BOLIVAR CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Almost one century after the death of Simon Bolivar, a Spaniard entrepreneur, settled in Havana was registered with the name of a distinguished Venezuelan, a brand of cuban cigars that today are considered among those cuban cigars of bigger demand, particularly in Great Britain.

The reasons that moved Jose Fernandez Roche to register in 1927 the name of Bolivar for cuban cigars are not exactly known, because as a Spaniard, his admiration for “The Liberator” could be doubtful. But in commercial terms, no doubt it would be a very welcomed name for a cuban cigar, especially in England. Other sources locate the registration of the cuban cigar brand in 1921 and they believe that Bolivar’s cuban cigars started to be produced two decades before. In one way or another, Bolivar cuban cigars acquired special relevance from 1944, when it is acquired by the Gloria Cubana cuban cigars, specifically by the cuban cigar company Cifuentes & Cia., owner of Partagas cuban cigars at that time.

Initially, the cuban cigars of the brand Bolivar cuban cigars were produced in a cuban cigar factory of the street San Miguel, number 961, of Havana and starting from the acquisition by cuban cigar factory Cifuentes & Cia., they become part of the group of cuban cigar brands produced in the cuban cigar Factory of Industry number 520.This cuban cigar is distinguished by its character, its strength, somewhere between mid and strong, its nice flavor and its pleasant aroma. The Bolivar cuban cigar has dark wrappers with reddish tones. There are over 20 Bolivar cuban cigar models in the market at the moment. Coronas Gigantes (Churchill) cuban cigars and Inmensas (Lonsdale) cuban cigars stand out and range among the best cuban cigars of this trademark; as much as the Gold Medal (Lonsdale) cuban cigar easily identifiable by the golden wrapper which enfolds half of the cuban cigar.General Cigars owns the commercial rights of the Bolivar cuban cigars since 1983. These cuban cigars are commercialized in Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, France, Great Britain, Switzerland, The Far East, Africa and the Middle East.

COHIBA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Born by chance, this is the first brand of cuban cigars created after the revolution, i.e., created by the governmental Cuban industry starting from 1960. The first Cohiba cuban cigars, today known as “Lanceros”, were made in 1963 by a cuban cigar twister called Eduardo Rivera (today a cuban cigar tobacco entrepreneur in Hong Kong) who offered them to a Fidel Castro security guard, and this person to the Commandant, who not only smoked these cuban cigars but also started to use these cuban cigars for personal gifts.
Until 1966 these cuban cigars did not have a defined name and the denomination of the cuban cigar brand with “Cohiba” was personally influenced by Celia Sanchez.
Until 1969, the first habilitation and ring of these cuban cigar was designed. However, when Cohiba cuban cigars appeared in 1982, finally it also appeared in the cuban cigar markets, already the most coveted cuban cigar in the world.
The first brand of cuban cigars brings stories full of mystery, magic and pleasure because when the Great Admiral comes to Cuban lands in 1492, the settlers of the island already used tobacco and named Cohiba the rolls of leaves which smoke they breathed in.
The trade of the Cohiba cuban cigars started in 1982 with “Lancero” cuban cigar band as letter of introduction accompanied of Special Crowns cuban cigars and of the panetelas cuban cigars. With time, Cohiba cuban cigars introduced new cuban cigar bands in the cuban cigar market: Esplendido cuban cigar, Robusto cuban cigar and Exquisitos cuban cigar. Finally, five centuries after arrival of Christopher Columbus to Cuba and as celebration of the fifth centennial of the encounter of the two cultures, five cuban cigar bands of Singular cuban cigar appeared: one cuban cigar for each passed century. Last year, finally it appeared the cuban cigar that represented the new 21st Century and 6th Century better known as the Cañonazo cuban cigar.

Cohiba cuban cigar is not produced in big quantities because it is a very selected cuban cigar, and a very limited cuban cigar due to the quality of the harvest and the quantity of first quality raw material. This makes Cohiba cuban cigar to stay at the top of cuban cigars and it continues the maximum cuban cigar of all times: The cuban cigar that everyone wishes to smoke.

CUABA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

The cuban cigar Corporation Habanos S.A., launched the cuban cigar brand Cuaba for first time on November 19th, 1996, in London. This new cuban cigar brand, that remembers the spirit of ends of last century, first showed four cuban cigar bands conceived thinking in the cuban cigar smoker loving the exquisiteness of the antique.
The cuban cigar name Cuaba contains a very old history. This word comes from Tainos indigenous people from Cuba and it describes an autochthonous bush of the island of excellent combustibility that still grows in the country. It was used a lot as torch by the first settlers and it was used specially to light other cuban cigars or Cohibas cuban cigars during magic and religious ceremonies. The first historical testimony of the existence of the Cuaba cuban cigar comes from 16th Century and it is attributed to the Spaniard Jesuit Fray Bernabe Cobo.

Today, the Cuaba cuban cigars, turned into tradition, has reached until to present days and even today it is possible to see Cuban country men frequently using a branch of Cuaba to light their fire or light when they walk in the middle of the lands at dark night. “Burning as a Cuaba” is a popular say that has passed from one generation to another, because combustibility is one of the main characteristics of this bush. And this also been the reason for which this name was chosen for the new cuban cigar brand. This cuban cigar is also and generally associated with a taste that is similar to Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars, full of various flavors but never tasting too much of one flavor in particular, Cuaba cuban cigars are on average mild and balanced.

All four of the Cuaba cuban cigars are of the figurado (perfecto) cuban cigar shape: the Exclusivos cuban cigars, the Generosos cuban cigars, the Tradicionales cuban cigars and the Divinos cuban cigars. This cuban cigar shape was very popular till the start of the 20th century. Habanos S.A. decided to revive the British tradition of smoking figurado cuban cigars and therefor started unveiling the Cuaba cuban cigar brand in London, England. Habanos, S.A. has since reintroduced other historic cuban cigar brands and cuban cigar shapes

DIPLOMATICOS CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Though Cohiba cuban cigars may have the distinction of being the first post-Revolution cuban cigar brand created, no one knew of the cuban cigar brand outside of higher-ranking Cuban officials, the torcedores ( cuban cigar rollers) that made them, and foreign dignitaries lucky enough to be given a cuban cigar box as a diplomatic present. The first new brand of cuban cigars to come out of Cuba after the Revolution was Diplomáticos cuban cigars.

