Brand histories It is over 200 years since the first cigar trademark was registered in Cuba. In that time countless brands have come and gone, reflecting the rich and colourful history of Havana cigars that is unrivalled anywhere else in the world. Many of the current 27 brands have been in production for well over a century and each has a story to tell.
Brand histories It is over 200 years since the first cigar trademark was registered in Cuba. In that time countless brands have come and gone, reflecting the rich and colorful history of Havana cigars that is unrivaled anywhere else in the world. Many of the current 27 brands have been in production for well over a century and each has a story to tell.
Brands are divided into four different categories, depending on their availability around the world, from global brands that are available everywhere to the smallest brands that are only found in a few countries.
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COHIBA (1966)Â
Havanaâs flagship brand was created for the late President Fidel Castro. Production began in 1966, but the cigars were not released to the public until sixteen years later. Cohiba is an ancient Taino Indian word for the bunches of tobacco leaves that Columbus first saw being smoked by Cubaâs original inhabitants. So it was the first name for a cigar â in Cuba at any rate.
MONTECRISTO (1935)Â
The best selling hand-made cigar brand in the world. Named after the Alexander Dumasâ novel âThe Count of Montecristoâ, which was a firm favourite when read to the cigar rollers at the factory where it was founded. The brand was launched almost exactly 100 years after the book was first published.
ROMEO Y JULIETA (1875)Â
Named after Shakespeareâs play that had proved popular when read to the rollers. At one point Romeo y Julieta produced up to 20,000 different bands for its cigars. It is also the brand that made the first cigar named after Sir Winston Churchill.
PARTAGĂS (1845)Â
Don Jaime PartagĂĄs is the man widely credited with starting the tradition in 1865 of having rollers read to while they worked. Sadly Don Jaime was fatally wounded on one of his tobacco fields several years later. Today the PartagĂĄs Serie D No.4 is the best selling Cuban cigar in the world.
HOYO DE MONTERREY (1865)Â
Established by a Spaniard named Jose Gener, Hoyo de Monterrey takes its name from the world famous plantation in Pinar del Rio. âHoyoâ means âholeâ and refers to the low lying position of the field next to the San Juan y Martinez river, while âMonterreyâ is the name of the first farmer to cultivate tobacco there.
H. UPMANN (1844)Â
Herman Upmann was a German banker who so loved Cuban cigars that he moved to Havana to set up as both a banker and a cigar producer. Although his bank closed in the early 1920âs his cigars live on. Buy Cuban CigarsÂ
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA HABANA (1999)Â
This brand draws its inspiration from the original name for Havana when it was founded in 1519. San Cristobal (St. Cristopher) after Columbus, and La Habana after the name given to the site by the islandâs indigenous people.
FONSECA (1890s)
 Founded by Don Francisco Fonseca, a handsome man who cared deeply for appearances, he passed his sartorial precision onto his cigars, which he dressed in silky tissue paper â a tradition that continues to this day.
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JOSE L. PIEDRA (1880s)
 Uniquely among export Havana cigars, Jose L. Piedra uses tobacco from Remedios. It also uses short-filler tobaccos, making it a noteworthy yet affordable addition to the portfolio. Buy Jose L. Piedra OnlineÂ
QUINTERO (1920s)Â
Established by Agustin Quintero and his four brothers in Cienfuegos, a city known as the âPearl of the Southâ, the tobacco used in this brand is short-filler and comes from the Vuelta Abajo and Semi Vuelta zones.
VEGAS ROBAINA (1997)Â
Named after one of Cubaâs most respected farming families that has been growing tobacco on the same farm since 1845. The Cuchillas de Barbacoa plantation is world famous for the quality of its wrapper leaves. Buy Vegas Robaina CigarsÂ
DIPLOMATICOS (1966)Â
Originally launched with a series of cigar sizes and names identical to Montecristo.
EL REY DEL MUNDO (1882)Â
Immodestly named âKing of the Worldâ, at one time this brand offered the worldâs most expensive cigars.
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POR LARRAĂAGA (1834)Â
The oldest Cuban cigar brand still in production.
QUAI DâORSAY (1973)Â
Originally made for the French market. Quai dâOrsay is the name of the avenue in Paris where the headquarters of SEITA, the former French tobacco monopoly, was located.
RAFAEL GONZALEZ (1930s)Â
A favourite of the 20th century British sporting figure, the Earl of Lonsdale, whose name became synonymous with his favourite Cervantes size.
RAMON ALLONES (1837)Â
Ramon Allones is credited with developing the use of colour lithography on cigar box labels.Â
SAINT LUIS REY (1940s)Â
Founded just before the Second World War, only one size still remains in production for this full-flavoured brand – the regally titled âRegiosâ.
SANCHO PANZA (1848)Â
Named after Don Quixoteâs faithful squire in Miguel de Cervantesâ famous 17th century novel.
VEGUEROS (1996)Â
Vegueros translates as âFarmersâ and this brand was introduced as a tribute to the countless generations that have cultivated tobacco in Pinar del Rio.
Best Cuban Cigars Online: Buy cuban cigar brands by classification ideal for cigar beginners with full details by cigar brands. Learn more about cuban cigars strength , cigar flavors, cigar sizes. Buy cubans cigars from the finest well known brands in the world. BUY-CUBANS.COM offer a complete selection of Bolivar, Cohiba , Montecristo, Partagas, H.Upmann,Hoyo de Monterrey, Diplomaticos, Juan Lopez, Jose L. Piedra, Quintero, Trinidad , Romeo y Julieta, Vegas Robaina, Vegueros.
Brand flavours Cuban cigar brands can be separated into fivemain flavour classifications, as shown in the chart opposite, which includes all of the Cuban brands available online at BUY CUBANS.
ABOUT HABANOS CUBAN CIGARS BRANDS Brand histories It is over 200 years since the first cigar trademark was registered in Cuba. In that time countless
CUBAN CIGARS FOR BEGINNERS To earn the title of âCuban cigarâ it must be made by hand in Cuba using only leaves grown in one
STANDARDS OF A CUBAN CIGAR To earn the title of a Habano (CUBAN CIGAR), the cigar must be made by hand in Cuba using only
Cigars come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes,
colours, flavours, strengths, packs and prices.
Also there are many countries that produce cigar
tobaccos with distinct characteristics, and there
are a number of different production methods that
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array of products can be bewildering.
CUBAN CIGARS IMPERFECTIONS Natural blemishes With a product as natural as a cuban cigar it is not surprising that occasionally blemishes show up on the
