Today’s post marks the beginning of a mini-series that will certainly continue. The series is called “Budget Cuban Cigars”, and the idea is to go on a quest for affordable Cuban smokes. Perhaps it will even grow into a wider exploration of budget-friendly cigars in general – we’ll see. For now, I invite you to dive into our review of the Jose L. Piedra Petit Caballeros.
The idea of a series dedicated to more affordable cigars has been on my mind for quite some time. With cigar prices constantly on the rise, it feels only natural to look for options on a different shelf. Of course, this doesn’t mean turning our backs on other cigars altogether – together with Piotr, we’ll do our best to discover smokes that won’t cost a fortune but will still deliver a good experience.
Although we had been planning this for a while, the final push came from Szymon Kwiatkowski of Premium Cigars, who sent us a package filled with various smokes, including a selection of budget Cubans. In the upcoming reviews, we’ll share our impressions of three of them: the headline Jose L. Piedra Petit Caballeros, Quintero Favoritos, and La Flor de Cano Elegidos. Of course, this isn’t a complete list, and we know it – but we hope that, over time, this mini-series will grow.
And since this is our very first review of a cigar from this brand, a few words about..
Jose L. Piedra
The origins of the brand date back to the 1880s, when the Piedra family, originally from Austria, settled in Remedios – a region in the heart of Cuba. It is from this very area that the tobacco used for their cigars is sourced. It’s worth noting that these are the only cigars from the Vuelta Arriba region included in the Habanos S.A. portfolio. The brand’s golden age came in the 1940s and 1950s, when it was especially popular in the United States. Unfortunately, the U.S. embargo on Cuban products nearly destroyed it.
In 1996, Jose L. Piedra returned to production. Although the brand went through a phase of machine-made cigars, it eventually went back to its roots, regaining the designation totalmente a mano (entirely handmade) in 2002. It should be mentioned, however, that Jose L. Piedra cigars use short filler tobacco (chopped leaves), which naturally affects both the price and the smoking experience. Still, for many aficionados, Jose L. Piedra remains a trusted choice for an everyday smoke.
Today, the brand’s portfolio includes the following vitolas:
- Brevas (Corona)
- Cazadores (Long Corona)
- Conservas (Long Corona)
- Petit Cazadores (Petite Corona)
- Petit Caballeros
The last one, Petit Caballeros, was introduced in 2019.
Jose L. Piedra Petit Caballeros
As I’ve already mentioned, the cigar I’m reviewing today is the youngest in the brand’s portfolio. It is rolled entirely from Cuban tobacco grown in the Vuelta Arriba region. For cigar lovers, the origin of the tobacco is undoubtedly a little treat in itself. Jose L. Piedra remains the only brand to use leaves from this region, which makes it something of a curiosity – one worth noting here for the record, and one that certainly caught my attention.
A few technical specs
The cigar is close in size to a classic Robusto, measuring 4 3/4 inches in length (about 12 cm) with a 48 ring gauge. The wrapper leaf appears rather light, with a greenish hue – almost 'raw’ or 'unripe,’ one might say. At first glance, the cover isn’t particularly inviting, and that’s something you immediately notice. The band itself is very simple, bearing only the brand’s name, the region, and the country of origin. In my view, however, this kind of simplicity – so typical of many Cuban cigars – has its own undeniable charm.
The Cut
Before cutting, I take a moment to smell the cigar, letting my senses prepare for what’s to come. The aroma is pleasant – floral and sweet, with hints of wood. I cut it with a straight cutter. The draw feels a bit tight. In the flavor, I pick up notes of coffee, wood, and earth.
The Light
I carefully toast the foot of the cigar with a jet flame lighter and light it with a series of short, gentle puffs. I set it down for a moment before starting the tasting. Right away, I’m greeted by flavors of wood with a touch of earth. The cigar already hints at a creaminess I would certainly welcome. There’s that unmistakable Cuban „something” in the profile. On the finish, it turns earthy – almost gritty, as if it grinds between the teeth. The flavor is completely dry, stripped of any sweetness, leaning fully toward the savory side. There’s also a raw edge, reinforced by the wrapper’s greenish, unripe hue. A note of bitterness emerges too – reminiscent of cheap coffee, the kind you find in the grounds at the bottom of the cup. As the flavors settle, it becomes clear: the leading theme here is bitter Robusta coffee, underscored by a pronounced earthiness.