The cuban cigar brand Diplomaticos was introduced in 1966 as a cheaper cuban cigar version of those of Montecristo cuban cigars addressed to French cuban cigar market.
The Diplomáticos cuban cigars line mimics the original Montecristo cuban cigars line in having five cuban cigars numbered sizes, all handmade. The blend used for this cuban cigars line is milder than that used for Montecristo cuban cigars, most likely to cater to the taste of French cuban cigar smokers, and nowadays is usually still a bit cheaper in price than corresponding Montecristo cuban cigar sizes. The original cuban cigars line consisted of five numbered cuban cigar sizes, corresponding to Montecristo cuban cigars. In 1976, the No. 6 cuban cigar and No. 7 cuban were introduced to the cuban cigars line and were the same size as the Montecristo Especial No. 1cuban cigar and Especial No. 2 cuban cigar, but were discontinued a few years later in the mid-1980's.

However, due to the scarce volume of cuban cigars production of this brand of cuban cigars, today these cuban cigars are not only quoted at the same price as Montecristo’s cuban cigars but also is a cuban cigar brand that is sought by cuban cigars amateurs and at certain level they are difficult to find. Diplomaticos cuban cigars are made at the Jose Marti cuban cigar factory. These cuban cigars are mainly considered to be medium to full bodied cuban cigars. Cuban cigar connoisseurs worldwide savour the Diplomaticos cuban cigars unique, rich and flavourful taste and now covet this fine cuban cigar brand.

EL REY DEL MUNDO CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Believed to have been created, along with Sancho Panza, by German businessman Emilio Ohmstedt in 1848, El Rey del Mundo (King of the World in Spanish) was at one time the most expensive and prestigious cigar brand in the world. The history of this singular cuban cigar brand goes back to 1848 when, Spanish businessman Antonio Allones took over the cuban cigar brand sometime around 1882 (a rival version of the cuban cigar brand's history claims the cuban cigar brand became defunct after Ohmstedt's death and Allones re-registered it, but cuban cigar connoisseur Min Ron Nee maintains the cuban cigar brand was passed to Allones from Ohmstedt's company, based on records stating Allones as the owner of El Rey del Mundo cuban cigar from as early as 1873). Under Allones, the cuban cigar brand reached the height of its world-wide prestige.

In 1905, Allones' company was bought by the Díaz Hermanos y Cía venture, owned by Cándido Vega Díaz (supposedly the namesake of Don Cándido cuban cigars), which was later renamed the Rey del Mundo Cigar Co. to reflect its most famous asset. The cuban cigar company also produced such famous cuban cigar brands as Sancho Panza cuban cigars, Rafael Gonzalez cuban cigars, and Don Cándido cuban cigars. “El Rey del Mundo” cuban cigar is elaborated fully fledged. That is what the cuban cigar smokers of Havana luxury saloons said while enjoying a delicious cuban cigar. But, Allones continued with his effort to improve and consolidate his cuban cigar as the real King of the World cuban cigar. In 1905, Allones transferred his cuban cigar company to the Partnership Diaz & Hermanos, mercantile initiative that did not have a relevant incidence for the well known quality and good gained fame of El Rey del Mundo cuban cigar. The cuban cigar Company Diaz & Hermanos, later, turned into Rey del Mundo Cigar Co., and moved to a more modern building located on Padre Varela Street(presently Belascoain), number 852, address where there is now one of the biggest cuban cigar factories of twisted tobacco of Cuba, Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars, being El Rey del Mundo cuban cigars one of the most prestigious cuban cigar brands made there. Presently, and following the desire of its founder, El Rey del Mundo cuban cigar is between the most well-known and coveted cuban cigars among experienced cuban cigar smokers, specially the Tainos cuban cigar band that should not be missing in the cava of a cuban cigar collector.

FONSECA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Don Francisco E. Fonseca first established his cuban cigar factory and own cuban cigar brand in Havana in 1892, registering the cuban cigar brand bearing his name in 1907. Fonseca cuban cigars quickly became a success and Don Francisco began innovative practices such as wrapping his cuban cigars in fine Japanese tissue paper (as they still are today) and packaging cuban cigars in tin tubes (today's tubes are usually made with aluminum).

Don Francisco Fonseca who registered the cuban cigar brand in 1907; registered the cuban cigar brand with his own surname with domicile in Dragones Street, number 39, of Havana. Just 3 years later, he decided the transfer of the cuban cigar company to a new building in Galiano Street, number 102.

When Don Francisco Fonseca died in 1930, the cuban cigar brand was having its best time. His widower, Dona Teresa Boetticher, continued at front of the prosperous cuban cigar business.

Finally, Teresa Boetticher decided to join Fonseca cuban cigar brand to T. Castaneda Ig. Montero Workshops.

This union lead to constitute the firm Castaneda, Montero, Fonseca, S.A., on Galiano Street, number 466.

Presently, the Fonseca’s cuban cigars manufacturing takes place in a factory of cuban cigar tobaccos placed in Quivican, picturesque small town of Havana province.

GLORIA CUBANA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars were created in 1885 by the cuban cigar Company Cabanas & Castro; it did not delay to gain prestige between good cuban cigar smokers thanks to its well-made Havana cuban cigars of excellent scent, strength and taste. From the very beginning, the cuban cigar factory was in the Street Corrales, number 53, in Havana. In 1905, La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars was acquired by Jose F. Rocha & Cia., and the cuban cigars factory was transferred to the number 364 of San Miguel Street. At that time, Switzerland and Belgium were the countries that acquired most production of these cuban cigars.

