The Partagas Culebras is a Cuban Cigar that looks bizarre. There is no way around this; the trio of rustic, misshapen sticks twisted and entwined in a way that seems to defy logic bears few, if any, of the qualities we are told to look for in a quality cigar. It may even appear off-putting to some smokers, like a cigar that will require more work to enjoy than would be worth it. Happily, this could not be farther from the truth.
Culebras are made in a vitola unique in the Cuban pantheon to Partagas. The name is taken from the Spanish word for serpent, rather fitting to the way they coil around one another. Each stick is rolled with a 39 ring gauge and length of 5 ¾ inches before being dampened and shaped into bunches of three. It will smoke for around 35-40 minutes. The presentation of this cigar – only ever in groups of three, each presented in their own small cedar box – makes it seem natural to share with friends. Once the red satin ribbon that secures each end is unravelled the cigars deserve to be smoked and provide a conversation piece when passed around a table. I chose to enjoy mine with my partner and our friend, and fellow cigar aficionado, Ricky Patel. The opportunity to share the experience and compare tasting notes increased our enjoyment of the cigar immensely.
The trinity is split, the Culebras are ready to be enjoyed.
Construction: 10/10
- How does one judge the construction of such an unusual vitola? There is a heavy, almost coarse, grain to the wrapper, but this fits the style beautifully. There are no straight parejo lines, but none are intended. This cigar may not look like any other you find in a humidor, but this is exactly what the torcedor intended.
Draw: 10/10
- At first sight this cigar could give concern over the draw: how can the smoke flow through the tight compressions and sharp, angled bends in the body? Remarkably, it does – all three of us were pleasantly surprised at how easily and consistently every puff delivered.
Combustion: 7/10
- The burn was not even, but how could it be? Each stick required a touch-up or 2 with a jet lighter at some stage, but there were no major issues.
The burn of the cigar was remarkably consistent and even, given its shape.
Ash: 3/5
- The ash was a dark grey and somewhat flaky, holding gently to the foot of the stick but dropping off perhaps a little too easily.
Smoke: 5/5
- The smoke flowed not only easily, but abundantly. With three of us smoking together, the terrace we chose was soon filled with beautiful Partagas aromas.
Flavour: 20/25
- For a Partagas, the body of the cigar felt a little gentler than I would expect and, while the flavours were pleasing, they were perhaps a touch underwhelming given my expectation of the brand.
Overall: 31/35
- This cigar was neither the most flavourful I have smoked nor one of the most attractive, but it certainly ranks as one of the most enjoyable. The novelty of the shape and the ease with which it lends itself to a collaborative smoke with likeminded people mean it is one I will happily return to in the future.
Partagas Culebras are perfect for sharing, perhaps at the end of a dinner party.
Final Score: 86/100
- The Partagas Culebras was, overall, an enjoyable smoke. The first third brought strong notes of oak wood, with occasional cedar sweetness – note unlike the Partagas DeLuxe, another smaller format from the marca and subject of a recent review. Into the middle third there was not much deviation from this flavour on the palette, although Ricky did observe the emergence of pepper and spice when retrohaling. The final third brought the pepper to the tongue, with all three of us commenting on its arrival and my partner detecting a hint of nutmeg. This sums the main attraction of this stick: a collaborative review of a cigar meant for sharing.