Partagas Serie P No.1

In 2006, Habanos S.A. started a new series of releases of various brands and vitolas, released primarily for sale in Duty Free and Travel Retail stores around the world. Every year, it releases a special product for the stores. So far, it’s largely been specific to one brand—with the exception of 2008—and usually a special packaging option.

To date, there have been five releases:

• 2006 — Montecristo – Travel Humidor Edmundo
• 2007 — H. Upmann – Travel Humidor Robustos
• 2008 — Multi Brand – Travel Retail Selection Pack
• 2009 — Partagás – Ceramic Jar Serie P No.1
• 2010 — Hoyo de Monterrey – Travel Humidor Double Epicure

While the other four releases have been in travel humidors, the Partagás Serie P No.1 was packed in arguably the exact opposite thing, a jar. It’s absolutely beautiful, made from bone China porcelain with a humidifier on top and 25 cigars inside.

When I was at the LCDH Playa Del Carmen, I saw a jar.

• Cigar Reviewed: Partagás Serie P No.1
• Country of Origin: Cuba
• Factory: Fernando Perez German
• Wrapper: Cuba
• Binder: Cuba
• Filler: Cuba
• Size: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Petit Pirámides
• Est. Price: $18.00 (Jars of 25, $450)
• Date Released: 2010
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 4

The cigar itself is a excellent example of a cigar with a light brown wrapper that has a bit of oil on it and a vein or two. It is fairly small and the wrapper smells like a combination of hay, wood, pepper and chocolate. It is great when squeezed, not too hard, not too soft, with just the right amount of give. Just by looking at it, the Partagás seems to be extremely well-rolled,

The first third starts off with a small amount of spice and a wonderful opening, with flavors of wood, sweet chocolate, hay and a bit of coffee. The spice and the creaminess are great together, and make for a very rich profile, one of the best openings I have had in a while.

The second third has the spice from the first third die down quite a bit, although still in the background. Flavors are close to the same as the first third, but with the coffee notes taking center stage and more woodiness. The spice is just enough to compliment the rest of the flavors. The only downside is a bit of bitterness, but nothing strong enough to be anything other than just noticeable.

The final third again has coffee and hay, but also a bit of nuttiness, tart and sweet— all at once. It never gets harsh, and I enjoy it all the way to the nub.

Final Notes:

• I can’t say enough about the smoke from this cigar: thick, creamy and white.
• While the flavors present in the cigar are great, there is a bit of youth, especially in the second third. Having said that, the bitterness was never overwhelming.
• There was a wonderful sweet undertone for almost the entire cigar, sometimes stronger than other times, but always present. It really set off the rest of the flavors that are present, making the profile as a whole more interesting.
• If you buy one of these jars, do not leave the puck humi wet with the cigars inside, as it will inevitably make the top of the cigars soggy, while leaving the bottoms drier.
• The burn and draw were nothing short of amazing on each and every one of the four I smoked for the review. I never once had a problem.
• The final smoking time was one hour and five minutes.