the goods, the Partagas Shorts is your wake-up call. Grab a few, give them some time in your humidor, and prepare to have your assumptions challenged. Just make sure you’ve had lunch first.
