The new Partagás Línea Maestra has been launched in the UK and is available from La Casas del Habanos, Havana Cigar Specialists and a small number of hotels, terraces and private clubs.
The new addition to the Partagás family is a luxury brand extension, just like Cohiba BHK (2010), Montecristo Línea 1935 (2017) and Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro (2020). It is the second extension of this kind from Partagás, which now has three distinct líneas. The classic Línea (1845), the Línea Maduro (2018) and the Línea Maestra (2023).
The Línea Maestra is presented in striking blue lacquered boxes containing 20 cigars and a gift box of three (one of each vitola). Each cigar is dressed in a unique blue band bearing the name of the particular vitola it adorns as well as an additional footband.
The three sizes within the Línea are:
Name: Rito
Factory Name: Gustosos
Dimensions: 6 5/8” (168mm) x 52
Name: Maestro
Factory Name: Deleites
Dimensions: 5 ¼” (132mm) x 56
Name: Origen
Factory Name: Bondadosos
Dimensions: 6 1/8” (154mm) x 46
The cigars are all finished with a rare, tapered, Cabeza Tumbada (Dropped Head). This is often referred to as a ‘109 style’ cap as it was brought to prominence by the long discontinued, original Partagás 109. Recreating it now with these cigars is a subtle tribute to the past.
Uniquely among Partagas cigars, all of the tobacco used in this línea is sourced from the San Luís district of the Vuelta Abajo zone in Pinar del Rio. This adds a special aromatic quality to the blend without losing the brand’s unique character. This new línea is still classified as full-flavoured, just like the classic Línea and the Línea Maduro.
To introduce these cigars to the UK, Hunters & Frankau invited the Masters of Havana Cigars to a pre-launch sampling at The Emory Hotel, London. Here they were invited to sample the new cigars and share their thoughts.
Discussing the Rito, one Master said,
“The San Luis seco sings through with an additional aromatic edge to the traditional Partagas flavour. …a very smooth and refined premium smoke’’, while another opined“I would pair this cigar with a Parmesan fat washed reposado tequila with Ancho Reyes chilli liqueur on the rocks to add sweetness, tapped with soda to open it up and garnished with orange twist and pink peppercorns’’.
The Maestro also received positive comments, with one saying,
“From the beginning very aromatic and sweet cigar with some mineral tones. The complexity increases through the second third and it reminds me of the Partagas Serie P No2. In the last third the strength builds up and shows a bit of the Partaga’s spiciness signature. Amazing aroma. Very balanced smoke ‘’ and another stating “This is an amazing cigar with a lot of notes of sweetness and great aroma. I would pair it with an Old-Fashioned cocktail with Havana Club Añejo rum.”
Finally, the Origen was reviewed with the following remarks,
“Develops into a Medium to full-strength cigar, increasing the flavour intensity throughout the journey. An incredibly well-balanced cigar with sweet and spicy notes’’, and “Aromatic, well-balanced and perfectly constructed. The Origen reminds me of the E.2, and that’s a very positive thing as far as I’m concerned. I’d pair it with a glass of Pol Roger Sir Winston Cuvee.”
