Rafael Gonzalez

Rafael Gonzalez

History

Founded in 1928 as Flor de Rafael Gonzalez Marquez, Rafael Gonzalez remains one of the finest pre-revolution cigar brands in production today. It was produced in its own factory until 1960, then relaunched with its sister brand El Rey Del Mundo in 1965. 


Rafael Gonzalez has been a high-end cigar brand from the beginning and has been responsible for several important innovations in cigarmaking. The brand even had the name “Lonsdale” for a 6½”, 42 gauge Cervantes cigar. 


They use only the finest tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. All cigars are produced to the fine, traditional Cuban standard “Totalmente a mano, tripa larga,”  entirely rolled by hand, only using long-cut filler. These high production standards ensure the cigars have a characteristically smooth Cuban profile with a light, tropical flavor distinct to the Rafael Gonzales brand. 


In 2022, the brand received an image update, updating the style of the box and the band. But they maintained the time-honored quality and smokability that has been a hallmark of the brand for nearly a century. The band was switched from a plain brown band with the company’s name to a more eye-catching transparent band. Likewise, the box has been updated to comply with new American and European regulations while maintaining the rustic beauty of the classic Cuban cigar box. 


Rafael Gonzalez is one of the smaller Cuban cigar brands, offering a more refined product for the discerning cigar smoker. The smooth, light flavor of these cigars matches well with Cuban white rum, coconut-flavored desserts, and tropical fruits.