At the middle of the century, La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars turned into property of the Cifuentes family, owner of the famous cuban cigars brand of Partagas cuban cigars. Ramon and Rafael Cifuentes,Ramon was in charge of all productive process in Partagas cuban cigars and Rafael second in charge of the administrative cuban cigar businesses. They put a big effort to keep the traditional quality and the market of La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars, that soon was added to the group of cuban cigar brands produced in Partagas cuban cigars factory and also he developed a cuban cigar line of his own called “Medaille D`Or” cuban cigars, of beautiful presence and great quality of cuban cigar. La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars preserves all this appreciable tradition today and its cuban cigar banding comes apart of the those traditional that share almost all cuban cigar brands, not only due to their formats, but also for the exclusive packing on cuban cigar boxes that made the Series “Medaille D`Or” cuban cigar a referent of the cuban cigar brand. After the Revolution, it seems that production of La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars ceased for several years, until around 1965 when the cuban cigar brand was apparently resurrected at the Partagás cuban cigar Factory. This cuban cigar is produced in smaller quantities than other cuban cigar brands and maintains its popularity with cuban cigars connoisseurs, the Médaille d'Or No. 2 cuban cigar being a particularly prized vitola. La Gloria Cubana cuban cigars also produces two machine-made cuban cigarillos: the Mini and the Purito.

H.UPMANN CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

On October 15th, 1844, the cuban cigar smokers had news for first time, about all times most prestigious cuban cigar brand of cuban cigars which fame has been a great deal over passed even further than those expectations the cuban cigar creators, Brothers Hermann and August Upmann ever dreamt of. The Upmann’s from German origin, established in Havana, in 1843 and waited to be called by the fortune. Finally, the encounter with luck came when they embraced the cuban cigar tobacco business. In this way, the cuban cigar company H. Upmann opened on San Miguel Street, number 75 of Havana. They decided on the suggestive name starting from letter H, coming from brothers (in Spanish) and the German last name H.Upmann, which had the H taken away in over to avoid unnecessary repetition. While Hermann and August made the cuban cigar factory to succeed (it was honored for its quality and growth and they extended the cuban cigar factory in 1845 with a new workshop, the “Flor del Pacifico” cuban cigar company, in partnership with their the fellow-country man, Enrique Claufsen), the nephews of Hermann; Albert and German founded a commercial bank, in the Cuban capital city, to which H. Upmann entered as a partner. With the pass of the time and in view of the continuous growth of the cuban cigar firm, it was necessary to have a bigger building, able to lodge more than 200 cuban cigar tobacco farmers that worked, at that time, for another cuban cigar company. This initiative finished in 1891 and H.Upmann came to a new property in Avenida Carlos III.
Around twenties in the 20th Century, the fortune passed to the English Company, Frankau, S.A., in 1922, which, in a fast operation, it leased it to a partnership made of Spaniards Jose Salaun and Francisco Fernandez and the German Paolo Meller. In 1936, Frankau S.A., ended this leasing contract and sold the cuban cigar factory to the Company Menendez Garcia & Cia. The new cuban cigar factory owners dedicated efforts and capital to recover the cuban cigar brand H. Upmann. Soon H. Upmann cuban cigars recovered its splendor. In 1944, on occasion of the centennial of the cuban cigar firm’s foundation, the cuban cigar factory was moved to the Amistad, number 407. Recently, a new cuban cigar factory, totally renewed, was opened on Street 23rd, corner on Street 14th in the cuban cigar factory of Partagas cuban cigars. Today, H. Upmann cuban cigars factory is the headquarters of the prestigious Montecristo cuban cigars, Diplomaticos cuban cigars and the founding cuban cigar brand of the firm, H. Upmann cuban cigars. All of them are cuban cigar tobaccos of great quality and attractive presence in any of its big group of cuban cigar bands.

HOYO DE MONTERREY CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

In 1844, Jose Gener came to Cuba wishing to make fortune. He came from Arbos (Tarragona), a land where people talked of the quality of cuban cigars. He was burning of impatience to go further in the world of cuban cigar tobacco plantations and tobacco itself. Jose Gener did not delay to know Vuelta Abajo closely. In 1860, he acquired Hoyo de Monterrey’s estate, in San Juan and Martinez, in the famous area of Vuelta Abajo, but it was up to 1884 when he registers the maker of Havana cuban cigars that carries the name of the famous cuban cigar plantation: Hoyo de Monterrey. At the beginning, Gener elaborated this cuban cigar in the factory deeply-rooted in number 7 of the street Principe Alfonso (today called Calzada de Monte), in the center of the capital. The cuban cigars of the brand “La Excepcion” were already produced since 1865, registered in this way by the capricious Gener. So much Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars as La Excepcion cuban cigars turned into two cuban cigar brands of excellent quality, beautiful presence and good cuban cigar markets during that time. In 1895, Jose Gener goes to Spain and come back again to Cuba. After his death in 1900, his daughter, Lutgarda Gener Seycher takes over all the cuban cigar businesses of her father, particularly the cuban cigar brand Hoyo de Monterrey. The prestigious cuban cigar belonged to Gener’s descendants up to 1931, when it was transferred to the Partnership Fernandez & Palacio, owner up to 1948, when Ramon Fernandez died. His partner, Don Fernando Palacio acquired the full cuban cigar company and created the firm “Fernando Palacio & Cia. S.A.”. As they were from the day, Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars is still being hand twisted with selected leaves of famous cuban cigar tobacco plantations of San Juan and Martinez, in the province of Pinar del Rio. Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars continued production in Cuba and in Honduras and is still a popular, globally-marketed cuban cigar line. Among cuban cigars connoisseurs, the Épicure No. 2 cuban cigar, Double Coronas cuban cigar, and Le Hoyo series cuban cigars are particularly prized. Being a globally-marketed cuban cigar brand, Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars has been chosen for Habanos' annual Edición Limitada releases since 2000. Of interesting note is the Particular cuban cigar, which had some production problems during the first Edición Limitada cuban cugars lineup in 2000 with few of the cuban cigars getting out to vendors. This prompted Habanos to release this cuban cigar again the next year, the only Edición Limitada cuban cigar so far to have had this happen. In 2004, a new cuban cigar size was added to the Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars line, the Petit Robusto cuban cigars, which also wore a slightly-redesigned Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigar band. Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars also produces two machine-made cigarillos: the Mini and the Midi.

