Partagas Serie E No.2 – Pack of 3 Tubos

Partagas Serie E No.2 – Pack of 3 Tubos

When Partagás decided to introduce its largest ring gauge cigar in regular production, it didn't ask for permission. The house founded in 1845 simply did what it has always done: delivered unapologetic flavor wrapped in generations of Cuban tobacco mastery. The Serie E No.2 arrived in 2011 as a statement piece—a 54-ring gauge Duke vitola that exists nowhere else in the Cuban catalog—and in the years since, it has collected the kind of accolades that silence any debate about whether bigger means compromising on complexity. Cigar Aficionado ranked it #3 in 2016 with a 94-point score, and the designation was earned, not given.

The Duke vitola remains the exclusive domain of the Serie E No.2—no other Cuban cigar carries these dimensions, making it a genuine one-of-a-kind in the Habanos portfolio. Partagás created something that bridges two worlds: the old-school intensity the brand built its reputation on, and the modern preference for thicker ring gauges that allow for more complex blend architecture. The aluminum tubos in this three-pack format, released in 2016, serve both the practical traveler and the collector who understands that protection from the elements preserves the integrity of what lies within. At 14.21 grams of hand-rolled Cuban tobacco, this is not a cigar designed for haste.

The first third opens with a distinctive interplay that sets the Serie E apart from its siblings in the Partagás line. Sweet chili warmth emerges immediately—not the aggressive heat of black pepper, but something more refined, almost gentile in its approach. Citrus brightness threads through the background, lifting the signature Partagás earthiness into something more expansive. The draw, thanks to that generous 54-ring gauge, delivers volumes of smoke without resistance, allowing the palate to fully engage with each puff.

The journey through the second third brings a noticeable escalation in strength, a building of intensity that loyalists to the brand will recognize as classic Partagás DNA. Woody notes move from the periphery to center stage—cedar and dried oak framing the experience. The sweetness recedes as leather and roasted nut characteristics emerge, creating a layered middle section that rewards patience. This is where the Duke format proves its worth: the additional girth provides enough tobacco for genuine evolution rather than mere repetition.

The finale returns to citrus, but transformed—darker now, married to sweet hay and the black coffee that Partagás is legendary for delivering in its final act. The pepper that was gentle at the start reasserts itself with more authority, leaving a satisfying warmth on the retrohale. The burn line remains consistent throughout, a testament to the construction standards that earned this cigar its place among Cuba's most celebrated modern releases.

This is a cigar for the smoker who has moved past the honeymoon phase with Cuban tobacco and wants something with genuine gravitas. It suits the post-dinner hour when conversation turns to matters of substance, when there's time to let a cigar reveal itself fully over the better part of an hour. The tubos format makes these ideal for the traveling aficionado who refuses to compromise on quality regardless of destination.

Pair the Serie E No.2 with an aged Dominican rum or a double espresso—the former will accentuate the sweeter dimensions, while the latter will lean into the coffee and leather that define the final act.