When was La Flor del Caney Predilectos released and how long was it produced?

The La Flor del Caney Predilectos debuted around 1980 as a machine-made vitola within the La Flor del Caney brand. Its production run was remarkably brief, lasting only a few years before discontinuation. This limited timeframe makes surviving examples genuine collector's items. The brand itself was established in 1978 as a machine-made line using short-filler tobacco, positioned as an accessible alternative to hand-rolled Habanos. The Predilectos format specifically remains one of the rarer vitolas to encounter from this defunct marque.

What are the specifications and flavor profile of La Flor del Caney Predilectos?

The Predilectos measured approximately 129mm × 42 ring gauge, classifying it as a corona format. As a machine-made cigar utilizing short-filler Cuban tobacco, it delivered a medium-bodied smoke with characteristic Cuban earthiness, cedar notes, and subtle coffee undertones. Construction consistency varied given mechanized production methods. The draw tended toward openness compared to hand-rolled counterparts. These cigars were packaged in boxes of 25 and featured the brand's distinctive green and gold band design with the "La Flor del Caney" script.

Is La Flor del Caney Predilectos worth collecting and what should collectors know?

For Cuban cigar historians, the Predilectos holds legitimate acquisition value due to scarcity and brand obscurity. However, condition concerns are paramount: machine-made cigars from this era rarely age gracefully, with tobacco dryness and wrapper cracking common. Authentic examples command modest premiums over original retail, not investment-grade prices. Verify provenance carefully, as counterfeit bands exist. The La Flor del Caney line was discontinued entirely in the early 2000s, so any "fresh" Predilectos are fraudulent. Purchase only from established vintage Cuban specialists with documented storage history.

When was La Flor del Caney Predilectos released and how long was it produced?

The La Flor del Caney Predilectos debuted around 1980 as a machine-made vitola within the La Flor del Caney brand. Its production run was remarkably brief, lasting only a few years before discontinuation. This limited timeframe makes surviving examples genuine collector's items. The brand itself was established in 1978 as a machine-made line using short-filler tobacco, positioned as an accessible alternative to hand-rolled Habanos. The Predilectos format specifically remains one of the rarer vitolas to encounter from this defunct marque.

What are the specifications and flavor profile of La Flor del Caney Predilectos?

The Predilectos measured approximately 129mm × 42 ring gauge, classifying it as a corona format. As a machine-made cigar utilizing short-filler Cuban tobacco, it delivered a medium-bodied smoke with characteristic Cuban earthiness, cedar notes, and subtle coffee undertones. Construction consistency varied given mechanized production methods. The draw tended toward openness compared to hand-rolled counterparts. These cigars were packaged in boxes of 25 and featured the brand's distinctive green and gold band design with the "La Flor del Caney" script.

Is La Flor del Caney Predilectos worth collecting and what should collectors know?

For Cuban cigar historians, the Predilectos holds legitimate acquisition value due to scarcity and brand obscurity. However, condition concerns are paramount: machine-made cigars from this era rarely age gracefully, with tobacco dryness and wrapper cracking common. Authentic examples command modest premiums over original retail, not investment-grade prices. Verify provenance carefully, as counterfeit bands exist. The La Flor del Caney line was discontinued entirely in the early 2000s, so any "fresh" Predilectos are fraudulent. Purchase only from established vintage Cuban specialists with documented storage history.

Cigar Information

La Flor del Caney Predilectos

The Predilectos represents a fascinating chapter in Cuban cigar history as part of the La Flor del Caney brand. This machine-made vitola debuted around 1980 but had an exceptionally brief production run, making it one of the more elusive finds for collectors of vintage Cuban cigars today.

Specifications

Cigar Name	Predilectos
Factory Name	Standard Mano
Ring Gauge	40
Length	123 mm (4⅞″)
Official Weight	6.90 g
Construction	Machine-made
Band	Standard band A
Packaging	Dress box of 25 cigars in cellophane

Production History

The Predilectos entered the market as a regular production cigar in approximately 1980. However, its time on Cuban factory floors was remarkably short-lived. By the end of the 1980s, production had ceased entirely, consigning this vitola to the ranks of discontinued Cuban cigars.

Today, the Predilectos is considered extremely rare. Surviving examples are seldom encountered, and those that do surface represent genuine opportunities for serious collectors seeking to preserve pieces of Cuba's cigar-making heritage.

Construction and Presentation

As a machine-made cigar, the Predilectos was produced using automated manufacturing processes rather than traditional hand-rolling techniques. The cigar was dressed with the standard band A design associated with the La Flor del Caney line.

Each dress box contained 25 individual cigars, with each specimen protected by cellophane wrapping—a practical touch that has helped preserve surviving examples over the decades.

Questions & Answers

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