Montecristo Habana Petit Tubos Cigar Review | Whiskey Gambler
Montecristo Habana Petit Tubos
The Montecristo name has meant something in the cigar world since 1935. The Habana Petit Tubos is one of the finest expressions of that legacy -- a small torpedo format packing everything the Cuban Montecristo tradition stands for into a shorter, more accessible smoke.
Important Note for US Readers: The Montecristo Habana Petit Tubos is a Cuban puro and is not legally available for purchase or import in the United States due to the ongoing trade embargo. If you are looking for the closest available alternative that captures a similar flavor profile, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua -- blended by AJ Fernandez as a tribute to the original Cuban Montecristo -- is our recommended substitute and is available through the link below.
The Montecristo name goes back to 1935 when it was first rolled at the El Rey del Mundo factory in Havana, Cuba. The story goes that the rollers were so taken with Alexandre Dumas's novel The Count of Monte Cristo that they named the new blend after it. Nine decades later the brand remains one of the most recognized and respected in the cigar world -- on both sides of the embargo. The Habana Petit Tubos is a small torpedo vitola, typically around 4 inches with a 40 ring gauge, producing a concentrated and intensely flavorful smoke that delivers the full Montecristo experience in a shorter time commitment.
The Cuban Habano wrapper is a silky, reddish-cedar Colorado with minimal veins and a clean, seamless construction. The torpedo head is sharp and precisely formed. Pre-light the wrapper delivers the unmistakable barnyard and hay characteristic of aged Cuban tobacco -- a profile that simply cannot be replicated outside the island. The cold draw opens with cedar, dried fruit, and an earthy sweetness that announces this cigar's intentions clearly. The aroma alone is worth the time it takes to sit down and appreciate it.
What makes the Petit Tubos format particularly compelling is the concentration of flavor. The small ring gauge forces the smoke through a tighter draw that intensifies the profile -- every note hits the palate with more clarity and precision than you get in a larger ring gauge. For experienced smokers who know exactly what they want from a Montecristo this is one of the most satisfying ways to smoke the brand.
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First Third
Cedar and dried fruit lead out of the gate with a characteristic Cuban earthiness underpinning everything from the first draw. A light floral note appears briefly alongside toasted nuts and a creamy texture that coats the palate. The draw is precise -- the small ring gauge doing exactly what it is supposed to do by concentrating every flavor note. White pepper appears on the retrohale. Smoke output is modest but rich. The classic Montecristo profile announces itself immediately -- refined, complex, and completely controlled.
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Second Third
The cedar deepens and the fruit note transitions from dried fruit toward a darker, more concentrated character -- think raisins and a touch of cocoa. Leather joins the profile alongside coffee and a subtle creaminess that is distinctly Cuban in its texture and delivery. The earthiness that anchored the first third softens slightly as the complexity builds. Strength climbs into medium territory. The small torpedo format is delivering every flavor with real precision here -- nothing muddled, nothing lost. Each draw rewards the patience it takes to smoke slowly.
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Final Third
Espresso and dark chocolate dominate the final third with a dry woodiness and a gentle spice emerging late. The leather note intensifies without bitterness. Strength reaches medium-full in the closing stretch -- a gradual climb that never crosses into harshness. The finish is long and satisfying -- cedar, coffee, and a lingering cocoa sweetness that stays on the palate well after the last draw. The nub stays cool and firm. A Petit Tubos smokes in roughly 45 minutes -- and every one of those minutes is worth it.
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| Construction | Sharp torpedo head, seamless Cuban Habano wrapper, precise draw -- the small ring gauge demands perfect construction and Havana delivers it | ★★★★★ |
| Aroma | Barnyard, hay, cedar, and dried fruit pre-light -- the unmistakable character of aged Cuban tobacco that no other growing region can replicate | ★★★★★ |
| Flavor | Cedar, dried fruit, toasted nuts, cream, leather, coffee, raisins, cocoa, espresso, dark chocolate -- a classic Cuban profile delivered with precision and restraint | ★★★★★ |
| Complexity | The small format concentrates flavor and creates real movement across all three thirds -- more complexity per inch than almost any other Montecristo vitola | ★★★★☆ |
| Value | Not available in the US -- premium pricing outside the embargo reflects the Cuban puro premium; the 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua is the accessible alternative | ★★★★☆ |
Closest US Alternative -- Affiliate Partner -- Cigars International
Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua -- The Closest Thing Available in the US
Since the Habana Petit Tubos is not available in the US, the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua is the WG recommended alternative. Blended by AJ Fernandez as a tribute to the original Cuban Montecristo, it earned 97 points and the Number 2 Cigar of 2024 from Cigar Aficionado. Cedar, earth, coffee, coconut, leather, and malted milk -- the closest thing to the Cuban experience you can legally buy in America.
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