Among the treasures that Cuban cigar enthusiasts mourn losing when production ceased, the Romeo y Julieta Petit Princess stands out as a compact masterpiece that delivered remarkable depth in a small frame. This petite vitola, which graced humidors for more than five decades, embodies the legacy of one of Cuba's most distinguished cigar houses and continues to captivate collectors searching for remaining specimens.
Origins and Evolution
The Petit Princess emerged from Romeo y Julieta's storied past, with roots extending back to the years before 1960. Interestingly, the cigar initially carried the designation "Petit Prince" rather than its later name, maintaining this moniker well into the 1980s. The transition to "Princess" reflected broader marketing considerations while preserving the smoke's essential character. For more than half a century, this diminutive offering served as an accessible entry point into the Romeo y Julieta experience, allowing smokers to enjoy the marque's signature qualities without committing to an extended smoking session. The brand's decision to retire this vitola in 2012 marked the conclusion of a significant chapter, leaving devotees to hunt through secondary markets for any surviving inventory.
Technical Specifications
Measuring precisely 102 millimeters in length with a 40 ring gauge, the Petit Princess earned the factory designation "Perlas" among Cuban producers. This particular format positioned the cigar as an ideal option for those seeking a brief yet meaningful smoking encounter. The official weight settled at 5.91 grams, contributing to its classification as a lightweight vitola that nonetheless packed concentrated flavor. Each cigar was crafted entirely by hand, adhering to traditional Cuban methods that have defined the industry's standards for generations. The presentation featured Romeo y Julieta's characteristic dual-band configuration, incorporating both band A and band D markings that collectors immediately recognize. These cigars arrived in dress boxes containing 25 units each, maintaining the conventional packaging approach that has characterized the brand's releases throughout its history.
Craftsmanship and Smoking Experience
The handmade construction ensured that each Petit Princess exemplified the meticulous attention to detail that Romeo y Julieta has cultivated across generations. Despite its modest proportions, the cigar delivered a concentrated expression of the brand's established profile, allowing smokers to experience the marque's signature character within a condensed timeframe. The 40-ring gauge provided sufficient room for the filler tobaccos to express their complexity while maintaining the draw characteristics that discerning enthusiasts appreciate. At just under six grams, the Petit Princess offered an efficient alternative for occasions when time or circumstance precluded a longer smoking ritual, without requiring compromises on quality or flavor depth.
Reception and Legacy
Consumer assessments collected from multiple sources revealed a consistently positive reception across key performance metrics. The aftertaste emerged as the standout attribute, earning a notably higher rating than other categories and suggesting that the Petit Princess left a particularly memorable impression as the smoke concluded. In contrast, the elegance, balance, strength, and complexity dimensions each received identical marks, indicating a harmonious overall construction. These ratings converged to produce an aggregate score of 3.83 out of 5, reflecting solid performance across the board rather than exceptional peaks in any single area. This balanced reception underscores the cigar's role as a reliable, well-executed vitola that rewarded smokers seeking quality in a compact format. Today, discontinued status has elevated the Petit Princess to collector status, with remaining boxes commanding premium prices and serving as coveted additions to vintage Cuban cigar collections.