JUAN LOPEZ CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

A Spaniard, Juan Lopez Diaz, founded in 1876 the cuban cigar factory of his name Flor de Juan Lopez. In 1884, he registered, among other cuban cigar brands, La Veneciana cuban cigars, El Marquez de Caixas cuban cigars, La Mandolineta cuban cigars and Transcontinental cuban cigars.

Then, he launched other five cuban cigar brands, but none of those cuban cigar brands was capable to compete with the cuban cigar brand bringing the name of its founder.

Juan Lopez died at the beginning of 20th Century, but the cuban cigar maker continued its success line in a way that in 1911, Flor de Juan Lopez, received the Big Prize ion the National Exposition of Cuba.

Few years later, it was by the entrepreneurs Cosme del Peso Perez and Abelardo Gonzalez Herrera, carrying, so far, the registration cuban cigar ring “C. de Peso y Cia.”.

In the decade of 30’s the cuban cigar factory was transfer to the little town of Guira de Melena, where the cuban cigar brand continued being elaborated.

The range of this cuban cigar sizes is limited, but the workmanship is first-rate and the flavour is considered to be medium to strong, with light and almost aromatic overtones. A sampling of this cuban cigar may develop into a long term love for it.

MONTECRISTO CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Almost one century later, after “El Conde de Montecristo” saw the light, a visionary Asturian created and registered a brand of Havana cuban cigars with the name of a novel in Cuba. People tell that this was one of the preferred readings of the cuban cigars twisters in the cuban cigar factories, the reader was asked for a character that has been kept up today in charge of reading for the cuban cigars twisters while they work, in a way to make their work more enjoyable. Today they read the press, but at the beginning of the century, the use was the reading of novels, especially adventures. In this way is how the idea of the cuban cigar brand originated, as a tribute to the cuban cigar twisters and to Alejandro Dumas.
Montecristo cuban cigars, thanks to its incomparable scent, taste and strength, with the pass of the time, and with no expectations, it almost has surpassed the fame of the novel itself. Alonso Menendez, an Asturian, started in Cuba the business of cuban cigars tobacco in well advance first half of this century. However, most of his cuban cigar experience was acquired in the United States, in tobacco plantations of Florida. After coming back to Cuba in 1935, Menendez associated to Jose Garcia, another Asturian linked to the world of cuban cigars tobacco. Thus, in this way, the cuban cigar company Menendez, Garcia & Cia started.
The magnificent cuban cigar company put capital and efforts in the development of the cuban cigars brand Particulares. This effort was shortly crowned with success and Particulares cuban cigars took a very outstanding position among most famous cuban cigars of the time. While all tenacity and money were addressed to cuban cigars Particulares, Montecristo cuban cigars brand, created in 1935, expected best times. It was luck of Ugly Ducky that soon would rise radiant as a Swan.
And the time for Montecristo cuban cigars arrived. In 1936, Alonso Menendez sold Particulares cuban cigar to Cifuentes & Cia., the powerful owner of Partagas cuban cigars brand. Using the benefits obtained, the bright Asturian acquired the cuban cigars factory H. Upmann that was not passing a good time. He modernized the cuban cigars factory, encourage the cuban cigar twisters and very soon he could recover the H.Upmann’s cuban cigars splendor of other times. It was at that time when Alonso Menendez decided to go on full with the cuban cigars brand Montecristo. The design of the rooms, the propaganda and the quality of the bond were important elements that contributed to empower this cuban cigar brand that slowly overpasses initial expectations.

PARTAGAS CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

Advanced the first half of 19th Century in the Havana a Catalan entrepreneur foresaw promising business results in the business of hand twisted cuban cigars elaboration. After the first years passed with acceptable dividends, in 1845, Don Jaime Partagas gave his name to a new brand of Havana cuban cigars that did not take time to reach a singular celebrity. The Real Factory of Tobaccos Partagas cuban cigars opened the doors in the number 520 of Industria Street of Havana. Don Jaime Partagas was a passionate man, particularly for female beauty. Owner of cuban cigar tobacco plantations Vuelta Abajo, he frequently visited his cuban cigar tobacco plantations with the goal of following the progresses, but also anxious to enjoy certain affairs. Over there, in Vuelta Abajo, he enraptured in front of the voluptuousness of the smoke of magnificent cuban cigars and he fully enjoyed fervent women of the color of the Havana cuban cigars. Affairs, jealousy and revenge are related to the murder of Don Jaime, found dead in a mountain under mysterious circumstances, in one of his cuban cigar tobacco plantations. After the death of the vigorous Catalan, his descendants continued his cuban cigar related work. Later, the cuban cigar factory passed, half sale, to Jose A. Bances and Ramon Cifuentes. Starting from that moment and with the elapse of the time, the cuban cigars factory had different owners: Bances sold his rights to Cifuentes, who goes into a partnership with another man called Fernandez. Finally, Cifuentes joins Francisco Pego Pita. After the death of Pego Pita, in 1940, Cifuentes makes the partnership Cifuentes & Cia. At that time the cuban cigars factory produced around 30 different cuban cigar brands. The revolutionary triumph did not lower down the prestige and quality of Partagas’ labor; it rather contributed to the opening of new cuban cigar markets and to the enrichment of the cuban cigar tobacco plantation. Today, the Real Factory of Tobaccos Partagas cuban cigars continues with a building of a high pillars and solid walls with selected cuban cigar twisters that continue elaborating, in a neat way, excellent cuban cigars as during Don Jaime’s time. In 2002, when Altadis bought a controlling share in the Cuban government-owned cuban cigar distributor, Habanos SA, a number of changes in cuban cigar production were instituted. One of these changes was the decision to gradually turn the various cuban cigar brands of cuban cigars to either all-handmade or all-machine-made lines, reduce the number of redundant cuban cigar sizes within a cuban cigar brand, and cut many low-selling cuban cigars from production. Partagás cuban cigars, which has historically produced a variety of handmade cuban cigars and machine-made or machine-finished cuban cigars, had several of its cuban cigars cut from production, much to the dismay of cuban cigar connoisseurs worldwide. Since the introduction of the Edición Limitada cuban cigar annual releases, Partagás cuban cigars has gotten a special cuban cigar size made almost every year: the Pirámide cuban cigars in 2000, the Serie D No. 3 cuban cigars in 2001, the Serie D No. 2 cuban cigars in 2003, the Serie D No. 1 cuban cigars in 2004, a reissue of the Serie D No. 3 cuban cigars in 2006, and the Serie D No. 5 cuban cigars in 2008. In 2005, Partagás cuban cigars introduced a new cuban cigar addition to its regular cuban cigar lineup, a cuban cigar pyramid called the Serie P No. 2 cuban cigar. So far, this new cuban cigar size has proved incredibly popular with cuban cigar connoisseurs. Partagás cuban cigars also produces two machine-made cigarillos (the Mini and the Club) and a cuban brand of cigarettes.

