During the 2014 Procigar festival, Quesada debuted a new blend commemorating the company’s 40th anniversary in business. Appropriately named the Quesada 40th Anniversary, the cigars feature a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and now equal three regular production vitolas as well as three limited editions.

However, not content with just one blend, Quesada released a different cigar under the Quesada 40th Anniversary line named the Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica that was created by the company’s patriarch Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr. and is only available at events he attends and then offered to those retailers after the events are over.

Last month, SmallBatchCigar.com announced it would be receiving a smaller vitola in the Quesada 40th Anniversary Clasica blend, a 4 1/2 x 40 belicoso. As with the Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica, the blend of the Petit Belicoso Clasica is made up of an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper covering a Dominican criollo binder and filler tobaccos from both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The release is limited to just 100 boxes of 50 cigars, priced at $6.99 per cigar.

There are now eight vitolas in the Quesada 40th Anniversary line.

Quesada 40th Anniversary Vitolas

  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Robusto (5 x 52) — $8.95 (Boxes of 20, $179) — Regular Production
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Toro (6 x 54) — $9.50 (Boxes of 20, $190) — Regular Production
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Toro Real (6 x 54) — $9.50 (Boxes of 20, $190) — Regular Production
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Toro Press (6 x 49) — $10.95 (Boxes of 10, $109.50) — 1,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Salomon Press (6 3/4 x 50/33) — $12.95 (Boxes of 10, $129.50) — 1,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica (6 1/2 x 46) — $9.25 (Boxes of 50, $462.50) — Limited Production
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Short Robusto (4 x 50) — $4.99 (Boxes of 5, $24.95) — 2,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (2,000 Total Cigars)
  • Quesada 40th Anniversary Belicoso Fino Clasica (4 1/2 x 40) — $6.99 (Boxes of 50, $315) — 100 Boxes of 50 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)

Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica
  • Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
  • Factory: Quesada Cigars
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican Criollo
  • Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
  • Length: 4 1/2 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 40
  • Vitola: Petit Belicoso
  • MSRP: $6.99 (Boxes of 50, $315)
  • Release Date: May 2, 2016
  • Number of Cigars Released: 100 Boxes of 50 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

There is no denying the simple fact that the Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica is petite, and I do mean tiny. In fact, it is barely longer and about the same thickness as my middle finger. Having said that, the cigar is covered in a gorgeous golden brown wrapper that is silky smooth to the touch, even with a few veins present. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of strong hay, white chocolate, espresso, leather and honey sweetness, while the cold draw brings flavors of hay, lemongrass, leather, earth, creamy nuts and indeterminate sweetness.

Starting out, the 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica features a very creamy profile, with both peanuts and leather notes fighting for dominance, followed by other notes of citrus, earth, roasted coffee beans and cedar. There is quite a bit more spice on the palate than I was expected, along with more white pepper on the retrohale, and some slight indeterminate sweetness on the finish. Both the burn and draw are excellent so far, and the smoke production is well above average for the smaller size of the vitola. Strength-wise, the Petit Belicoso Clasica barely registers by the end of the first third, ending up slightly above the mild mark.

Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica 2

The sweetness in the profile of the Small Batch exclusive really takes off around the start of the second third, reminding me strongly of dried apricots, while the dominant flavors shift from peanuts and leather to a creamy cedar note. Other flavors of espresso beans, dried flowers, bread and almonds flit in and out, and while there is not near as much spice as was present in the first third, it is still noticeable on the palate, as is some more white pepper on the retrohale. Construction-wise, the burn and the draw remain excellent, while the smoke production continues to impress. The strength does increase noticeably near the end of the second third, but still only manages to reach a point just below the medium mark.

Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica 3

The apricot sweetness that was so strong in the second third of the Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica has faded noticeably by the time the final third begins, although it is still a major player in the overall profile, and combines very nicely with the creamy cedar note that is still dominant. I am still tasting other flavors of leather, earth, creamy almonds, ground coffee and yeast, along with some noticeable white pepper on the retrohale. The draw and the burn continue to impress, with nary a problem on either one, while the smoke production is still a bit higher than average. While it is not a strong cigar, the Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica does hit the medium mark right before I put the still cool nub down with about half an inch to go.

Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica 4

Final Notes

  • The cigar was originally supposed to be known as Belicoso Fino Clasica, though the boxes say Petit Belicoso.
  • I am on record as hating overwhelming bands on smaller cigars, but for some reason, the two bands on this cigar do not bother me, perhaps because of the black background.
  • This is the first time that the company has released a store exclusive release for either of the 40th Anniversary blends.
  • SmallBatchCigar.com is a California-based online store which is owned by the same company that owns Maxamar Ultimate Cigars.
  • You can see my portrait of Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr. here.
  • The smoke on this cigar smells wonderful, reminding me of nutmeg and spicy cedar.
  • The cigars smoked for this review were provided to halfwheel by SmallBatchCigar.com.
  • Quesada advertises on halfwheel.
  • The final smoking time for both samples averaged 45 minutes.
  • If you would like to purchase any of the Quesada 40th Anniversary Petit Belicoso Clasica, you can find them at SmallBatchCigar.com, who has them for sale here.
91 Overall Score

I really enjoyed the Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica, and was looking forward to seeing what the Petit Belicoso Clasica would bring to the table. The smaller size of the new vitola is a nice change of pace, and the overt combination of sweetness and creaminess in the blend is well suited for it, although I do admit there was significantly more spice on the palate than I expected. Construction was excellent on both sample—I touched the burn up once on one of them—and the smoke both copious and thick. While I did not enjoy the Petit Belicoso Clasica as much as the Corona Clasica, it is an wonderfully blended cigar and a great choice for an quick, early morning smoke.

Avatar photo

Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.