Havana Marques

In the Vuelta, Abajo and Partido regions of Cuba, the one to the west of Havana and the other to the south, are found ideal conditions for growing outstanding cigar tobacco. All Havanas are produced with tobacco cultivated exclusively in these two regions. Added to this coincidence of nature is a long tradition of cigar making going back many centuries. The resulting depth of experience and skill at every level of the Cuban cigar industry supports the creation of the world's finest cigars. All of the great Havana marques to which these cigars belong are unique, distinguished from one another by their flavour and character. Each has its devotees, to whom the inirnitable flavour of their favourite brand is a constant source of pleasure. Using the savoire-faire accumulated over generations, the master blenders of Cuba are dedicated to safeguarding this pleasure. They perpetuate the individual styles of flavour upon which the reputations of these great names have been built. It isn't easy to convey in words something as subjective as the flavour of a classic Havana so the following notes are just for guidance. The best way to educate your palate is to sample different Havanas for yourself and find the taste that best

BELINDA

Since mid nineteenth century the art of decorating the boxes of Habanos by printing had an upswing; the practice coming to stay. Ever since, tobacco entrepreneurs managed to obtain increasingly beautiful embellishment details in a sort of stubborn determination finally won by Francisco Menéndez, the Spaniard who created La Belinda brand in 1882.

BOLÍVAR

Full Flavour

Simon Bolivar, one of the great romantic figures of the 19th century, liberated much of South America from Spain sh rule in 1901, seventy one years after his death the Rocha company in Havana commemorated him on their cigars It is perhaps not surprising that a brand named after such a powerful figure is blended to match his might.

Today one of the marks most in demand, especially in Great Britain.

CABAÑAS

It is the Spaniard Francisco Cabañas who should take the credit of history for having registered in Cuba one of the oldest Habano marks heard of, and also when the Tobacco Monopoly was still in force. Thus, he registered in 1810 the Cabañas brand, and in 1895 he joined others manufacturers to develop a new trademark: Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal y Cía.

COHÍBA

La Linea Clasic: Medium to full flavour
La Linea 1492: Medium flavour

Manufactured in a mansion in Laguito, a suburb of Havana, Cohiba was created in 1966 as Havana's premier marque for diplomatic use only. From 1982 it was offered to the public in three sizes:Lanceros, Espendidos. Robustos and Exquisitos were added in 1989 to complete La Linea Clasica. Then in 1992 the five sizes of La Linea 1492 were announced: Siglo I, 1. II , IV and V. Only the pick of the tobacco crop, aged to perfection is used which means supplies will always be scarce. Flavours very by size in line with the girth of the cigar from the slender Panatela which is medium to taste up to the Robustos which is a full flavoured cigar. Cohibas are cigars to be taken very seriously.

CUABA

Medium to full flavour

What's unique about Cuaba is that it's the only Havana brand made entirely in the figurado (torpedo-shaped) shape today. Pointed at both ends and bulbous in the middle, figurados were the cigars that first earned Havanas their worldwide renown at the end of the 19th Century.

Launched in the market on 19 November 1996, in London, the first batch of Cuabas were made without moulds, exactly as Habanos were made in the 19th Century, which demands the pinnacle of rolling craftsmanship. Each Cuaba from this original batch is slightly different due to the free-hand production. so much so that cigar connoisseurs are bidding for first-batch boxes of Cuabas as collector`s items. Since April 1977 all Cuabas have been made using wooden moulds.
The unusual shape leads to a remarkable first few puffs which consist entirely of the flavour of the wrapper leaf. Once into the main blend the style is medium to full bodied

DIPLOMÁTICOS

This brand was created at the beginning of the '70s

LA FLOR DE CANO

From 1884 now, the Flor de Cano brand has managed to keep its indisputable quality. It enjoys the preference of various markets for this has been ranked among the best cigars by numerous cigar smokers.

These cigars are stuffed with short filler, take up wrapper and a binder leaf, and are either machine or hand made.

FONSECA

It was the Spaniard Don Francisco Fonseca who made the registration of the mark under his surname, in 1907. The factory was set up in several buildings in the capital city, until it was finally established in Quivicán, a quaint small town in the province of Havana.

Since the early years the Fonseca brand became renowned and cherished for the quality and appearance of its cigars. It is the only Habano in the market which is wrapped in very thin and almost transparent silky paper.

GISPER

Created in 1940 by Simón Veja Peláez.

LA GLORIA CUBANA

Introduced in 1885 by the Sociedad Cabañas y Castro, it was soon a success amongst cigar cognoscenti for their being well-manufactured Havana cigars of an excellent aroma, strength and palate.

This brand has similar traits to those of El Rey del Mundo and La Flor de Rafael González Márquez. Together, they make up a triad of very well presented cigars in mid sizes and mild-mid to mid-strong palates, and an excellent quality-price ratio.