POR LARRAÑAGA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

In a date that is so early for the history of twisted cuban cigars tobacco on hands of Cuba, such as year 1834, a Spaniard named Ignacio Larrañaga founded the cuban cigar brand Por Larrañaga. Por Larrañaga cuban cigars was seated in different addresses of Havana. It started in O`Relly Street, number 94, it was in Carlos III, number 713, corner of Arbol Seco. By the end of the 19th century, Por Larrañaga cuban cigars have become a well-known premium cuban cigar brand producing both expensive and inexpensive cuban cigars.

In 1925, Por Larrañaga cuban cigars became the first cuban cigar factory to make machine-made cuban cigars which soon resulted in a boycott by cuban cigars factory workers. At the time of the revolution, Por Larrañaga cuban cigars was the sixth largest producing cuban cigar brand.
Up until the 1970s, Por Larrañaga cuban cigars remained a respectable and popular premium cuban cigar brand. In the 1980s production of cuban cigars fell dramatically and due to trademark litigation in the 1990s, export of the cuban cigar brand was reduced to only a few countries. For some time the cuban cigar brand was reduced to almost entirely machine-made cuban cigars or hand-finished cuban cigars and was mainly sold in Canada and the Middle East. Now the cuban cigar brand has made a bit of a comeback, with two cuban cigars of its four cuban cigars being totally hand-made.
In 2006, Habanos produced a few thousand cuban cigar boxes of Por Larrañaga Lonsdales cuban cigars (a discontinued cuban cigar much mourned by cuban cigar aficionados of the cuban cigar brand) for release in Germany. The cuban cigars were packaged in 25-count dress cuban cigar boxes and marked with a special second cuban cigar band that read "Exclusivo Alemania" (Germany Exclusive). The cuban cigar brand was resurrected in the United States in early 2007 as Por Larrañaga Cuban Grade, by Florida-based importer Cuban Imports. No Cuban tobacco is used in these cigars; they use Dominican and Honduran filler, a Mexican binder, and either an Ecuadoran-grown Connecticut-seed wrapper or a Mexican maduro wrapper. It is also worth noting that Altadis USA has had some variations of the cuban cigar brand, none containing Cuban Tobacco, of course.

PUNCH CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

The cuban cigar brand Punch was founded in 1840, in Havana, by Don Manuel Lopez, property of J. Valle & Cia., having the Britain cuban cigar market in mind. At that time, the humor magazine of the same name was in vogue in United Kingdom which character is still appears today, with a cuban cigar in hand, in his abilities. At that time, the capital of Cuba was witnessing times of big prosperity for hand twisted cuban cigars; small cuban cigar factories were abundant, the expansion of big cuban cigar tobacco companies started and managers openly went to what seemed to be a business with magnificent future. At the time, the Punch cuban cigars elaboration was carried out in the cuban cigar factory of Luis Corujo & Cia., then, by occasion of the change of the owner, the twisting of this cuban cigar took place in other cuban cigar factories. Finally, the cuban cigar brand Punch come to be property of the firm Fernando Palacio & Cia., in Monterrey cuban cigars and La Escepcion cuban cigars, founded by Jose Gener in 1865, as well as Belinda cuban cigars, created by Francisco Menendez in 1882. After the embargo was set against Cuba by the United States, Fernando Palicio fled Cuba for Florida, where he subsequently sold his cuban cigar lines to the Frank Llaneza and Dan Blumenthal of Villazon & Co., which has continued to make Punch cuban cigars, Hoyo de Monterrey cuban cigars, and Belinda cigars from Honduran tobacco for the American market. Cuba subsequently nationalized the tobacco industry and Punch cuban cigars continued production and is still a popular, multi-locally-marketed cuban cigar line. Among cuban cigars connoisseurs, the eponymous Punch cuban cigars, Double Corona cuban cigars, Churchill cuban cigars, and Super Selection No. 2 cuban cigars are especially prized and sought after. Punch cuban cigars also produces two machine-made cigarillos: the Cigarritos and Cigarritos Reserva. Punch cuban cigars has not been chosen before for any Edición Limitada cuban cigars productions as of yet, but in 2006 it did see a special Edición Regional cuban cigar release: a Robusto cuban cigar released only in Switzerland. All cuban cigar brands of the cuban cigar company were twisted by hand in the cuban cigar factory located in Monte and Zulueta streets. Punch cuban cigars has good acceptation between cuban cigar smokers and very soon it started to be considered in the cuban cigar markets as a Cuban Cigar of unquestionable quality. Those were years of great splendor for the cuban cigar brand, mainly exported to Great Britain where cuban cigars are very popular. This remarkable Punch cuban cigars acceptation among Britons made Sir Winston Churchill not to escape from the wish of coming to the cuban cigar factory of Monte and Zulueta during a visit to Havana. The British Politician unrepentant cuban cigars smoker ended giving his name to a cuban cigar band of that name. Presently, the cuban cigar brand Punch, in its different cuban cigar bands, outstands among the best cuban cigars of best quality and presentation.

