Short Filler Machine Made Cigars. Let's have a discussion.

[El Presidente]

Short Filler Machine Made Cigars 

No, I am not talking about Cuban minis/puritos so put them aside. I am talking about full sized short filler cigars being manufactured around the world today. 

What are the standout short filler cigars around the world today (if any). 

Who makes them? Why do they stand out to you? What do they cost? Are they a viable budget proposition? 

Puro purists can now unfold from their fetal position. 

Let's discuss over the next few days 

For those who have not seen a machine made cigar process, check out the below vid. 

[JDoughty]

I love the cheap & cheerfuls. Rafael Gonzalez Panatelas Extras don't smoke like a short filler, the ash is like stacking dimes when they are on point and dry boxed. Flor de Canos Elegidos are another favorite, along with Quintero Panatelas. Tasty everyday smokes. For NC, I enjoy Papas Fritas and Tatuaje P white label in Robusto. I find these sticks enjoyable, tasty and easy to smoke without thinking too hard about them or worrying about the cost. I am not actually sure which of these are machine made, but I'll smoke the heck out of all of them. Probably not all at the same time, though. 😁

[Havanaaddict]

Unless they are from the 70's or 80's, the only one I can smoke is the Rafael Gonzalez Panetela Extra!

There is something about the flavor of fresh short filler cigars that I just don't enjoy! 

[Lucas Buck]

I like a lot of them especially with significant age. Smoke a lot of Quintero, Piedra, Belinda and love RGPE. 

[ElLoboLoco]

I picked up a box of Quintero Pantelas, not a refined experience buy it provides the Terroir itch. 🤷‍♂️ 

[MC4]

I used to smoke Fuente Maduro Curly Head Deluxe. Used to smoke and enjoy them before getting into CCs. Still enjoy them.

[Dadof3]

Back in the day the Partagas and RyJ Perfectos were the bomb. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Been forever since I had some, but they were always a good value, and I wouldn't turn my nose at them. I had bunch of Los Statos 5 packs that were well aged and were fun while they lasted.

[Joeyjojo]

On 5/29/2026 at 7:19 AM, JDoughty said:

I love the cheap & cheerfuls. Rafael Gonzalez Panatelas Extras don't smoke like a short filler, the ash is like stacking dimes when they are on point and dry boxed. Flor de Canos Elegidos are another favorite, along with Quintero Panatelas. Tasty everyday smokes. For NC, I enjoy Papas Fritas and Tatuaje P white label in Robusto. I find these sticks enjoyable, tasty and easy to smoke without thinking too hard about them or worrying about the cost. I am not actually sure which of these are machine made, but I'll smoke the heck out of all of them. Probably not all at the same time, though. 😁

+1 on the Tatuaje P. Amazing smoke for the money. Although long filler is optimal, good quality tobacco will shine through regardless of format. 

[El Niño]

23 hours ago, MC4 said:

I used to smoke Fuente Maduro Curly Head Deluxe. Used to smoke and enjoy them before getting into CCs. Still enjoy them.

I picked up a bog standard Curly Head a year or two ago on a whim, knowing nothing about it. I absolutely loved it. Sweet cream and nuttiness with zero off flavors. Can't beat that at the price.

[Montezüma]

I think there's two different things going on here, between short filler and machine made. Correct me if I'm wrong but all machine made cigars are short filler but not all short filler are machine made. This makes a big difference as we all know why hand made is better and I don't mind the short fillers from time to time, yes they tend to be one dimensional but sometimes thats all you need. I enjoy Jose Piedra and as others have mentioned the Elegidos is a worthwhile cigar - so there are several but again, they are hand made. Even the AF curly heads are hand made. Anyone care to suggest a passable machine made cigar? The best I can think of is Villiger Premium but even that is only passable.

[Fugu]

Now, I think we have to first put that straight - there is no other full-format machine made short filler cigar from Cuba other than Guantanamera. What you see in the footage is not how Cuban TCs are made (in the vid they are even using a HTL binder).