HOYO DE MONTERREY

In the town San Juan y Martínez, in the Vuelta Abajo, there is a plantation wrought-iron gate with the inscription "Hoyo de Monterrey, José Gener, 1860", which indicates that Mr. Gener used to be a tobacco grower before he registered his mark in 1865. The 'Le Hoyo" series was ntroduced n the 1910`s in response to demands for a richer tasting cabinet range.

Although it keeps its traditional packaging, this mark has undergone deep changes. Hoyo de Monterey cigars are the best new generation cigars, more pliable, with great draw and excellent burning properties, with just right fragrance and flavor, and no excess of light (lager) tobacco in blend. Nearly all sizes are usually packed in special sliding cases.

H. UPMANN

Light Flavour

Founded in 1844 by Herman Upmann, a European banker, who fell in love with Havana cigars so deeply that he moved to Cuba and set up as both banker and cigar maker. His bank soon closed but his cigars, each box of which still bears his signature, remain today as a fine example of a light flavoured Havana suitable for the unseasoned smoker or as a morning smoke for the Connoisseur.

Its wrapper, darker than in other brands, stresses its flavor and fragrance, giving it a sweet and spicy note. They were very successful in the last century in Germany where these cigars were served in silver salver. And this is now a most cherished brand in England.

JOSÉ L. PIEDRA

Vicente and José Lamadrid Piedra created the José L. Piedra as a commercial brand in 1880. Their cigar factory was at Calle Máximo Gómez No. 5 in Remedios, in the tobacco-growing area of Vuelta Arriba, in what is now Sancti Spíritus Province. After the Cuban Revolution, the brand was launched very successfully as a product popular among demanding Cuban smokers.

JUAN LÓPEZ

Juan López Sena created this brand in 1880. In 1908, it was transferred to his heirs, who sold it to the Sociedad C. Del Peso y Cía. in 1918

MONTECRISTO

Medium to full Flavour

Montecristo was founded in 1935 by the owners of the H. Upmann factory. It appeared first in just five sizes described by numbers not names The other sizes like the 'A' and Especiales were added in the early 1970's. Using a specially graded "ligero" leaf in the filler they created a nuance of flavour differing distinctly from and somewhat fuller than the H. Upmann brand, which has delighted the palates of cigar smokers ever since. Forty years later Montecristo became the world's most sought after Havana, a postion it retains today.

PARTAGÁS

Full flavour

In 1845 Don Jaime Partagas opened the doors of his famous factory at Industria 520 in Havana for the first time His cigars have been made there ever since, except that is between 1987 and 1990 when it was closed for restoration His much respected brand retains its rich blend of tobaccos.

POR LARRAÑAGA

In an early date in the history of Habanos as 1834, a Spaniard named Ignacio Larrañaga established the mark Por Larrañaga which, after more than one century had consolidated a well deserved renown for the quality of its rolling and tremendously ingenious presentation of its sizes and shapes.

Its Lolas en Cedro used to be very famous and are still the specialty of the house. This cigar, wrapped in a very thin cedar leaf, is a real masterpiece for its matchless presentation.

PUNCH

Medium Flavour

Don Manuel Lopez of J. Valle & Co founded Punch n 1840 with the British market in mind where the humorous magazine af the same name was much in vogue A contented Mr Punch, cigar in hand remains a feature on the labels of each box of these long-appreciated medium strength cigars.

It has became a havana of indisputable quality in the marketplace. This tremendous popularity of Punch amongst the British also trapped Sir Winston Churchill who gave in to the temptation to visit the Monte y Zulueta factory during his stay in Havana. The British politician ended up giving his name to a size of this brand.

QUAY D' ORSAY

This brand was made mainly for the French market in 1970s. All its sizes tend to use light wrappers, a frequent preference in France. Cigars are of a nice taste, mid strength, solid in texture and good burning properties.

QUINTERO

This is one of the few brands of Habanos not born in the Cuban capital, for it was registered between 1924 to 1940 by Agustín Quintero, in Cienfuegos,, one of the most beautiful and prosperous cities of the southern coast of Cuba.

RAFAEL GONZÁLES

Light flavour

It is said that the advice inscribed an each Rafael Gonzalez box that the cigars "should be smoked within one month of shipment or should be carefully matured for about one year" was written in his own hand by an Enghish importer of the 1930s Certainly the brand's delicate flavour is idealliy suited to the English palate.

RAMON ALLONES

Full Flavour

Ramon Allones emigrated from Galicia in Spain to Cuba and founded his brand in 1837. He set his mark on the Havana trade by originating the use of colourful lithographs to decorate his boxes, an innovation on soon copied by his competitors His recipe, which has survived for more than 150 years, includes a predominance of ligero leaf in the filler which gives a full flavour. A cigar for the aficionado, not the novice.

