What is the history of Cifuentes Petit Bouquets cigars and when were they discontinued?

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets was a machine-made Cuban cigar produced under the Cifuentes brand, which originated from the Particulares factory established in 1845. These cigars carried the factory name "Infantes" and were manufactured for several decades as an accessible, compact smoke. Production ceased in the early 2000s when Habanos S.A. consolidated their portfolio, eliminating many machine-made vitolas in favor of hand-rolled premiums. The Cifuentes name itself disappeared from regular production, making surviving Petit Bouquets a curiosity for collectors studying Cuba's machine-made era.

What are the dimensions and smoking time of Cifuentes Petit Bouquets?

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets measured approximately 115mm in length with a 42 ring gauge, placing it in the petit corona format. As a machine-made cigar with short filler tobacco, construction was more uniform than hand-rolled counterparts but lacked the complexity of long-filler blends. Typical smoking duration ranged 25-35 minutes, suited for brief intervals. The draw tended to be more open than handmade cigars of similar size, a characteristic of machine-bunched construction methods prevalent in Cuban factories during this period.

How does Cifuentes Petit Bouquets compare to other discontinued Cuban machine-made cigars?

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets occupied a similar market position to other defunct machine-made Cubans like Quintero Favoritos and La Flor de Cano Petit Coronas. All utilized short filler from premium leaf trimmings, offering Cuban tobacco character at lower price points. The Petit Bouquets distinguished itself through slightly milder blending than Quintero, with cedar and light coffee notes rather than earth-forward profiles. Collectors note these cigars aged poorly compared to hand-rolled counterparts due to binder and wrapper differences, making sealed boxes from the 1990s primarily of historical rather than smoking interest.

What is the history of Cifuentes Petit Bouquets cigars and when were they discontinued?

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets was a machine-made Cuban cigar produced under the Cifuentes brand, which originated from the Particulares factory established in 1845. These cigars carried the factory name "Infantes" and were manufactured for several decades as an accessible, compact smoke. Production ceased in the early 2000s when Habanos S.A. consolidated their portfolio, eliminating many machine-made vitolas in favor of hand-rolled premiums. The Cifuentes name itself disappeared from regular production, making surviving Petit Bouquets a curiosity for collectors studying Cuba's machine-made era.

What are the dimensions and smoking time of Cifuentes Petit Bouquets?

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets measured approximately 115mm in length with a 42 ring gauge, placing it in the petit corona format. As a machine-made cigar with short filler tobacco, construction was more uniform than hand-rolled counterparts but lacked the complexity of long-filler blends. Typical smoking duration ranged 25-35 minutes, suited for brief intervals. The draw tended to be more open than handmade cigars of similar size, a characteristic of machine-bunched construction methods prevalent in Cuban factories during this period.

How does Cifuentes Petit Bouquets compare to other discontinued Cuban machine-made cigars?

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets occupied a similar market position to other defunct machine-made Cubans like Quintero Favoritos and La Flor de Cano Petit Coronas. All utilized short filler from premium leaf trimmings, offering Cuban tobacco character at lower price points. The Petit Bouquets distinguished itself through slightly milder blending than Quintero, with cedar and light coffee notes rather than earth-forward profiles. Collectors note these cigars aged poorly compared to hand-rolled counterparts due to binder and wrapper differences, making sealed boxes from the 1990s primarily of historical rather than smoking interest.

Cigar Information

Cifuentes Petit Bouquets

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets represents a fascinating chapter in Cuban cigar history—a machine-made vitola that served smokers for decades before eventually being retired from production. This compact cigar carried the factory name "Infantes" and offered enthusiasts a convenient, shorter smoking experience under the respected Cifuentes brand umbrella.

Specifications

Cigar Name	Petit Bouquets
Factory Name	Infantes
Ring Gauge	37
Length	98 mm (3⅞″)
Estimated Weight	4.51 g
Construction	Machine-made
Band	Standard band A
Packaging	Dress box of 25 cigars in cellophane

Production History

The Petit Bouquets earned its place among the pre-1960 releases, making it one of the more established offerings in the Cifuentes portfolio. Its creation predated the dramatic changes that would reshape the Cuban cigar industry following the Cuban Revolution, positioning it as a cigar with genuine historical pedigree.

Production continued for approximately three decades before the vitola was ultimately discontinued in the early 1990s. This extended production run speaks to the cigar's enduring appeal among smokers who valued its particular combination of dimensions and smoking characteristics.

Construction and Presentation

As a machine-made cigar, the Petit Bouquets represented the practical side of Cuban cigar manufacturing. Machine construction allowed for consistent production at scale, making this vitola accessible to a broader range of consumers seeking the Cifuentes experience without the premium associated with hand-rolled formats.

The cigars were presented in dress boxes containing 25 units, each individually wrapped in cellophane for protection. This packaging approach balanced elegance with practicality, ensuring the cigars remained fresh while presenting an attractive appearance on retailer shelves. The standard band A designation indicated the classic band styling associated with the brand.

Dimensions and Smoking Profile

With a ring gauge of 37 and a length of 98 millimeters (approximately 3⅞ inches), the Petit Bouquets fell into the smaller category of cigars. These dimensions made it an ideal choice for smokers seeking a shorter session or those who preferred a more concentrated flavor delivery. The slender gauge would have produced a focused draw, potentially intensifying the flavor characteristics of the tobacco blend.

The estimated weight of 4.51 grams reflected the compact nature of this vitola, consistent with its modest dimensions and machine-made construction approach.

Legacy

Though no longer in production, the Cifuentes Petit Bouquets remains a point of interest for collectors and historians of Cuban tobacco. Its decades-long production run and eventual discontinuation in the early 1990s place it firmly within an important transitional period for Cuban cigars, making surviving examples potentially significant to those studying the evolution of the industry.

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