CA's Number 6 for 2024--Partagas No. 2

Cigar Aficionado selected the Partagas Series P No. 2 as it’s number 6 cigar for 2024. While I have not smoked the Series P, I am pleased to say that back on my birthday in February of 2024 I got to smoke a Partagas Legend [not from Cuba] thanks to my good friend and fellow founder of Sons of The Leaf, Mac Harvey [see “About” on the web site for more info on Mac and all of us.]

Partagas is one of those cigar brands that has an official Cuban version made in Cuba by the state-owned tobacco company and another separate manufacturer producing cigars in the Dominican Republic brandishing that Partagas brand while contains no Cuban tobacco. The one that won the number 6 cigar of the year was the Cuban version and thus will not be available to most of us U.S. based smokers. If you travel abroad and get a chance to enjoy one of the Series P, please share your notes and impressions with us.

So, that one I smoked in February as well as a another  Partagas called Black Crystal were a the ones made in the DR and contained no Cuban tobacco. DRAT!

The Legend had a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with Dominican binder and filler. It had no issue with relight and had an easy draw and even burn. The flavor note said "mild and pleasant” but when I scored it, I decided it was too mild for my taste and thus would not be repurchased.

The Black Crystal has crossed my path a couple of times. In 2022, again right around my birthday, I smoked one and found it to be too strong and the flavor seemed a bit “off” toward the end. However, in late 2023 when I got a chance to enjoy one in Fredericksburg with my buddy, Mike Goeser, I found it much more to my liking. Perhaps my own taste and preferences have changed over time and I tend to enjoy a bit of a stronger stick these days. My notes said I would consider buying it again, perhaps to accompany some whiskey [but wait until next week for the real report on paring a good cigar with a good whiskey].

The Black Crystal also sported a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with a binder from the LaVega region of the DR and filler grown in Nicaragua from some Cuban Seed as well as some from the DR.

It was “full but pleasant.”  Pick one up if you are leaning toward a fuller flavored stick these days.

Enjoy!