QUAI D´ORSAI CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

The Quai d'Orsay cuban cigar brand was created by Cubatabaco in 1973 for the French state tobacco monopoly, SEITA, and was blended with French tastes in mind, being a milder cuban cigar brand. There are a few competing stories as to what the marque's cuban cigar name refers to: one is that the cuban cigar name is referring simply to the famous Paris avenue, another is that the cuban cigar name refers to the French Foreign Ministry that is located on it, and another is that the cuban cigar name is referring to the headquarters of SEITA which is also on the same avenue.

Quai d'Orsay cuban cigars were apparently outside of the umbrella of Habanos SA cuban cigars for a number of years and was managed directly by Cubatabaco and SEITA, but judging by the cuban cigar packaging, Habanos SA cuban cigars documents, and SEITA's merger with Tabacalera into the multi-national tobacco company of Altadis, it appears Quai d'Orsay cuban cigars is a part of Habanos SA cuban cigars like all other Cuban-made brands of cuban cigars.

Another oddity of the Quai d'Orsay cuban cigars line are its Corona cuban cigars. Up until the late 1980s, Quai d'Orsay cuban cigars still manufactured its Coronas cuban cigars in two different cuban cigar wrapper shades: Claro and Claro Claro. As the fashion for lighter cuban cigar wrappers diminished (and supposedly as cuban cigars consumers noticed they were paying more for essentially the same cuban cigar with the wrapper making a very minor difference) production eventually ceased of the Coronas Claro Claro cuban cigars. Though the cuban cigar box still says Coronas on it, the official production name is still Coronas Claro cuban cigars. Some other cuban cigar bands of this particular cuban cigar brand are: Imperiales cuban cigars, Panetelas cuban cigars and the discontinued Gran Corona cuban cigars.

RAFAEL GONZALEZ CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

This cuban cigar trademark became a cuban cigar celebrity in Spain thanks to an advertising campaign which said: "González Márquez was born in Havana", during the period of ruling of the Premier Felipe González Márquez.

Flor de Rafael Gonzalez Marquez cuban cigars, one of the most selected cuban cigars that are known, held just in 1996 its 60th anniversary. The first references known of this cuban cigar brand come from 1936. This year, and holding the name “La Flor de Marquez”, the cuban cigar brand was registered by the owners of the cuban cigar Partnership Rey del Mundo Cigar Company, of Havana city.

There exist two stories related to the origin of the cuban cigar name. One is linked to the presence of the Marques Rafael Gonzalez who dedicated to cuban cigar tobacco business in la Havana. The other one mentions Marquez and Rafael Gonzalez, two Spaniard cuban cigar manufacturers settled in Vuelta Abajo, who baptized their cuban cigars with the names of “La Flor de Marquez” cuban cigars and “La Flor de Rafael Gonzalez” cuban cigars. The truth, as it is certified in the official registry, is that “La Flor de Marquez” cuban cigars dates from 1936, while “La Flor de Rafael Gonzalez” cuban cigars was created in 1946. Finally, in 1954, the two original cuban cigar brands turned into “Flor de Rafael Gonzalez Marquez” cuban cigars, which is the name of the cuban cigar brand known worldwide.

This is an excellent quality cuban cigar, with an average strength and a mixture which satisfy the most demanding cuban cigar smokers. The cuban cigar wrapper's colors are browns (reddish brown). This 2006, the Rafael Gonzalez cuban cigars celebrates its 70th anniversary. This cuban cigar is mainly commercialized in Spain, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Andorra, Great Britain, Switzerland, Africa, the Middle East, and other countries.

RAMON ALLONES CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

This cuban cigar brand was created by brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones (no relation to the Antonio Allones of El Rey del Mundo fame) in 1845 and is supposedly the first cuban cigar brand to have utilized colorful lithographs for cuban cigar box art, the first cuban cigar brand to utilize bands on cuban cigars, He was also the first that introduced boxes of 25 cuban cigars in different dimensions (though there are several rival claimants as to who first made cuban cigars box art and cuban cigar bands). Today, these cuban cigar containers of cedar are irreplaceable to preserve and trade the cuban cigars (the bunch of 25 cuban cigars have the name of fortieth and the 50 cuban cigars the name of twentieth). At the first times, the elaboration of this cuban cigar was carried out in Animas Street, number 129 of Havana. The cuban cigar brand went through numerous ownership changes before it was finally bought by the Cifuentes family and production was moved to the famous Partagás cuban cigar factory, where Ramón Allones cuban cigars are still made to this day. In the 40’s, hand twisted cuban cigars elaborated by hand and acquired by Canadian and people from USA were added to the traditional production of cuban cigars twisted at hand sent mainly to the British Cigar market. Tobacco managers from United States, sold those cuban cigars to the army, especially to those located in the Far East. Now, the cuban cigars brand Ramon Allones appears among the most appreciated cuban cigar brands and as it happened before, the main destination of its big cuban cigar bands is Great Britain. After the Revolution, cuban cigars production continued uninterrupted and Ramón Allones cuban cigars has consistently stayed popular with cuban cigar aficionados through the decades. In the opinions of many, this cuban cigar shares many similarities with its cousin Partagás cuban cigars as far as body, sizes, and packaging. This cuban cigar brand has always been produced in smaller quantities than Partagás cuban cigars, possibly to ensure higher cuban cigar quality and raised demand for the cuban cigar brand. Since 2001, when Altadis bought a controlling share of Habanos SA cuban cigars, the Ramón Allones cuban cigars marque has seen the majority of its manufactured cuban cigars sizes discontinued, including the much-beloved Coronas cuban cigars and even the 8-9-8 cuban cigars size it helped pioneer. Of the cuban cigar sizes available now, the Specially Selected cuban cigars, Gigantes cuban cigars, and Small Club Coronas cuban cigars are still incredibly popular among cuban cigar aficionados. The Bit of Havana is still listed as in production by Habanos SA cuban cigars, but few have seen this cuban cigar since 2001. In 2005, as part of Edición Regional cuban cigar series of new vitolas, Switzerland received a limited release of Ramón Allones Eminencias cuban cigars.

