Partagas Salomones

Partagas Salomones

The Salomon vitola is one of the most challenging formats in the cigar maker's art—a double perfecto that tapers at both ends, requiring extraordinary skill from the torcedor who shapes it. When Partagás, one of Cuba's most powerful and assertive brands, chose to produce a Salomon, the result was a cigar of monumental proportions and uncompromising intensity. The Partagás Salomones is not a cigar for the faint of heart or the short of time. It is a two-hour commitment to one of the most complex, rewarding smoking experiences the Cuban portfolio has to offer.

The Story Behind the Smoke

Partagás is one of the oldest continuously operating cigar brands in Cuba, founded in 1845 by Don Jaime Partagás y Ravelo. The brand has always been associated with full-bodied, intensely flavored cigars—the kind that earned their reputation among working-class Havana smokers before eventually conquering the drawing rooms and private clubs of Europe. The Partagás factory itself, located on Calle Industria in Old Havana, remains one of the most celebrated cigar factories in the world.

The Salomones format adds a layer of artisanal complexity to the Partagás experience. The double perfecto shape—tapered at both the head and the foot—means the cigar must be rolled entirely by hand by the factory's most skilled torcedores. There is no mold involved; every curve, every taper, is the product of human judgment and dexterity. This craftsmanship translates directly into the smoking experience: the changing diameter along the cigar's length means the blend ratio shifts as the smoke progresses, creating a natural evolution of flavor that parejo-format cigars simply cannot replicate.

The Partagás Salomones occupies the intersection of two worlds: the old-school power that defines the Partagás brand and the artisanal sophistication that the Salomon format demands. It is presented in boxes of 10, each cigar individually positioned to protect its tapered extremities. This is among the most visually striking cigars in the entire Habanos portfolio, and its smoking experience matches its dramatic appearance.

The Tasting Experience

First Light: The narrow foot of the Salomon produces a concentrated initial draw that arrives with immediate authority. Dark earth and raw leather hit the palate first, followed by espresso and black pepper that crackle across the retrohale. There is a sweetness buried beneath the intensity—molasses, dark brown sugar—that provides a foundation for the power above it. The narrow opening diameter means the initial draws are particularly concentrated, delivering the Partagás blend in its most focused form. The burn, despite the unusual shape, tracks remarkably well from the start.

The Journey: As the diameter widens into the middle sections, the cigar undergoes a remarkable transformation. The raw intensity of the opening smooths and expands, making room for cocoa, roasted chestnut, and a woody character that alternates between charred oak and aromatic cedar. The smoke volume increases dramatically, filling the mouth with thick, chewy vapor that carries tremendous flavor density. Dried fruit emerges—dark raisin, prune—adding a sweetness that tempers the leather and earth. There is a mineral quality here, almost chalky, that speaks to the iron-rich soils of the finest Vuelta Abajo vegas. The evolving diameter ensures that no two draws are identical, making this one of the most dynamic smoking experiences available.

The Finale: The final third narrows again as the cigar approaches its tapered conclusion, reconcentrating the flavors into a focused finale. The pepper returns with force, the leather darkens into something almost tar-like, and the coffee notes descend into the bitter territory of over-extracted espresso. But the sweetness persists—a stubborn thread of dark sugar that holds the entire profile together. The nicotine delivery in the closing act is substantial, a reminder that you have spent two hours with one of Cuba's most powerful cigars. The finish is enormously long, carrying leather, wood, earth, and a smoky intensity that lingers for minutes after the final draw.

Who It's For

The Partagás Salomones is exclusively for the experienced, full-bodied cigar smoker who has the time, the palate, and the appetite for a monumental smoking experience. This is not a weekday cigar, not a lunch-break cigar, not a cigar for the person still exploring what they like. It is a destination cigar—the kind you plan your evening around.

Pairing Suggestion

Cask-strength bourbon with caramel and charred oak character—Booker's or Stagg Jr.—stands up to the Salomones' intensity while amplifying its woody sweetness, while a rich, full-bodied espresso provides a more traditional Cuban companion that echoes the cigar's coffee and chocolate core.