EL REY DEL MUNDO

Light to medium flavour

The origin of this peculiar brand dates back to 1848 when the Spaniard Antonio Allones set up his own tobacco business in Havana. Only four decades later, in 1882, he made the registration of a cigar of premium quality and rate, under the extravagant name El Rey del Mundo (King of the World). Success came overnight and soon the factory was named after the mark, El Rey del Mundo Cigar Co. This brand name is one of the most popular and coveted Habanos amongst discriminating cigar smokers.

ROMEO Y JULIETA

Medium flavour

Founded by Avarez Garcia in 1875, much of its popularity is owed to one "Pepin " Fernandez Rodriguez, who purchased the factory in 1903 and thereafter personally promoted the cigars, which he refered to as his children, throughout the world, by travelling widely, racing his horse Julieta all over Europe and produced the widest selection of personalised cigar bands for the celebrities of his day. Romeo is a medium flavoured cigar, famed for its consistancy.

SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA HABANA

The latest and probably the last of the new series of Havana brands launched since 1996 has been given the original name of the city of Havana when it was founded by settlers back in 1519 - San Cristóbal (St. Christopher) de La Habana.

The brand boasts four sizes, each of which is named after one of the forts that defended the city in its heyday as the hub of the Spanish empire in Latin America. Two of the sizes, La Fuerza and El Morro, are entirely new and are unique to the San Cristóbal brand.

SAINT LUIS REY

In 1940 this brand was registered under the name Zamora y Guerra. Known for their flavor ranging from mild to medium, these Habanos are hand made by experienced rollers, with most celebrated leaves from the Vuelta Abajo.

The Saint Luis Rey brand has a market niche

SANCHO PANZA

Medium flavour

The brand was registered for the first time in 1848, in the name of Don Emilio Ohmsted, at 48 Angeles Street in city of Havana. Then, during the 188os. the factory was bought by Ramón Allones, who kept its labeling, its traditional trimmongs and its always superb quality. later, info this century, in 1940, the brand can be found registered in the name of Rey del Mundo Cigar Co.

A portrait of Don Quixote's mischievous manservant adorns each box of these mellow tastings Habanos, which are now made under the supervision of the Romeo y Julieta factory.

STATOS DE LUXE

Possible clues which could have probably led to the origin of this brand have faded, so its birth is but a riddle. There are versions that it was registered in the Cuban capital city in early twentieth century by a Central European businessman, probably a Hungarian. Others link its origin to a Spaniard whose surname was Martínez.

Both versions stand on true-to-life foundations. Certainly, its attractive embellishment abounds with details such as the eagle with features and ornamentations of the most traditional and aristocratic heraldry in Central Europe. However, the embellishment records Martínez, Hno. y Cía, as the brand manufacturers.

TRINIDAD

Medium Flavour

Once Havana's mystery brand. Reserved as Cuban Government gifts from 1969 to 1998 when just one size, the Fundadores, was introduced to the public. Made at Cohiba's exclusive El Laguito Factory, this rare cigar offers an approachable, well-rounded, medium flavour with a distict hint of richness.

TROYA

The brand was registered in 1932 by Martínez & Co., located at 2000 Real Street, in Marianao, Havana. Its brand image stands out as one of the gems of Cuban lithography. It could be said that Homer inmortalized Troy ("Troya" in Spanish) but Martínez & Co. put the name of the city conquered by the Greeks, in the mouth of smokers.

Vegas Robaina

Medium to full flavour

The brand bears the name of the property of the best Cuban tobacco growers, Don Alejandro Robaina, who comes from a family of tobacco growers who have farmed tobacco in the tobacco region of San Luis, since 1845 - the area having the best fine tobacco plantations and wrapper tobacco of the Vuelta Abajo region.

Approximately 30% of the tobacco exported from Pinar del Rio provice use vegas Robaina (Robaina Tobacco plantations) wrapper, marking it a tobacco legend. This brand is a testimony to the work of the farmers of Vuelta Abajo and especially to him who bestowed his name upon it, for the achievements accomplished during the last few years.

The cigars are made by the H. Upmann factory using wrappers grown exclusively on the Robaina properties.

VEGUEROS

Completely manufactured in a hand-rolled fashion in Pinar del Rio, Vegueros has always been all the rage among Habanos’ brands in the Cuban market. A combination of hard texture and a neat layers makes it a favorable cigar among Cuban consumers. Made since 1960 in Pinar del Rio’s Francisco Donatien Factory, they are encased in Semi Boite Nature-style buckled boxes carrying 25 units each and in 5-cigar cardboard boxes wisely placed in its display.This is a brand that keeps up the tradition as far as manufacturing and distinction of layer structure are concerned, completely made out of raw materials coming from Pinar del Rio, the zone where the world’s best tobacco leaves are harvested.