Partagás Salomón: The Figurado Challenge
The figurado — a cigar with a tapered head and a shaped foot — represents one of the more demanding formats in Cuban production. The Partagás Salomón, at 178mm × 53 ring gauge, takes that challenge and applies full Partagás intensity to it. The Salomón is not merely a shape; it is an argument that form influences function, that the way smoke is delivered matters as much as what that smoke contains. The tapered head concentrates the draw at the lips, the bulbous mid-section delivers volume and coolness, and the shaped foot requires a considered light. For the smoker willing to engage with all of this, the Salomón offers an experience no parejo can replicate.
This is a cigar for those who appreciate that difficulty and reward often travel together.
Specifications
Tasting Notes
Lighting the Salomón requires patience — the shaped foot does not accept flame as a flat-cut parejo does. The reward for that patience is an opening that arrives concentrated through the tapered head: earth, pepper, and cedar delivered with an intensity the narrow head amplifies. As the burn progresses past the tapered section into the bulb, the smoke volume expands dramatically. Flavour broadens correspondingly — the earth gains depth, the pepper rounds, and a sweetness emerges that was masked by the initial concentration. The mid-section of a Salomón is its most generous phase, and the Partagás blend fills that space with complexity.
The final third sees the blend contracting again as the cigar tapers toward the head. Intensity returns, but now carrying the accumulated complexity of the preceding sections. Espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and a pepper resurgence drive toward a concentrated finish. The figurado shape means the closing draws are the most focused of the entire experience — a gathering of everything the Salomón has offered into a final, concentrated statement. The finish is long, warm, and layered.
Construction
Figurados demand the highest level of roller skill. The Partagás Salomón requires a torcedor capable of managing varying diameters within a single cigar while maintaining consistent draw and combustion. The wrapper must stretch and conform to the changing shape without tearing. Partagás' factory rollers are among the few consistently trusted with this format. Wrappers are colorado-maduro, oily, and carefully selected for elasticity. Burn performance varies more than with parejos — the changing diameter affects combustion rate — requiring the smoker's attention throughout.
Pairing Suggestions
The Salomón's changing profile makes pairing a dynamic exercise. An aged rum suits the generous middle section; a peated single malt complements the concentrated opening and close. Consider two beverages, matched to the cigar's phases, rather than forcing a single pairing across the entire experience.
Value Proposition
Figurados carry a premium reflecting the skill required to produce them. No specific pricing is given here, but the Salomón represents a distinct experience within the Partagás range — one that rewards engagement with attention. For collectors, the format ages well, with the blend's integration improving over a three-to-five-year horizon.
About the Brand
Partagás has operated from Havana since 1845, making it one of Cuba's most established marcas. The brand is distributed worldwide by Habanos S.A., with tobacco sourced from Vuelta Abajo. Further history at Wikipedia.
Storage Recommendations
Figurados require careful humidity management — the varying diameters mean moisture distributes unevenly through the cigar. Maintain 65–70% RH at 18–20°C, allowing extra acclimatisation time after shipping. The Salomón's bulkier mid-section retains moisture longer than the tapered ends, which can affect burn if not properly settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a figurado cigar?
A figurado is any cigar with a non-cylindrical shape — tapered heads, shaped feet, or varying diameters along the length. The Salomón is among the most complex figurado formats.
How do you light a Salomón properly?
The shaped foot requires patience: toast the surface gently rather than applying full flame, rotating the cigar to ensure even ignition across the irregular surface. Rushing produces an uneven burn that can persist throughout the smoke.
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