Partagás
Partagás is a historic Habanos house renowned for producing full-strength Cuban cigars. Established in Havana around 1827, it remains one of the most prominent names managed by Habanos S.A. The house is defined by its deep, earthy blends and an extensive portfolio that ranges from short smokes to grand double coronas.
Origins and the House Profile
The exact foundation of Partagás is recorded as circa 1827, though 1845 is the year officially used for major brand anniversaries. From its inception, the house has focused on tobaccos that deliver a full-bodied smoke. The blending relies on rich, robust leaves that appeal to experienced smokers seeking concentration and weight.
Unlike milder houses, Partagás demands deliberate attention. Its profile is consistently classified as full strength across nearly all its production lines. Over decades of operation, the house has maintained this distinct character, ensuring that whether one selects a brief petit corona or a substantial double corona, the underlying signature remains present.
The Core Range
The regular-production Core Range forms the historical backbone of Partagás. It contains several classic vitolas de galera that have been produced continuously for over half a century.
The Lusitanias is perhaps the most imposing member of this range. A Prominentes double corona measuring 194 mm by a 49 ring gauge, it requires significant time and offers the slow-burning evolution that characterises large traditional formats. Another pillar is the 8-9-8, a lonsdale in the Dalias vitola (170 mm by 43), traditionally packed in three tiers.
The Core Range also excels in smaller formats. The Shorts, a Minutos petit corona (110 mm by 42), provides a concentrated expression of the house blend. The portfolio includes several other accessible formats, such as the Aristocrats, Capitols, and Mille Fleurs, all of which fall into the broader petit corona category. The Presidentes stands out as a unique offering, being a Tacos perfecto (158 mm by 47). For those preferring a standard corona, the house produces the Partagás de Luxe and Super Partagás, both measuring 140 mm by a 40 ring gauge in the Cremas vitola.
The Alphabetical Serie Line
Introduced in 1975, the Serie line marked a shift towards modern, thicker ring gauges, using an alphabetised naming convention. The flagship of this line is the Serie D No. 4. As a classic Robustos (124 mm by 50), it is consistently one of the most heavily produced and widely smoked Habanos in the world.
The line expanded over the years to include other notable formats. The Serie P No. 2 is a figurado in the Piramides vitola (156 mm by 52), offering a focused draw. For smokers preferring a wider ring gauge, the Serie E No. 2 provides a robusto extra format known as the Duke (140 mm by 54). The house has also added shorter variants, such as the Serie D No. 5 (110 mm by 50) and Serie D No. 6 (90 mm by 50), to accommodate brief smoking windows.
Maduro and Línea Maestra
In recent years, Partagás has introduced lines that explore specific tobacco preparations and contemporary format preferences.
The Maduro line, which began with the Maduro No. 1 in 2015, utilises darker wrapper leaves that have undergone additional fermentation. The Maduro No. 1 is a robusto in the Discretos format (130 mm by 52). This was followed in 2018 by two additions: the Maduro No. 2, a petit pyramid known as Short Piramides (120 mm by 55), and the Maduro No. 3, a robusto extra (145 mm by 50). These cigars maintain the full strength of the house while introducing the subtle sweetness characteristic of maduro wrappers.
The Línea Maestra, launched in 2023, represents the highest tier of the house's current regular production. It features three large-format vitolas: the Maestro (Deleites, 132 mm by 56), the Origen (Bondadosos, 154 mm by 46), and the Rito (Gustosos, 168 mm by 52). These cigars feature tapered heads and are blended from strictly selected tobaccos, aimed at collectors seeking a modern interpretation of the Partagás profile.
Collecting and Maturation
Partagás cigars are prime candidates for long-term ageing. Their full strength and dense construction provide the necessary structure to develop complexity over decades. When stored in a stable, well-maintained humidor, the initial power mellows, allowing nuanced earth and spice notes to emerge.
When acquiring Partagás for collection, verifying authenticity is critical, particularly for the Serie D No. 4 and Lusitanias, which are heavily targeted by counterfeiters. Collectors should familiarise themselves with how to spot fake Cuban cigars and carefully inspect the bands and packaging.
Tracking the cigar box code is essential for ageing. The factory code and date stamp indicate precisely when the cigars were packed, providing a baseline for the maturation process. For the UK market, boxes bearing the English Market Selection (EMS) stamp guarantee that the cigars have passed the quality control standards of the exclusive regional distributor.
Key Partagás Vitolas
Serie D No. 4 — Line: Serie — Vitola de Galera: Robustos — Length (mm): 124 — Ring Gauge: 50 — Shape: Parejo
Lusitanias — Line: Core Range — Vitola de Galera: Prominentes — Length (mm): 194 — Ring Gauge: 49 — Shape: Parejo
8-9-8 — Line: Core Range — Vitola de Galera: Dalias — Length (mm): 170 — Ring Gauge: 43 — Shape: Parejo
Serie P No. 2 — Line: Serie — Vitola de Galera: Piramides — Length (mm): 156 — Ring Gauge: 52 — Shape: Figurado
Shorts — Line: Core Range — Vitola de Galera: Minutos — Length (mm): 110 — Ring Gauge: 42 — Shape: Parejo
Maestro — Line: Línea Maestra — Vitola de Galera: Deleites — Length (mm): 132 — Ring Gauge: 56 — Shape: Parejo
Maduro No. 1 — Line: Maduro — Vitola de Galera: Discretos — Length (mm): 130 — Ring Gauge: 52 — Shape: Parejo
At MokaCigar
We hold a carefully inspected selection of Partagás cigars, each verified for authenticity and condition by our specialists. From the formidable Lusitanias to the essential Serie D No. 4, our inventory is sourced through official channels and stored in strict, climate-controlled environments. Explore our current stock and review the English Market Selection (EMS) pieces we currently hold on our Partagás brand page. ```