Perhaps one of the most well known brands of cigars in the world, Partagas Cigars has a history that is as rich and varied as the region of the world from where it originated.  The namesake of the company, Jaime Partagas, founded Partagas shortly after his arrival in Cuba from Spain in 1845. 

Partagas worked in the Cuban tobacco industry for awhile before opening his now world famous factory at 520 Industria Street in Havana, the capital city of Cuba.  Many innovative techniques are credited to Partagas.  The most notable of these techniques is the aging and fermenting of tobacco.  He was also the first cigar producer to employ lectors.  Lectors are individuals who were employed to read and entertain the cigar rollers as they worked in the factory.  This method was popular in some American cigar factories where a large majority of Hispanics were employed.  The method can be seen in the fictionalized work Autobiography of An Ex-Coloured Man by James Weldon Johnson.

    After Jaime Partagas was murdered, the company came into the possession of his son Jose.  Later on, Jose A. Bance, a wealthy banker outside of the Partagas family, purchased both the factory and the brand name. Partagas Cigars went on to win gold medals at various international expositions in Paris in the years 1867, 1878 and 1898. However, it was the next owners who did the most to advance the company and cigar for which it is so noted.  Ramon Cifuentes and his son, also named Ramon, took over the company in the twentieth century shortly before Fidel Castro took control of the island following the Cuban Revolution. After Castro seized control, Ramon Cifuentes was forced to flee, leaving the island in 1961.  In 1978, Cifuentes began to produce his cigars once again, but this time his base of operation was on a plantation in the Dominican Republic.   

    Partagas Cigars are especially popular for their unique flavor.  This unique flavor is a result of another innovative ideas of Ramon Cifuentes.  The secret lies in the wrapper.  After the trade embargo placed on Cuba following the takeover by Castro, Cifuentes could no longer import his wrappers from Cuba to the Dominican Republic.  He had to search elsewhere for this product.  He found what he considered to be a better replacement in the African nation of Cameroon.  This West African country has a steamy climate that is quite conducive to growing wrapper leaves.  Its position on the fourth parallel provides just the right subtropical climate.  Cifuentes began using these Cameroon grown leaves for his wrappers and the cigars were an even bigger success than they had been when they were grown in Cuba. The tobaccos he used were from Mexico and Dominican Republic.

Partagas offers various sizes.  The following are a few of the more popular selections:

Lusitania - 7 5/8" x 49 (194 x 19.45 mm) Prominente, a double corona
Churchill de Luxe - 7" x 47 (178 x 18.65 mm) Julieta, a churchill
Presidente - 6 1/4" x 47 (158 x 18.65 mm) Taco, a perfecto
Serie P No. 2 - 6 1/8" x 52 (156 x 20.64 mm) Pirámide, a pyramid or torpedo
898 Cabinet Selección Barnizados ("Varnished") - 6 3/4" x 43 (170 x 17.07 mm) Dalia, a lonsdale
898 Cabinet Selección Sin Barnizar ("Unvarnished") - 6 1/8" x 42 (155 x 16.67 mm) Corona Grande, a long corona
Partagás de Partagás No. 1 - 6 3/4" x 43 (170 x 17.07 mm) Dalia, a lonsdale
Serie du Connaisseur No. 1 - 7 1/2" x 38 (192 x 15.08 mm) Delicado, a long panetela
Serie du Connaisseur No. 2 - 6 1/2" x 38 (166 x 15.08 mm) Parejo, a panetela
Serie du Connaisseur No. 3 - 5 5/8" x 35 (143 x 13.89 mm) Carlota, a panetela
Serie D No. 4 - 4 7/8" x 50 (124 x 19.84 mm) Robusto, a robusto or rothschild
Corona - 5 5/8" x 42 (142 x 16.67 mm) Corona, a corona
Short - 4 3/8" x 42 (110 x 16.67 mm) Minuto, a tres petit corona
Corona Senior - 5 1/4" x 44 (132 x 17.46 mm) Eminente, a corona
Petit Corona Especial - 5 1/4" x 44 (132 x 17.46 mm) Eminente, a corona
Partagás de Luxe - 5 1/2" x 40 (140 x 15.87 mm) Crema, a corona
Super Partagás - 5 1/2" x 40 (140 x 15.87 mm) Crema, a corona
Mille Fleurs - 5 1/8" x 42 (129 x 16.67 mm) Petit Corona, a petit corona
Aristocrat - 5 1/8" x 40 (129 x 15.87 mm) Petit Cetro, a petit corona
Corona Junior - 4 5/8" x 40 (117 x 15.87 mm) Coronita, a petit corona
Princess - 5" x 35 (127 x 13.89 mm) Conchita, a short panetela
Habanero - 4 7/8" x 39 (125 x 15.48 mm) Belvedere, a short panetela
Chico - 4 1/8" x 29 (106 x 11.51 mm) Chico, a cigarillo

There are also a few limited edition brands that have been released by Partagas.  Here
are a few of those that have been made available:

Pirámide (2000) - 6 1/8" x 52 (156 x 20.64 mm) Pirámide, a pyramid or torpedo
Serie D No. 3 (2001) - 5 5/8" x 46 (143 x 18.26 mm) Corona Gorda, a toro
Serie D No. 2 (2003) - 6 1/8" x 50 (156 x 19.84 mm) Robusto No. 2, a robusto extra
Serie D No. 1 (2004) - 6 3/4" x 50 (170 x 19.84 mm) Partagás No. 16, a robusto extra

Since the popularity of Partagas has increased, there are many cigar brands that try to imitate the unique blend and flavor of a Partagas cigar.  An authentic Partagas can be recognized by its fragrance.  It can also be recognized by its half strong flavor and light colored wrapper.   The most recognizable and popular Partagas cigars are the 898 and the Lusitania.  Throughout the course of its rich history, the Partagas name has always been associated with fine cigars worldwide.

Partagas Official Brand Site