| Cigar
Classics Old & New |
 |
True classic cigars are those which are of exceptional quality and have been recognized for that quality as well as their consistency for decades, and were originally made in Cuba and/or also now made in other countries. However, a few non-Cuban origin cigars have proven that they should be considered classics as well. Below are a list of these classic cigars.
CUBAN ORIGIN CLASSICS
Cohiba
Although of
newer origin than other Cuban brands, Cohiba, which was created in 1968 and
introduced to the international market in 1982, is considered by many the finest
cigar in the world. The one by which all other cigars should be judged. Cohiba
is still made in Cuba, but there is now a non-Cuban variety, nicknamed the "Red
Dot" Cohiba, with a red dot inside the O on its band, which is made in the
Dominican Republic.
Davidoff
Although
the Davidoff brand is newer than Cohiba, it started out as a creation of
Russian-born Zino Davidoff in Cuba in 1946 as an extension of the Hoyo de
Monterrey line. He introduced his cigars under his own brand in 1970. Davidoff
then moved their production to the Dominican Republic in 1990.
Dunhill
Dunhill also
appeared in 1970 and the brand continued to be made in Cuba until 1991. Dunhill
began making cigars in the Canary Islands in 1986 and also introduced a Dunhill
line made in the Dominican Republic in 1989. In 1998, Dunhill introduced a
third line, this time made in Honduras. All three of these non-Cuban lines are
still in production as of this writing in 2000.
El Rey Del Mundo
This
brand debuted in 1848 and is still made in Cuba. A Honduran version was created
by Villazon & Co. and J-R Tobacco in 1993 for the American market.
H. Upmann
This brand
dates back to 1844 and was established by the German, Herman Upmann. It is
still made in Cuba, but after Cuba nationalized the tobacco industry the owners
fought to regain control and eventually won custody of the brand in the US
courts and began production of a non-Cuban version in the Canary Islands in
1975. They moved their production to the Dominican Republic in 1982.
Hoyo de Monterrey
This
brand was created by Jose Gener in 1865. Although still produced in Cuba, the
owners of the company at the time of the Cuban nationalization left the country
and in 1965 arranged to sell the brand to Villazon & Co. in Honduras and by
1969 the cigar was being made in that country.
La Gloria Cubana
This
brand began in 1885 but was not widely known until forty years later. After
nationalization, the cigar was produced in Miami beginning in 1969. The brand
became popular again during the 1990's cigar boom and a second factory was
opened in the Dominican Republic in 1996.
Montecristo
Montecristo
began as a side brand of H. Upmann in 1935. After nationalization, the brand
was eventually trademarked by Consolidated Cigar Corp., producing only a few
cigars every year to protect the trademark. However, in 1995, they debuted a
large line of Montecristo cigars. Montecristos are made in the Dominican
Republic and Cuba still produces the brand.
Partagas
This brand
debuted in 1845. After nationalization the non-Cuban brand was introduced in
1974 and made in Jamaica. During the 1970's the production was moved to the
Dominican Republic, and Partagas as of 2000 was the second best selling imported
cigar in America.
Por Larranaga
This
brand began in 1834, and although still produced in Cuba, as well as the
Dominican Republic, it is produced in very limited numbers. The non-Cuban
trademark is owned by Consolidated Cigar.
Punch
Established in
1840 and still made in Cuba, the brand was sold to Villazon & Co. in 1965 by
its owner, and the non-Cuban variety is now made in Honduras.
Romeo Y Julieta
Romeo
Y Julieta began in 1873, and was the first brand to offer the Churchill size
cigar, in honor of Winston Churchill. After Cuba nationalized the tobacco
industry, the brand was made in both Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
However, in the early 1990's the Honduran variety faded and the non-Cuban
variety is now made only in the Dominican Republic.
NON-CUBAN CLASSICS
Arturo Fuente
After
a long run of bad luck, with fires having destroyed the Fuente factories in
Tampa, Honduras, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic, the company began having
success in Dominica in the 1980's and took off in the 1990's, and is today an
outstanding operation making some of the world's finest cigars, under their name
as well as such brands such as Ashton, Diamond Crown and Diana Silvius.
Avo
Although a
fairly new brand, having debuted in 1986, Avo is superb line of cigars. Created
by composer Avo Uvezian over a million were sold in 1995 and sales have
increased ever since, and has become one of the new classics very much in
demand.
Bering
The brand
began in Tampa, Florida in 1905 made from Cuban tobacco. It moved from being a
handmade to a machine-made cigar for most of the century, but in the 1980's was
reborn as a handmade cigar. Bering is made in Honduras, but in 1999 they
introduced a second line called Bering Dominican Hallmark which are made in the
Dominican Republic, and are a medium rather than full-bodied smoke.
Don Diego
Born in
1964, Don Diego was the creation of Alfonso Menendez and Pepe Garcia, who owned
H. Upmann and Montecristo before the Cuban nationalization, and introduced
Montecruz in the Canary Islands. Don Diego was an immediate success and was one
of the most sought-after brands of the 1970's. Consolidated Cigar moved the
production of Don Diego from the Canary Islands to La Romana, Dominican Republic
in 1982.
Excalibur
This is an
extension brand of Hoyo de Monterrey which began in 1977. In Europe the band
says only Excalibur, while in America the band reads Hoyo de Monterrey
Excalibur.
La Aurora
This was
the first cigar brand established in the Dominican Republic, founded in 1903.
La Regenta
This
brand had been produced in the Canary Islands since 1923. It is mild with a
creamy taste and was found at reasonable prices since it was not as well known
as cigars from the Caribbean. However, as of 2000 the brand has been
discontinued. Hopefully it will be resurrected.
Macanudo
Macanudo is
the largest selling imported cigar in America. Established in 1868, General
Cigar bought the factory in 1969. Virtually unknown, the brand became popular
during the 1970's. Various sizes of Macanudo are made in either Jamaica or the
Dominican Republic.
Montecruz
Montecruz
was born in 1962 in the Canary Islands as a replacement for the Cuban
Montecristo. Consolidated Cigar bought the brand in 1972 and moved its
operation to the Dominican Republic in 1982.
Padron
Jose Padron
fled Cuba after the family farms were nationalized in 1960 and in 1964 began
rolling cigars. He expanded to Nicaragua in 1971, but because of Nicaragua's
internal troubles, he moved his operation to Honduras during the 1980's. Today,
the high quality and consistency of his cigars have earned them title as one of
the new classics.