Strength & Body
I’d rate the strength as mild, yet with a full body. Yes, it’s possible.
Aroma & Smoke
The aroma, on the other hand, carries all the sweetness I would have preferred in the taste. Alongside it, I find coffee and wood, creating a pleasant combination.
Construction & Burn
Construction is very good. The cigar burns evenly and at a steady pace, though the ash tends to fall whenever it pleases. It’s worth noting that the filler is made of short tobacco pieces. Even so, the burn is surprisingly consistent, no loose bits reach the mouth, and while the crumbly ash is most likely due to the short filler, it doesn’t spoil the experience.
Final Thoughts on the Jose L. Piedra Petit Caballeros
Let’s start with the obvious: this is a budget cigar. And for what it is, I’d say the price-to-quality ratio is fair. Still, I found myself conflicted. If only the strength had matched the intensity of flavor, this cigar could have been much better. What I got was a light-bodied smoke carrying a surprisingly full flavor profile – and the imbalance left me wanting more.
There’s also a certain rawness to it. Not necessarily a flaw, but something you can’t ignore. The flavor palette is dominated almost entirely by dry, bitter notes – which, for some smokers, may actually be a virtue. For me, the biggest disappointment was that the hint of sweet cream never truly developed. Instead, its sweetness seemed to vanish into the smoke.
In the margin of my cigar journal, I left myself a short note that sums it up best: “Not bad at all.”
Note from Piotr Siwiński
Budget Cuban cigars. Whenever the topic comes up, the first name that usually springs to mind is the famous Guantanamera. The second one? Jose L. Piedra. It has its fans, but also plenty of detractors who like to jokingly twist its name. I approached this cigar with a fair bit of reservation. Was it justified?
Right out of the humidor, I was struck by a sweet, honey-like aroma – that very same scent familiar from premium Cuban cigars. I cut, I lit. The draw was perfect. The opening greeted me with smoothness, creaminess, and a light touch – though not too light. Strength: medium, gradually building. I had worried about dominant woodiness, a note I’m particularly sensitive to and one that can easily overshadow my enjoyment. But here?
The strength grew gently. The woodiness was present, yes, but sweet and pleasant. More than once I found myself double-checking the band, just to be sure I was really smoking a Jose L. Piedra. And indeed, I was. Burn was razor-sharp, ash compact. Knowing it was a short filler, I was pleasantly surprised once again. Toward the end, the strength ramped up significantly, but those floral-honey undertones never disappeared. On the contrary – they actually highlighted that unmistakable Cuban character. The entire smoke lasted over an hour and forty minutes. A fine evening.
And here’s my final thought: I want this cigar in my humidor. Considering the budget, it’s a fantastic option for daily smoking. Most importantly, the magic of Cuban cigars doesn’t manifest only in the premium blends, which must deliver and compete with the New World league. It also lives in these budget releases. They are what truly help you understand the love for cigars, the craft of good rolling, and the charm of Cuba itself.
I’ve smoked plenty of budget New World cigars – long fillers that offered me far less enjoyment than what I got from Habanos this time. Wow. This one is worth trying. Worth sitting down with in peace and giving it a fair chance. And perhaps even worth letting it rest a while, to see if it develops into something even more refined.
This review was made possible thanks to Szymon Kwiatkowski from Premium Cigars.
If you enjoyed reading this, let me know! Drop a comment or share the post – every bit of support helps others discover my cigar reviews and smoking tips. If you prefer to listen, I co-host a podcast with Piotr Siwiński called „Spotkanie z Dymem” („A Meeting with Smoke”) – currently in Polish, though who knows what the future holds? You can also find me on Instagram, where I share a slice of my cigar life – and a bit more. I always welcome a good conversation. That’s how great connections start – and they often go far beyond just cigars.
Stay smoky!
Mateusz Krzywiecki, @mateusz.krzywiecki, Piotr Siwiński, @mycigarway, Polski Aficionado, @polskiaficionado