ROMEO Y JULIETA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

The history of one of the most famous cuban cigar apparently starts in some impossible love. The Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars marque was established in 1875. The cuban cigar brand is named for the Shakespeare tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Such is the singular legend that surrounds the birth of Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars. The creator of this cuban cigar twisted from the first day with leaves form Vuelta Abajo, was the Spaniard Don Inocencio Alvarez. Between 1885 and 1900, the cuban cigar brand won numerous cuban cigar awards at different cuban cigar tasting exhibitions (as still evidenced by the gold medals on the cuban cigar brand's logo). However, the cuban cigar brand truly bloomed after it was acquired by Jose "Pepin" Rodriguez Fernandez, former head of the Cabañas cuban cigar factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903. Later, the Partnership Rodriguez Arguelles & Cia. was dissolved and the cuban cigar Romeo y Julieta Tobacco Factory is created. In 1904, the Romeo y Julieta cuban cigar factory is installed in a new building in Belascoain and Virtudes, in the center of the capital city. At that time, the gross portion of the cuban cigar production of this excellent cuban cigar was sent to the Spanish market, although the cuban cigar brand enjoyed of a good reputation in United States and Great Britain. By that time, the cuban cigar factory elaborated with big success “Maria Guerrero” cuban cigar and “Don Pepin” cuban cigar. These cuban cigars rendered a warm tribute to the beautiful Spaniard actress and to the creator of Romeo y Julieta. At the dead of Don Pepin, in 1935, his nephew, Hipolito Garcia Rodriguez, follows him at the front of the cuban cigar company, a hard-working man that knew how keep the prosperity of the cuban cigar factory and the quality of the Havana cuban cigars. Presently the elaboration of Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars is carried out in a building that is very well furnished in Belascoain and Pealver, not far away from the original building, and as in Don Pepin times, this cuban cigar of original bond still continues being elaborated with the best leaves of Vuelta Abajo. Sir Winston Churchill was perhaps the cuban cigar brand's most famous devotee. The flagship vitola of the cuban cigar brand is named in his honor, a long 7" by 47 ring gauge cuban cigar known as the Churchill cuban cigar. Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first woman to serve as governor of a state in the U.S., also frequently smoked this specific cuban cigar brand. Romeo and Juliet cuban cigars brand offers cuban cigars from medium to strong strength, these cuban cigars feature a very good combustion and brown color in the wrapper. Its cuba cigar tobacco is from Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio) like mentioned before. This cuban cigar brand is commercialized in Spain, France, Benlux, Hong Kong, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Canada, East Europe, Swiss and Great Britain. In 2006, a new cuban cigar addition was made to the regular Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars lineup. The Short Churchill cuban cigar size, a Robusto cuban cigar, was introduced at the 8th Annual Habanos Festival in Havana, Cuba in 2006. Romeo y Julieta cuban cigars also produces three machine-made cigarillos: minis, clubs and puritos.

SAINT LUIS REY CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

In 1940, this cuban cigar brand appeared registered in the name of Zamora and Guerra in Maximo Gomez Street, number 810. Today it is located in Belascoain, number 852, where Romeo & Juliet cuban cigar factory is also located.

This cuban cigar brand was registered in 1940 under the name of Zamora and Guerra. Despite this cuban cigar success, it disappeared and vanished in the oblivion up to the moment of its renaissance in 1940, under the impulse of a British cigar import company.

This cuban cigar brand was created exclusively for the English cuban cigar market and it was distributed in United Kingdom by the firm N.R. Silverstone Cigars Ltd., which preserve such exclusivity up to 1990.

The cigarettes from Saint Luis Rey cuban cigars are characterized by a mid softness, in terms of aroma, taste and strength. They include hand made and machine produced vitolas. It is not a very demanded cuban brand, but it has a established market. The Saint Luis Rey are commercialized in Canada, Caribbean countries, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Swiss, and the Far East.

SAN CRISTOBAL CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

On December 16th, 1999, date of the 480th anniversary of Havana foundation and by occasion of the Ibero American Summit held in this city, the introduction of the cuban cigar brand San Cristobal de La Habana took place. This cuban cigar brand was created to celebrate the name of D. Panfilo de Narvaez who… with the pass of the time would become the capital of Cuban island and the world of cuban cigars.

Before the Revolution, a cuban cigar brand by the name of San Cristobal de la Habana cuban cigars existed, and it was produced until the Revolution. However, this new cuban cigar brand is completely unrelated and not a resurrection of the old cuban cigar brand.

Elaborated in the cuban cigar factory of La Corona, the bond has been made by the cuban cigar tobacco man Felix Jimenez, technical sub-director of the cuban cigar factory, and the tasting of this cuban cigar took place on September 24th, getting authorization for the four cuban cigar bands it is trading with. As it was already said, it is a cuban cigar maker of recent history, and of which very little can be added, the relevance of its cuban cigar name has made that so much the cuban cigar Corporacion Habanos as the cuban cigar factory La Corona had make special effort to take care of its quality.

The cuban cigar brand initially launched with four cuban cigars (El Morro cuban cigars, El Principe cuban cigars , La Fuerza cuban cigars, and La Punta cuban cigars). In 2004, to celebrate the cuban cigar brand's fifth anniversary, three additional cuban cigars were produced for the V Anniversary Humidor and eventually released for public sale. These new cuban cigars, the Officios cuban cigars, Mercaderes cuban cigars and Muralla cuban cigars, also feature an additional "La Casa del Habano" cuban cigar band as these cuban cigars were only available at La Casa del Habano cuban cigar retailers.

