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11. Classic Cigars

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are of exceptional quality and have been recognized for that quality as well as their consistency for decades, and were originally made in Cuba and/or also now made in other countries.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.

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