Quintero, JLP, FdC, RGPE are all TC, but all “real” leaf-tobacco and all hand-made. That is - filler bunched into binder leaf with the aid of the Lieberman machine (for the majority of NC “premium” makers / or their contractors that’s the standard), wrapper applied fully by hand.

If the aim is talking about MMs I got nothing to contribute here, apart from the Minis 😅. The Cuban hand-made TCs I love. Best bang for your buck, still! Rafael González Panetelas Extra is a staple (the last shortfiller from a TL-marca remaining, with the demise of the great PL Panetelas), as is the Panetela from Quintero. I think I am holding at the very least ten boxes of either. Add the Favoritos, Brevas, or the Petit Cetros of JLP. Solid offerings and, in my opinion, a big mistake to dismiss them. They have their place. Give them a few years and just try to treat them as you do treat your premium smokes, and you will be rewarded.

[Fugu]

41 minutes ago, Montezüma said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but all machine made cigars are short filler but not all short filler are machine made.

Absolutely correct (you beat me to it 😁). 👍

[Dadof3]

I had a Guantanamera Cristales and I know some folks react to them like they were poison but it was mild and inoffensive. Not anything good but not awful or foul smelling or foul tasting. My guess is they are fine for the odd situation where you just want a stick you can not really care about if you have to put it out early or you are in a spot where your pallet isn't going to work well with a good stick.  

[Fugu]

3 hours ago, Dadof3 said:

folks react to them like they were poison but it was mild and inoffensive.

They are certainly better than their reputation.

[JDoughty]

4 hours ago, Dadof3 said:

I had a Guantanamera Cristales and I know some folks react to them like they were poison but it was mild and inoffensive. Not anything good but not awful or foul smelling or foul tasting. My guess is they are fine for the odd situation where you just want a stick you can not really care about if you have to put it out early or you are in a spot where your pallet isn't going to work well with a good stick.  

I tried one and found it to be pretty wretched tasting. Aging them may or may not help, so the box I bought will mostly be gifted to folks who want to try a real Cuban but whom I know are not discerning or experienced smokers. 

[Dadof3]

On 5/30/2026 at 6:23 AM, JDoughty said:

I tried one and found it to be pretty wretched tasting. Aging them may or may not help, so the box I bought will mostly be gifted to folks who want to try a real Cuban but whom I know are not discerning or experienced smokers. 

This sort of stuff is all subjective. There is a reason they are at the bottom of the scale but I was pleasantly surprised. Others may be grossed out. Either way it’s an option for some.  

[JDoughty]

21 hours ago, Dadof3 said:

This sort of stuff is all subjective. There is a reason they are at the bottom of the scale but I was pleasantly surprised. Others may be grossed out. Either way it’s an option for some.  

Truth, and also they are likely to be inconsistent. You may have gotten a good box and I wasn't nearly as lucky. 

[Capn_Jackson]

I don’t mind some short-filler options. I actually have a soft spot for Quintero Favoritos, and dig one out occasionally. As for machine-made, I guess the RG PE would be my best bet, and they are still somewhat enjoyable. Both scratch an itch, but do not overly satisfy.

[Christophe]

On 5/29/2026 at 5:32 PM, Montezüma said:

 Correct me if I'm wrong but all machine made cigars are short filler but not all short filler are machine made. 

I think that's wrong. The vast majority of machine made cigars today are short filler, but long-filler machine made cigars do exist. I can't think of any off the top of my head today, probably some in the portfolio of e.g. Vandemarliere or Scandinavian Tobacco Group and the likes. And unless I'm wrong, wasn't the majority of Cuban cigars at some point not that long ago machine-made long filler?

[JohnnyO]

Partagas Culebras were machine made up until circa 2005 then they went Totalmente a Mano in 2007, $28/24 cigars in Havana.