SANCHO PANZA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

This is the cuban cigar brand that appears registered for first time in 1848, in the name of Don Emilio Ohmsted, in Angeles Street, number 48, in the city of Havana. Then, during the 80’s, in 19th Century, the cuban cigar factory was acquired by Ramon Allones who kept its habilitations and traditional cuban cigar quality.

Later, in 1940, in the past century, the cuban cigar brand is registered in the name of Rey del Mundo Cigar Co.

It is a cuban cigar of a rather strong and dark character, of a great quality and extraordinary presence; this cuban cigar brand is elaborated with leaves from Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio). The Sancho Panza cuban cigars have a darker cuban cigar wrapper and the texture is thinner compared to other cuban cigars, as a result of a longer process of maturing the cuban cigar leaves.

Some well known Sancho Panza cuban cigar brands are: Sancho Panza Belicosos cuban cigars, Sancho Panza Molinos cuban cigars, Sancho Panza Coronas cuban cigars and the Sancho Panza Sanchos cuban cigars, which are the only cuban cigars band within the Sancho Panza cuban cigars brand that have a 10 cuban cigar box presentation.

This cuban cigar brand is mainly commercialized in Spain, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Swiss, and the Far East.

TRINIDAD CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

According to Adriano Martínez, a former executive of Habanos SA cuban cigars, in Min Ron Nee's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana cuban cigars, the Trinidad cuban cigars brand was first produced in 1969 at the El Laguito cuban cigars factory in Havana, Cuba. In the early 90's, the cuban cigar received much attention in magazines after an interview with Avelino Lara (formerly the manager of cuban cigars factory El Laguito and, as of this writing, a producer of cuban cigars for the Graycliff Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas). In the 1992 interview, Lara claimed that Trinidad cuban cigars was an ultra-exclusive cuban cigar brand that only Fidel C. was authorized to hand out as diplomatic gifts. Lara also claimed Trinidad cuban cigars were of a higher cuban cigar quality than the much-lauded Cohibas cuban cigars that had formerly been diplomatic exclusives before their mass-market release in 1982. Two sources have contradicted Lara's claims: President Fidel C. himself and the afore-mentioned Mr. Martínez. In an interview when asked about Trinidad cuban cigars, Castro stated that he only gave Cohiba cuban cigars away as diplomatic gifts, and in his autobiography; my life, he claims to know very little of the Trinidad cuban cigar brand. In the Illustrated Encyclopedia, Martínez stated that Trinidad cuban cigars were actually a lower-level diplomatic gift than Cohiba cuban cigars, made with a cuban cigar tobacco blend similar to that used in the Cohiba cuban cigars, but without the third barrel fermentation that Cohiba cuban cigars receive. In 1995, in the Dinner of the Century in Paris, France, where, among other rarities, the guests became the first outside of diplomatic circles to taste Trinidad cuban cigars. In February 1998, the Trinidad cuban cigar brand was released for public consumption at an opening ceremony in the Habana Libre Hotel in Havana. The initial release was only in one cuban cigar size: the Fundador cuban cigars. Though Martínez and others maintain that the cuban cigar blend did not change in the transition from a diplomatic gift to a mass-marketed cuban cigar, the cuban cigar size did. The diplomatic Trinidad cuban cigars only came in one cuban cigar size, that of a Laguito No. 1 cuban cigar ( the same as the Cohiba Lancero cuban cigars ). The Fundador cuban cigar instead comes in a new cuban cigar size with a cuban cigar factory name of Laguito Especial cuban cigars, the same length as a Laguito No. 1 cuban cigars but with a cuban cigar ring gauge of 40 instead of 38. In November 2003 three new cuban cigar sizes were debutted for the Trinidad cuban cigars line: the Coloniale cuban cigars, the Reyes cuban cigars, and the Robusto Extra cuban cigars. Some have claimed the Trinidad cuban cigars brand was meant to appeal to American cuban cigar smokers who obtained cuban cigars from black cuban cigar market trade.

VEGAS ROBAINA CUBAN CIGARS HISTORY

The cuban cigar brand brings the name of the property of one of the best cuban cigar tobacco harvesters in Cuba, Don Alejandro Robaina, who comes from a family of cuban cigar planters established in the region of the cuban cigar tobacco mass of San Luis, perimeter of Cuchillas, Barbacoa, at the middle of last century.

This place has the best and finest cuban cigar tobacco plantations for layer of the Vuelta Abajo region.

His father, Don Maruto Robaina, was also considered the best cuban cigar harvester of the country. In 1950, Don Alejandro takes charge of these cuban cigar plantations that have produced important amounts of cuban cigar layer for elaboration of Havana cuban cigars today and before.

Approximately, 30 % of the exportable cuban cigar layer produced by Pinar de Rio province comes from Vegas Robaina cuban cigars, which makes an authentic legend of it in the cuban cigars tobacco industry world.

This cuban cigar brand is the acknowledgement to the work of cuban cigar farmers from Vuelta Abajo and especially to the one that gives the name due to the achievements reached in the last years

LIMITED EDITIONS CUBAN CIGARS

The Limited Edition cuban cigars; originally made its appearance in 2001 with the launch of the Partagas Piramides cuban cigars - still regarded by some as one of the best cuban cigars to date.

Characterized by a specially prepared and aged dark Maduro wrapper the cuban cigars sported a unique gold and black cuban cigar band with the year of production.

The fermentation for the partagas piramide limited edition cuban cigars also serves to impart approximately 10% more strength to the cuban cigar as indicated by the "toasted" taste of the cuban cigar tobacco.

The process that complete the flavor of any limited edition cuban cigar is very much an ongoing experiment conducted by agronomists expecialized - the agricultural production division responsible for the cultivation of cuban cigar tobacco leaf in Cuba. Each year since 2001 Limited Edition cuban cigars have been produced in selected marques. Once these prestigious and rare cuban cigars have been distributed and sold Worldwide they pass into the annals of cuban cigar history.

Inevitably the more popular cuban cigars specially created within this format will appreciate in value by virtue of scarcity alone.