Cifuentes Petit Bouquets - Elaborado Mecanicamente

[El Presidente]

Elaborado Mecanicamente = Machine Made 

CCW

The Cifuentes Petit Bouquets is a discontinued, machine-made Cuban cigar. Produced by the Cifuentes factory before 1960, these Infantes (petit perfecto) shaped cigars measured 37 ring gauge by 98 mm (3⅞ inches) in length and were typically sold in dress boxes of 25. The brand officially ceased production in the early 1990s

Petit Bouquets

Factory Name: Infantes

 

I couldn't track down a good image of the image of the Cifuentes Petit Bouquet but Partagas produced the identical vitola which will give you an idea of the format. Again, borrowed from Alex/CCW

[treberty]

I’vehad a pre-revolution machine made cigar circa 2000. I thought it was pretty bland. I liked the Gispert, back in the day and the Troya were average, IMO.

So, my question is - for members who smoked machine-made cigars in the 80s: was the tobacco better? Were the cigars smoking well young? How would they compare to, let’s say current Jose Piedra? I'm curious to know.

 

[Havanaaddict]

I have smoked more than my share of 70's & 80's MM cigars and hand made cigars! First off they are nothing like Jose Piedra of today. I do think that the tobacco back then was just another strain. I have smoked 80's MM cigars that have blown my mind with deep rich unique flavors! In fact I used to search out MM cigars at auctions because they were affordable and then I found out they were outstanding. I can't tell you what a Jose Piedra with 40 + years on it will taste like, but if my past experience is any sign I would roll the dice and buy them!

Some of my favorites where: 

Bolivar BelvederesPartagas Petit Bouquets

Partagas Belvederes

Partagas Perfectos

Partagas Petit Coronas Tubulares

Por Larranaga Lolas en Cedro

Punch Belvederes

Punch Exquisitos

Quintero Nacionales 

Ramon Allones Belvederes

Ramon Allones Bits of Havana

Ramon Allones Mille Fleurs

Romeo y Julieta Perfectos

Romeo y Julieta Regalías de La Habana

Romeo y Julieta Club Kings 

[Dadof3]

2 hours ago, Havanaaddict said:

I have smoked more than my share of 70's & 80's MM cigars and hand made cigars! First off they are nothing like Jose Piedra of today. I do think that the tobacco back then was just another strain. I have smoked 80's MM cigars that have blown my mind with deep rich unique flavors! In fact I used to search out MM cigars at auctions because they were affordable and then I found out they were outstanding. I can't tell you what a Jose Piedra with 40 + years on it will taste like, but if my past experience is any sign I would roll the dice and buy them!

Some of my favorites where: 

Bolivar BelvederesPartagas Petit Bouquets

Partagas Belvederes

Partagas Perfectos

Partagas Petit Coronas Tubulares

Por Larranaga Lolas en Cedro

Punch Belvederes

Punch Exquisitos

Quintero Nacionales 

Ramon Allones Belvederes

Ramon Allones Bits of Havana

Ramon Allones Mille Fleurs

Romeo y Julieta Perfectos

Romeo y Julieta Regalías de La Habana

Romeo y Julieta Club Kings 

I found the old Partagas and RyJ Perfectos way back when were very good and easily worth the price.

 

[mikec]

I'm not entirely sure when this happened (1990s) but after the problems with black shank (a mould, I think) started massively affecting the Corojo crop Tabacuba replaced that wonderful leaf with Habanos 2000 and other sub strains. Nothing after the loss of the Corojo could replace the strength and flavour of the cigars, especially the traditionally strong blends like Partagas, Ramon Allones, SLR etc. From what I heard, most of the blends needed tweaking and I've found that a lot of the brands don't seem to age as well as the old Corojo blends did. If anyone knows when this actually happened (i.e. the blend change), I would be interested.

[Havanaaddict]

I know they did a blend change in '95, then the blend and strength change occurred in 2006. That is when the strength mellowed, I think to fit the American palate.