CanuckSARTech's Free-Style Review: Partagas Serie P No. 2

[CanuckSARTech]

So, I decided to go full out here for my 1st review on FOH, fire up the Mrs.' super-fancy el-cheapo digital camera doo-dad, and get a nice photo anthology going for the free-style review contest. I decided to do mine on the Partagas Serie P No. 2 - a beautiful little torpedo/piramide. I had actually planned to smoke one of these the other day, and got side-tracked, so this was the perfect opportunity for me. There's probably way more detail and text here than others really care for, but tough mierda - that's my style, baby; overdoing it to the 9's! And so...

Reviewed Cigar: Partagas Serie P No. 2

Box Date: Jul. 2006

Factory/Manufacture Code: POS

Packaging: 10-box

Price: Never talk money...

Length: 6 1/8", or 156 mm

Ring Gauge: 52

Format: Piramide

Weight: Don't you know it isn't polite to ask a fella this??

Construction: Quite nice. The wrapper was a beautiful oily marbled hue, with no discernable major veins, and had a very nice consistency to it - a very smooth velvetness to it, not super oily, but still there in dark patches. The cigar lost a few points right off the get-go for a couple of very minor cosmetic issues (slightly cracked wrapper only, at the foot, as well as a few sun spots and a green spot. A third, much larger sun spot was found after removing the cigar band upon completion - sneaky damn rolllers.) No soft spots, perfect feel - this is just one of those Cuban cigars that have an excellent balance in the hand (yes, I have big mitts, so a bigger cigar helps!).

Pre-Light: Draw was perfect - just slightly resistive, definitely not open, but not free-flowing either; kind of like sipping on a straw in your Coke. Just nice for a piramide cigar. Pre-light aroma was very discernable as a Partagas, with very noticeable moist earth (like a walk in the woods, after a rain), and a hint of fresh leather and tobacco.

Opening Impressions: Ummmmm....worried that this might not pan out so good.

First Third: Well, in a word, after the opening and first third were done, I started to feel like this may be a bit of a let down. The cosmetic issues are fairly noticable in one of the above pictures (sorry for the fuzziness - I was watching the back yard neighbour, in a bikini, walking her dog in the yard. ). This stick was my 3rd one out of this particular 10-box from 2006, and about my 20th or so of this vitola. What started out with earth and leather turned out to be very much on the fringes of the flavour profile. They were still there, but they seemed very one-dimensional, like a shadow on a wall. I had the earth, tobacco, and leather there, but there was no "ooomph". It was fairly light-to-medium at this point, with a dull peppery spice present. Right now - only about an 82 to 84. Fingers crossed.

Second Third: This pinch-hitter was starting to show it's presence. Warmed up to a nice medium body, with the same flavours there, still in a bit of a shadow, but now joined by a black cherry tone. Ah-ha! This is what I know my SPN2's for, and it's what I look for in this stick. But, I wasn't pleased to see it not come through until a ways into the 2nd third, almost about 1/2 way through. Score at this point? Moved up to an 88 to 90. Have to see how it rounds the bases.

Final Third: The last third brought it home for me, but also ruined it a bit. The flavours definitely became more robust, and rounded out to a medium-to-heavy body. Black cherry and moist earth stayed consistent to the end. Started to have more pepper, which is expected, but it also become a bit hot and harsh near the end (at this age even?), something I didn't really experience with my others in this little box (all 90's, smoked between last July and this June). I noticed that the ash started to develop very noticable bright white spots in the end, something from the oil deposits you find in a "toothy" wrapper. This wrapper didn't really have much tooth, but the oils are definitely there, so it seems like these oil deposits could signal that there's still some blending that these tobaccos can do, to better release the oils within the layers. It ended up finishing so-so for me; I wasn't too pleased with the harshness.

Finishing Conclusion / Final Comments: I really like this stick, but this one was a bit of a letdown. It was the Habanos Rollercoaster for me with this one. The burn and smoke volumes were fairly great throughout, and the smoke felt nice on the tongue - just with a nice "firmness" to the drawn smoke. But, the flavours not being consistent right from the start, and then the wavering end, kind of put a hitch in the overall enjoyment of this cigar. This box now has exactly 4 years of age on it, so it's should all be in balance now, which I felt was already in place with others from this box. Maybe I just hit a so-so stick, the "dud" cigar of the box so to speak (I did pick the uglier one, even though they're all pretty). I was hoping it would live up to the 90's that I gave it's other brethren, but not to be.

Final Score: 87

Total Smoking Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Paired Beverage: Captain Morgan "Tattoo" rum, w/ Coke

Thanks for reading my review. Hope you enjoyed it - long as the post is.

Cheers.

[BeeStinga]

Thanks for the review. I too have found the ones I have come across haven't had a finish any better than your example, but I really have enjoyed the ones I've tried.

