In the rarefied air of premium tobacco collecting, few things capture the imagination quite like a vitola that has vanished from production. The Juan López Très Petit Coronas stands as a silent monument to a bygone era of Cuban craftsmanship, representing a specific timeline in the island's rich cigar heritage that can no longer be purchased off the shelf. For the dedicated aficionado, this discontinued format is more than just a smoke; it is a tangible piece of history that bridges the gap between the golden age of pre-revolutionary Cuba and the early, transformative years that followed.
A Journey Through a Transformative Era
The story of this particular cigar is inextricably linked to the tumultuous history of the island itself. Initially brought to market prior to 1960, the Très Petit Coronas was born during the final years of the old Cuban cigar empire. Its release date places it firmly in the pre-revolutionary period, a time often romanticized for its unique tobacco profiles and pioneering craftsmanship. Unlike modern limited editions that are produced in short bursts, this vitola was a regular production item, meaning it was a standard fixture in humidors for nearly two decades.
Its lifespan is particularly notable because it survived the drastic shift in the industry following the revolution. The cigar remained in production throughout the turbulent 1960s, enduring the nationalization of the industry and the restructuring of the island's export strategies. However, its run eventually came to an end during the 1970s. The decision to discontinue the line marked the end of an era for the Juan López marca, retiring a size that had been a reliable workhorse for a generation of smokers.
Dissecting the Vitola: Dimensions and Construction
For those accustomed to the robust sizes popular today, the specifications of the Très Petit Coronas offer a glimpse into the preferences of mid-century smokers. The format falls squarely into the Petit Corona family, a category once revered for its efficiency and concentration of flavor.
- Dimensions: The cigar measures 122 millimeters (approximately 4¾ inches) in length with a ring gauge of 42. This slender profile was the gold standard for complexity during its heyday.
- Weight and Feel: Weighing in at 7.73 grams, the construction was entirely handmade, eschewing the machine-bunched methods that would later plague other brands.
- Presentation: Each unit was adorned with the standard Juan López band, known as "Band A," and housed in dress boxes of 25 cigars, a presentation style that emphasized elegance.
The term "Très Petit" might be slightly deceiving to modern ears; while compact, the 42 ring gauge provides enough draw to allow for a nuanced expression of the Cuban tobacco seed. It offered a shorter smoking session compared to the Churchill or Double Corona, making it an ideal choice for smokers who wanted the signature Juan López profile without a multi-hour time commitment. This balance of size and flavor was a hallmark of the brand's portfolio during that era.
The Modern Collector's Quest
Today, finding an authentic Juan López Très Petit Coronas is akin to discovering a rare artifact. Because the cigar was retired in the 1970s, any surviving boxes have likely traveled through decades of varying storage conditions. The scarcity of this vitola has elevated it to a status of high desirability among serious collectors of vintage Cubans.
However, the hunt is fraught with challenges. Authentication is paramount, as the market for "pre-embargo" or early post-revolution cigars is rife with counterfeits and damaged goods. A genuine specimen from this production run would offer a smoking experience vastly different from a modern cigar, assuming the tobacco has been preserved correctly. The oils and sugars have had decades to marry and mellow, potentially offering a smoothness and tertiary flavor notes—such as leather, dried fruit, and earth—that modern production simply cannot replicate.
A Silent Legacy
While the Juan López brand continues to thrive with other vitolas, the Très Petit Coronas remains a ghost in the portfolio. It serves as a reminder that the cigar industry is fluid; sizes that were once ubiquitous can fade into obscurity. For the historian and the collector, this discontinued classic remains a fascinating footnote, representing a specific blend of tobacco and terroir that exists now only in the memories of those lucky enough to have tried it, and in the few remaining sealed boxes hidden away in private cellars.
