Cigar brands history
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Who better than someone like Christopher Columbus to create what we now know as the cigar industry. Starting with his voyage in 1492, it was reported that the crew member's encounter with indigenous people smoking rolled tobacco leaves gave birth to the term "cigars." Cigars gained their global allure in the 17th century, becoming symbols of prestige by the opulent and aristocrats.
Advancements in manufacturing, growing and processing propelled cigar production to meet global demands in the 1800’s. Cuban cigars emerged as the pinnacle of quality by the 1950s.
Because of the challenges created by Fidel Casto’s regime, many who left Cuba pioneered many of the "new world" brands we all enjoy today, like El Sol Cigars. This rich heritage celebrates resilience, innovation, and the timeless pleasure of cigars, connecting history with the present in a story of enduring indulgence.
Let's look at some of the oldest cigar brands in the world:
Cabañas:
“The First cigar brand in the world” Established in 1797 by Francisco Cabañas, this pioneering venture thrived until 1962, when Cabañas was nationalized under Fidel Castro's regime.
Por Larrañaga:
Founded by Ignacio Larrañaga in 1834, Por Larrañaga’s, the brand's ownership transitioned from a British to the Cuban revolutionary government.
Punch:
Founded in 1840, by a German named Stockmann, the brand continues to thrive today. A change in ownership in 1874 pushed Punch's to the spotlight. However, economic upheavals in the late 1920s led to the brand's acquisition by Fernandez, Palicio y Cia.
Upmann:
Founded in 1844 by the vision of German banker Hermann Dietrich Upmann. The brand's journey extended from Havana to the Canary Islands and the Dominican Republic, mirroring its enduring legacy and global impact.
Partagás:
Founded in 1845 Partagas was another of the Cuban brands split in two by the revolution, when Castro seized their factory in 1960, along with many other brands. The Cifuentes family’s patriarch, Ramón Cifuentes Toriello, fled to the U.S. and established the non-Cuban Partagás, out of The Dominican Republic that we now have today.
Sancho Panza:
Founded in 1848 by Don Emilio Ohmsted. In the 1940s, Rey del Mundo bought the name, and the brand is now a part of General Cigars
Hoyo de Monterrey:
Founded in 1865 by José Gener, Hoyo de Monterrey originated from the Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba. The fertile soil and ideal climate of Vuelta Abajo contribute to the brand's signature blend of rich and flavorful tobacco.
Romeo y Julieta: :
Founded in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Mannin Garcia, Romeo y Julieta captures the essence of a timeless love story. With over 40 shapes and sizes, Romeo y Julieta continues to captivate aficionados.
La Aroma de Cuba:
Founded during the late 1880s, but disappeared because of the Cuban government. More than 120 years later, La Aroma de Cuba re-emerged with support from the Ashton brand.
La Gloria Cubana:
Founded in Cuba in 1885, moved from one Cuban owner to another, until old Gloria fled Cuba during Castro’s takeover. Produced in the Dominican Republic by General Cigar, while Nicaraguan tobacco is almost always a component.
J.C. Newman:
Founded in 1895 in Cleveland, Ohio, J.C. Newman is America's oldest family-owned premium cigar company.
Discover the best at El Sol Cigars
El Sol Cigars:
Founded in 1928 by Guy Saitta in New York City, El Sol became one of the first cigar producers in Ybor City, Florida where they had the longest running cigar shop for more than 70 years. Today, new owners are expanding the El Sol brand globally. Production is still done in the Dominican Republic with only Cuban seed tobacco. All tobacco used to make El Sol cigars comes from organically grown farms, pesticide free.