I notice you don't make a very large opening with your cut on your Torps. Amazing what a difference the opening size can make, from my experience. I prefer taking a bit more off and at a slight angle also. Just an observation that we all approach things differently, not being a hate'a.

[partagasd4]

Great review. The P2's for me are always around 90 give or take a few points.

[CanuckSARTech]

Thanks for the review. I too have found the ones I have come across haven't had a finish any better than your example, but I really have enjoyed the ones I've tried.

I notice you don't make a very large opening with your cut on your Torps. Amazing what a difference the opening size can make, from my experience. I prefer taking a bit more off and at a slight angle also. Just an observation that we all approach things differently, not being a hate'a.

Thanks. The opening actually was fairly good, about 12 to 14 mm or so. It just looks smaller maybe, in my hands.

[MIKA27]

Very nice review Canuck.

I love the SP2's, they do have a tendancy to be a little less 'complex' but thats what I love about them.

[OZCUBAN]

Great review

When these are happening it's pure

Bliss some bikini shots would not have gone astray as a result deducting half a point

Cheers OZ

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

I have a box from 2005. Although these cigars aren't too bad, they're not my favourite in this format. I gave an average score of 87.

[nonameno]

Hello Canuck,

Super review with nice pictures too! I am curious how this compares to the PSD4? Generally speaking, it sounds like a very enjoyable cigar, which I look forward to trying.

Thank you for sharing,

Curtiss

[CanuckSARTech]

...Bliss some bikini shots would not have gone astray as a result deducting half a point

Was thinking about it - but the fence kept getting in the way.

[CanuckSARTech]

Hello Canuck,

Super review with nice pictures too! I am curious how this compares to the PSD4? Generally speaking, it sounds like a very enjoyable cigar, which I look forward to trying.

Thank you for sharing,

Curtiss

Honestly, I like the SDN4 better. Even though it's the same marca, I find that the D4's have the same earthy and leather flavours, as well as the black cherries, but that I also frequently find a combination of spices laden with a potential assortment of cedar, cloves, caramel hints, sometimes nutmeg and honey, and even brown sugar/molasses. There's definitely more aromas and flavour available to be found there in that vitola.

[CUBANO]

Have some from a box dated 12/05, and they have always been a solid performer. I would say a 91-92.

[CanuckSARTech]

Have some from a box dated 12/05, and they have always been a solid performer. I would say a 91-92.

Yeah, Cubano - the other two that I had from this box (one was given away, equaling my 10) I ranked both as a 90. This one just wasn't at that level.

I hope the others work out better.

[Guest rob]

Good review CST.

I've always wanted to love the P2, but have always been underwhelmed by it. Partagas is after all one if my favourite marques (smoking a Lusitania right now that has me smiling)... I'm not sure what it is about the P2, but I certainly won't be buying any anytime soon.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Good review CST.

I've always wanted to love the P2, but have always been underwhelmed by it. Partagas is after all one if my favourite marques (smoking a Lusitania right now that has me smiling)... I'm not sure what it is about the P2, but I certainly won't be buying any anytime soon.

The 2000 Partagás Pirámides Edición Limitada was far more satisfying IMHO.

[CanuckSARTech]

Good review CST.

I've always wanted to love the P2, but have always been underwhelmed by it. Partagas is after all one if my favourite marques (smoking a Lusitania right now that has me smiling)... I'm not sure what it is about the P2, but I certainly won't be buying any anytime soon.

Thanks. They seem to be a bit more level for me currently (aside from this one box's reviewed stick), but I don't really experience these anywhere past 91. The SDN4 definitely pass that mark with me - just the way the format affects the tobacco and hence the flavours.

[CanuckSARTech]

The 2000 Partagás Pirámides Edición Limitada was far more satisfying IMHO.

And I have heard that, but I never had a chance to try those.

One thing that I heard was that the flavour profile of the 2000 EL, albeit with more of a sweet spice profile (nutmeg, cloves) is almost spot/bang on with the new limited release of the Partagas Serie P No 1's that are/have come out. Those are a shorter piramide, and they're in that special ceramic jar, black with red and gold accents and lettering, and then in a similar box. I guess so far they're only available through Duty Free worldwide, but I'd love to see the Czar get some for sale (hint, hint Rob!)

[Guest rob]

And I have heard that, but I never had a chance to try those.

One thing that I heard was that the flavour profile of the 2000 EL, albeit with more of a sweet spice profile (nutmeg, cloves) is almost spot/bang on with the new limited release of the Partagas Serie P No 1's that are/have come out. Those are a shorter piramide, and they're in that special ceramic jar, black with red and gold accents and lettering, and then in a similar box. I guess so far they're only available through Duty Free worldwide, but I'd love to see the Czar get some for sale (hint, hint Rob!)

Been and gone, I believe. Best to email Lisa.