Partagás

Partagás is synonymous with Havana itself. The legendary factory—La Flor de Tabacos de Partagás—still stands at 520 Industria Street behind the Capitol building, turning out some of Cuba’s most celebrated cigars since 1845. The brand’s founder, Don Jaime Partagás y Ravelo, a native of Catalonia, arrived in Cuba in 1831. Owning several prized plantations in the Vuelta Abajo region, he earned a reputation for selecting, blending, and fermenting the island’s finest tobaccos and for hiring one of the first factory lectors to read to his rollers. Many classic vitolas—such as the Lusitanias, Serie E No. 2, and Serie D No. 4—trace their lineage to his expertise. After Don Jaime’s death in 1862, his son José briefly ran the business before selling it in 1899 to banker José A. Bances, who soon partnered with Ramón Cifuentes Llano. By 1916, Cifuentes and Francisco Pego Pita had formed Cifuentes, Pego y Cía, later renamed Cifuentes y Cía. Under their stewardship the factory became Cuba’s second-largest cigar exporter by 1958, surpassed only by H. Upmann. Nationalized after the Revolution, Partagás nevertheless remained a flagship brand. Following Altadis’s investment in Habanos S.A. in 2002, quality improvements and new releases solidified its global status. Today every Partagás vitola is Totally by Hand with Long Filler from premium Vuelta Abajo leaf. A Partagás is immediately recognizable for its rich, intense flavor and unmistakable aroma. The lineup spans a wide array of sizes, including the famed Lusitanias and 8-9-8. The 1930s-era Series remain icons: Serie D No. 4 is the benchmark robusto; the Serie P No. 2 pyramid (2005) and Serie E No. 2 (2011) cater to lovers of bold, large-ring smokes, while the shorter Serie D No. 5 offers full flavor in a compact format. Flavor Profile: Full-bodied