HISTORY
If there is one building in Havana that excites cigar lovers above all others it is the old Partagás factory. You can find it at No. 520 Industria Street, just behind the Capitol building, in the heart of the city.
The factory was opened in 1845 by Don Jaime Partagás and was still operational until a few years ago. It is now closed with plans to transform it into a cigar museum well under way. The Partagás shop on the ground floor however, remains open and is well worth a visit.
A Partagás is immediately recognisable by its deep, earthy flavour. The character of its blend springs from a selection of filler and binder tobaccos grown in the Vuelta Abajo zone and chosen for their unmistakable richness of flavour and aroma.
Partagás come in a wide array of shapes and sizes notably the Lusitania and the 8-9-8, a cigar that is named after the way it is arranged in its box. But perhaps the best known of all Partagás is the Serie D No.4, the Robusto size that formed part of the legendary Partagás alphabet series that dates back to the 1930s.
All sizes are ‘tripa larga, totalmente a mano’ – long filler, totally handmade.
This classic Mareva-size cigar was inspired by a popular machine-made version of the same name that was discontinued in the mid-1980s. This is handmade and presented in stylish retro tins of 5. They taste every bit as good as they look.
TASTING NOTES
Experience notes of black pepper spice, earthiness, and strong cedar wood with secondary notes of roasted nuts, creamy leather, and a mineral finish.
This full-bodied cigar is best paired with strong drinks, such as a Dark-Roast Espresso, a Spicy Straight Rye Whiskey, or an Aged, High-Proof Dark Rum to stand up to its power.
CIGAR INFORMATION
Country of Origin: Cuba
Flavour profile: Full-bodied
Vitola: Mareva
Size: 42 ring gauge, 5 1/8 inches
Smoking time: 45 minutes