Partagas Serie P No. 2

Size: 52 × 156 (6.1")

Shape: Pyramid

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Smoking Time: 1 ½ hours

Beverage: Celebrator Dopplebock

The Partagas Serie P No 2 was released to immense anticipation in 2005.  It has become one of the most recognizable and enjoyed Cuban cigars currently in production and is often compared to the Monticristo No 2.  The tobacco used in the Partagas Serie P No 2 is the finest Cuba has to offer – made in the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba which is within the Pinar del Rio province (See Cigar Aficionado's article on this area of Cuba).  Other reviews of the Partagas Serie P No 2 have been excellent and I have read that the No 2 should contain the same strong earthy flavours for which Partagas cigars are known.

This is actually the third time I’ve smoked a Partagas Serie P No 2.  The first was as part of a Selection Pyramides box that my brother-in-law brought back from Cuba.  The cigar was so enjoyable we ordered a box of 10.  The last time we smoked a Serie P No 2 I remembered thinking that I almost preferred it to the Monticristo No 2 – which is saying a lot considering how unbelievable an aged Monti No 2 can be.  Therefore, the Partagas Serie P No 2 that we review here had some high standards before a match even touched the foot.

The wrapper on this cigar looked great…dark and oily it certainly had the appearance of a well constructed stick.  A few prominent veins protruded through the rich brown wrapper.  As my cigar felt a bit light I checked it for any soft-spots and noticed a few near the foot of the cigar.  Using our favourite cutter, the cap clipped off easily and fell into the new, oversized ashtray our local cigar hangout recently acquired.  Although I’m still learning how to detect flavours in cigars, the smell and taste of dried grass and cedar was easily recognizable.  I lit the end of the cigar with a match and immediately noticed a distinct lack of the sweet earthy flavours that were immediately apparent the last times we smoked a No 2.  As well, the soft-spots near the end of my cigar resulted in a noticeable run down the side of my stick that needed constant attention throughout the first third.  After several minutes the strength and complexity of the stick began to shine through and I began to become reacquainted with the familiar flavours of the Partagas Serie P No 2 – earth, sweetness, dried grass, and cedar.  The cigar maintained this lovely bouquet of flavours throughout the middle third before some bitter, young notes began to mingle in the fray.  As I really began to sink my teeth into the deep, rich flavours of the stick it began to become a tad harsh and less enjoyable.  However, overall this was a great cigar and given a few years in the humidor (and a quality roll) would easily become a four out of five Fidel cigar, but at this stage I’ll rate it 3 ½ out of 5 Castros.

Edmundo Dantes El Conde 109 Mexico Regional Edition 2007

Size: 50 × 184 (7.2")

Shape: Double Robusto

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Smoking Time: 2 hours

Beverage: Water

There is ample confusion and mystery surrounding the elusive Edmundo Dantes El Conde. Produced in Cuba for the Mexican market, it was originally released in 2007 and limited to 600 numbered boxes of 25. Those boxes were bought up pretty quickly, probably due (in no small part) to the very, very high score it was given by James Suckling in September of 2007. It has been said that the Edmundo Dantes is a mixture of H. Upmann and Montecristo tobacco blends, and even that it really is a Montecristo but that the name was changed to avoid a trademark dispute in Mexico. It shares a name with a Cuban rum, and uses a font and emblem that is strikingly similar to that used on the Montecristo packaging. Whatever the case, the cigar became so popular that it also became fairly rare. Perhaps this is why Habanos SA re-released the Edmundo Dantes in 2008, again in 600 numbered boxes that have also become very difficult to obtain.

Due to the generosity of a wonderful friend, we were fortunate enough to obtain a few of the 2007 release as well as a box of the 2008. We thought that we'd review the 2007 today and leave the 2008 for another time.

The Conde 109 is an imposing and expertly constructed smoke that is dense and heavy in the hand. The band is much larger (and a bit darker) than a Cuban Montecristo, and it looks great on the 50 ring gauge. The head is slightly tapered, almost conical, and it fits really well in the mouth. There are no soft spots or blemishes, and it smells of cedar and fresh tobacco. The head clips easily, revealing a densely-packed cigar. The pre-light draw is perfect, not too tight and not too loose, imparting notes of moist earth and nuts.

I lit the cigar using a torch lighter, and it lit quickly and easily. The first draw rewarded me with a dense amount of delicious smoke. The flavours here included caramel, mild coffee, and a faint amount of sweetness. The burn stayed true for the first third, and the draw remained impeccable. The coffee flavours became stronger as it progressed, and the coffee was joined by the sudden appearance of chocolate and cream. The medium body and strength remained throughout the cigar, and the second half included a very prominent, pleasant sweetness that came and faded, replaced by faint notes of licorice on the finish. I did have to touch it up once near the 2/3 mark, but this didn't detract too much from the experience. Some of the cigar's youth began to show near the end of the smoke, as a vegetal and mildly acrid taste began to creep in. Nonetheless, I smoked it down to the nub.

This was an excellent cigar with a complexity and enjoyment factor that (I'm reluctant to admit) meets up to the hype. It left me feeling like I wanted more. I expect that this cigar will age very well, but it probably won't take more than a few years to lose the youth and rise up to be a superb smoke. But since it's almost perfect right now, I can't help but give the Edmundo Dantes El Conde 109 four and a half Fidels out of Five.

