Panatela Cigars

About Panatela Cigars

What is a panatela?

Cigar Aficionado's glossary calls the panetela "a long, thin cigar shape," adding that "extra long panatelas are known as gran panatelas" and that "many have pigtail caps." Both spellings are in use: the magazine writes panetela, our listings use both, and Davidoff names its tins Petit Panetela. The magazine's rule of thumb links the shape to the lancero: "All lanceros are panetelas, but only gran (or long) panetelas are lanceros."

Three lengths

Why a slim cigar tastes different

With less filler, the wrapper leads. Cigar Aficionado wrote that "the flavor of the wrapper leaf is far more prominent in the lancero, because there is less filler to counterbalance," and José Oliva's view was that "A lancero should be made only if the wrapper can carry the cigar." The size is also hard to make. Oliva told the magazine it is "a difficult size to roll and needs a lot of quality control in the factory," and Drew Estate says the Liga Privada L40 "is rolled by only one pair at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate." Drew Estate also says it added a leaf to that blend to reach a 40 ring; Steve Saka told CigarExplorer.com in 2011, as halfwheel quoted him, "I couldn't accomplish the flavor profile that I wanted in 38."

Davidoff panatelas

Signature No. 2, 6 x 38. The long, slim panetela of Davidoff's Signature Series in the White Band Collection: an Ecuadorian wrapper over Dominican binder and filler, which Davidoff describes with barley, toasted wheat, oak and cream, plus brown sugar, floral spice and dried fruit. Davidoff rates its intensity 1.5 of 5 and cites a 91 from Cigar Aficionado. It also comes in an aluminum Tubo.

Winston Churchill Petit Panetela, 4 x 38. Davidoff added it to the Winston Churchill line in July 2015 with its own blend: an Ecuador Habano wrapper, a Peruvian Pelo de Oro binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. Davidoff now lists it in The Original Series as The Raconteur.

The Late Hour Petit Panetela, 4 x 38. The darker Late Hour blend in a tin of 5; halfwheel scored it 92, and Davidoff puts its smoking time at 15 to 20 minutes. More is on Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour.

Primeros, 4⅛ x 34. Davidoff's petit panatela range, six to a tin, relaunched in July 2014 under the theme "Fifteen Minutes of Adventure." It comes in Dominican, Dominican Maduro, Nicaragua and Nicaragua Maduro blends, which Davidoff describes as handmade from 100% tobacco. See Davidoff cigarillos and Primeros.

Lanceros: the gran panatelas

The lanceros on our shelf that Cigar Aficionado has rated are filed under panetelas, except the OpusX Petit Lancero, which it lists as a figurado. The ratings below come from our product pages; lancero cigars has each lancero's story, wrapper and factory. The OpusX Petit Lancero and Lost City Lancero arrive only with Fuente's allocations; the Lost City is rolled from the summer crop Carlito Fuente planted at Chateau de la Fuente in 2004 for Andy Garcia's film.

Panatela prices

Prices as listed in October 2026; each product page shows the current price and live stock.

When a size is sold out, Notify me on its product page is the way to hear first.

Choosing a panatela

• A short smoke: the Primeros, or The Late Hour Petit Panetela, which Davidoff puts at 15 to 20 minutes.
• Milder: the Davidoff Signature No. 2, intensity 1.5 of 5 by Davidoff's rating.
• Top 25: the Oliva Serie V Lancero, No. 6 for 2019.
• Allocated: the OpusX Petit Lancero and Lost City Lancero, which arrive only with Fuente's allocations.

How to smoke a panatela

Slow down. With too little tobacco, Cigar Aficionado explains, a lancero can burn hot and bitter, and halfwheel's advice is that "With a Lancero, smokers must learn to slow down, a lot." In halfwheel's reviews of the lanceros we carry, smoking times ran from about 1 hour 42 minutes to about 2½ hours. Take very little off the cap with a straight cut; on a pigtail or flag cap, snip just below the twist. Our cigar cutter guide goes further, or browse cigar cutters.

What to pour with a panatela

Our house suggestions, since a slim cigar puts the wrapper first: a Speyside single malt such as the Glenlivet 12, or an Irish whiskey, with the Davidoff Signature No. 2; a bourbon or rye with the Habano- and maduro-wrapped lanceros; and an espresso with a Primeros. Our cigar and whiskey pairing guide has more, and in the lounge you can ask the bar for a pour from the spirits menu.

Keeping them fresh

Store them at a steady 65 to 70 percent relative humidity, in a humidor or a sealed bag with a two-way humidity pack. Every order ships with a Boveda humidity pack, and our cigar storage guide covers the rest.

Common questions

What is a panatela cigar? A long, thin cigar, per Cigar Aficionado's glossary. The longest are called gran panatelas, and many have pigtail caps.

Is it panatela or panetela? Both spellings are in use. Cigar Aficionado writes panetela, and Davidoff names its tins Petit Panetela.

What is the difference between a panatela and a lancero? Length. "All lanceros are panetelas, but only gran (or long) panetelas are lanceros," per Cigar Aficionado, and gran panetelas typically measure longer than seven inches.

What is a petit panatela? The short slim size. Davidoff uses the name for its 4⅛ x 34 Primeros, six to a tin, and its 4 x 38 Winston Churchill Petit Panetelas, five to a tin.

Why does a thin cigar taste different? There is less filler, so the wrapper leads. Cigar Aficionado wrote that the wrapper's flavor "is far more prominent in the lancero, because there is less filler to counterbalance."

How long does a lancero take to smoke? In halfwheel's reviews of the lanceros we carry, about 1 hour 42 minutes to about 2½ hours. Davidoff puts The Late Hour Petit Panetela at 15 to 20 minutes.

How much are panatela cigars? As listed in October 2026, Primeros tins of 6 are $39.99, and singles run from $10.99 for the Oliva Serie V Lancero to $52.99 for the OpusX Lost City Lancero.

How much is shipping? $9.99 flat, free on orders of $125 or more. Every order ships with a Boveda humidity pack.

Where do panatela cigars ship from? Our walk-in humidor in Yuma, Arizona, to every state, including San Diego and California, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and the Bay Area, Santa Barbara and Montecito, Las Vegas and Nevada, Scottsdale and Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York City, the Hamptons, Boston, Princeton and New Jersey, Washington, DC, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Collectors abroad order through a U.S. forwarding address. Every order ships with a Boveda humidity pack.

Where can I buy panatela cigars online? Right here. The panatela cigars on this page show their current price and live stock, and ship from our walk-in humidor in Yuma, Arizona. Every cigar comes through authorized distribution.

Where can I buy panatela cigars in Yuma, AZ? At Sun of a Gun Cigars & Spirits, 1651 S Arizona Ave, the official J.C. Newman Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge, with a walk-in humidor and a full bar; see our Yuma cigar lounge page. Call 928-276-3500 to check a size before you visit.

More shapes: lancero cigars, corona cigars, perfecto, torpedo and figurado and Churchill cigars, or browse every brand we carry, A to Z.