Sancho Panza Molinos (2001)

Size: 42 × 165 (6.5")

Shape: Lonsdale

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Smoking Time: 1 ¼ hours

Beverage: Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Sancho Panza is a name that rarely comes immediately to mind when one thinks of premium Cuban cigars. Perhaps that's why our local B&M was able to come across a box of Molinos from the back rooms of his distributor, languishing there since 2001. Despite being a niche brand, the Sancho Panza marquis is constructed from tobacco grown in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region, an area which is considered to be one of the best for cultivating tobacco. It is from this region that the tobacco is also grown for more prominent brands such as Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Cohiba.

Fortunately for us, this eight-year-old cigar had developed a small amount of plume and looked like it might have reached its prime. It was densely packed but soft, with a great-looking milk chocolate wrapper that was free of blemishes. It clipped easily, and the pre-draw was perfect, with just a slight amount of resistance. The cold draw brought the woody, dry taste that I've found to be characteristic of aged habanos. Lighting the foot was easily accomplished with a single match, and I was surprised at the pepper that greeted me on the initial puff. The large volumes of smoke produced also surprised me, given the smaller ring gauge. The pepper quickly faded quickly and was replaced with deep, earthy flavours that finished with notes of cedar. I had to be careful as I smoked it, as it became bitter if I puffed too frequently.

In the final half of the cigar the earthy flavours were joined by notes of licorice on the finish. Despite the pleasant flavours and the wonderful aroma produced by this aged smoke, there seemed to be a disappointing lack of balance and uniqueness that might have been expected from a cigar that has had some time for the flavours to marry together. Although I enjoyed it, I expected a bit more from this smoke. That's why I've given it three Castro's out of five.

Montecristo D Edición Limitada 2005

Size: 43 × 170 (6.7")

Shape: Dalia (Lonsdale)

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Smoking Time: 1 ¼ hours

Beverage: lager beer

Having a celebration usually means smoking a few special cigars that have been sitting around and waiting for just such an occasion. Recently, we had a party for someone's retirement, and I dug out a few smokes that I had been waiting to try. One of these was the Montecristo D Limited Edition from 2005.

This lonsdale was produced when Habanos SA was only aging the wrappers of limited editions (they now age all of the tobacco used in EL's for a minimum of two years prior to construction), making most of the tobacco in this cigar only four years old. Although it's common for non-Cuban cigar producers to age their cigars for several years prior to releasing them, most habanos are shipped young and require a bit of time in the humidor before they're ready to be smoked. So even though this can be considered an aged smoke, it's really a young-aged cigar.

The stick was densely packed and very firm (almost hard) to the touch, with a dark, somewhat toothy wrapper. It didn't have much in the way of pre-light aroma. The cold draw was a bit tight but revealed hints of cedar and grass. Lighting the foot was easily accomplished with a single match, and a good deal of smoke was produced despite the tight draw.

I tasted loads of coffee, cocoa, and cedar, flavours which lingered long on my palate. Pleasant notes of vanilla were also present. These flavours remained throughout the length of the cigar and were joined by something that I've never tasted in a cigar before and had trouble putting my finger on... kind of a rich grassy flavour that was very nice. I got a little carried away near the middle by smoking too fast, which heated the cigar up and brought out an unpleasant bitterness. I let the smoke sit for awhile to cool down, but the bitterness remained somewhat and tainted the remainder a little. It was a great smoke, however, and I have no problem giving it four out of five Fidels.

Romeo y Julieta Dukes Edición Limitada 2009

Size: 54 × 140 (5.5")

Shape: Robusto Extra

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Smoking Time: 1 ¾ hours

Beverage: Anarchist Amber Ale

Although this review was completed a bit later than we generally prefer, the memories of the Romeo and Julieta Ltd Ed 2009 still stir up images of good conversation and reflection of another week come and gone.  To us, each puff of a good cigar brings another hectic week closer to completion and is the perfect instrument to transition effortlessly into the needed mental break of the weekend.  That being said, we have found that some cigars are much better at ameliorating the stress of a busy week than others.  The Romeo and Julieta Ltd Ed 2009 is such a cigar.

After inspecting a few of the Grand Robustos with careful consideration, ruling out those with prominent veins or small nicks and tears, I concluded my search with a beautifully rolled specimen of fine Cuban craftsmanship.  I had been anxiously awaiting this cigar all week as my fellow reviewer had previously smoked one and raved about its subtle flavors.  As I clipped the cap with my friends Palio cutter and sampled the pre-draw notes of cedar, leather, and hay, I anticipated a fairly mild cigar considering the reputation of Romeo y Julieta as well as my friends comments a week prior.

I attempted to light the smoke using the 3 match technique described by Gordon Mott, the Executive Editor of Cigar Aficionado; however, the technique is harder that it looks and it ended up taking me 5 matches.  The first draw of the cigar provided me with able, sumptuous balloons of smoke that wafted throughout the room.  I noted the mild body and strength of the cigar and the cedar and leather flavors I noticed during the pre-draw sampling were pronounced as I burned through the first third.  Although I would not describe this smoke as anything other than mild-medium in both strength and flavor, it did pick up flavor and I noticed some pleasant tingles on my palate.  I would also comment that although the flavor of the cigar became more intense, it did not seem to change in terms of its complexity. 

One noticeable draw-back of the “Duke” was the unmistakable ammonia flavor of a young cigar that crept in periodically, especially when the draw become too hot.  Therefore, we recommend that you allow this cigar to rest for at least a year before toasting its tip.  That being said, this cigar could become something truly worthy of a Friday cigar with some time in the humidor.  With only some small touch-ups throughout our journey together, I would have to say this cigar was particularly enjoyable and is definitely worth trying.  I give it 3.5 Castro heads out of 5.