Cigar devil logo
Free shipping on most orders over $199
Phone Created with Sketch. Order by phone M-F 1.888.883.5596

A Brief History of St Luis Rey Cigars

St Luis Rey Cigars

In 1859, José María Fonseca founded the first cigar factory in Cuba.  The factory was named St. Luis Rey, after the saint known for helping the poor.  Today, St. Luis Rey cigars are one of the most popular brands in Cuba and worldwide. In 1915, José María Fonseca passed away and his son, Antonio Fonseca, took over the company.  Antonio Fonseca was a master blender and created some of the most popular cigars in Cuba- such as Romeo y Julieta and Camacho.

In 1959, Fidel Castro took over Cuba and changed many aspects of Cuban society.  He wanted to create a community where all Cubans could be equal and that everyone could have access to education and healthcare.  This goal was met with resistance from some people in Cuban society- such as Antonio Fonseca- because he saw those who had not achieved great things as being behind the revolution.

What Types of Cigars Does St Luis Rey Produce?

St Luis Rey specializes in producing premium cigars, flavored cigars, and cigarillos.  Their premium cigars are made with the most delicate wrappers and filler tobacco on the market. The best Cuban cigars in the world can be found at St. Luis Rey.  On their different types of cigars, they have various rolled shapes and sizes to make any smoker happy. This cigar is great for any occasion due to its diverse flavors.  All varieties of their cigars are available in an array of sizes and wrappers- such as Churchill, puros (semi-unfiltered), Robusto (chubby), corona (petite), and so on.  They also produce more than three different types of flavored cigars: cafe Cubano flavored cigarillos, Macanudo cigarillos, ciegas Lindas (pretty blind ones), and bongo (Dominican Dominicana preferred), etc. that contain different flavor profiles ranging from donut to sweet tobacco flavorings to exotic fruit.

Hand-Made Vitolas

In 1999, cigars made foreign to the Cuban people were called "hand-made”.  The government was afraid that these cigars would be smuggled out of the country, so it was decided to place a tax on them.  These cigars became known as "grey market" cigars. Antonio Fonseca had created his own Company, Tabacos Cubanica S.A., in 1915, and this Company is still going today.  In 1990, Antonio Fonseca began Vitolas St. Luis Rey, and they launched their first cigar brand in 1996.  This cigar factory can make thirty thousand cigars per day, and they produce many lines of premium, hand-made cigars that are all sold exclusively in Cuba (Vitolas St Luis Rey).

One of the most famous lines produced by this factory is Don José de Vargas, and it’s named after one of Jose Marti's best friends who helped him write Marti's writings (Vitolas St Luis Rey).  Other lines offered by the factory are the GM, Premium, and Don Carlos Casa Magna.

What Has Made St Luis Rey Successful as a Company in the Cigar Industry?

St. Luis Rey has been successful since the beginning because the founder of the Company was a master blender who created some of Cuba's most famous cigars. The cigar factory was located in Havana and is still there today. St Louis Rey cigars were sold in all parts of Cuba, so even as Fidel Castro changed many aspects of Cuban society, St Louis Rey cigars remained relatively unaffected.

In fact, the Company is doing very well and is ranked as one of Cuba's top five cigar companies.  The sales increase every year, and many people have become loyal customers.  Having a strong team that works exceptionally hard to make sure that the quality of their cigars continues to be the best is crucial, as they want to continue making great-tasting cigars.  Meaning, continuing to innovate in their products and not just sticking with what they know works.

What is Their Overall Vision for the Company?

The future of St. Luis Rey Cigars is very bright- it has an excellent reputation, great quality, and loyal customers.  They’re always looking for ways to improve their products to make even better-tasting cigars.  They want to continue to make great-tasting cigars that reflect the culture and tradition of Cuba.

This company has been very successful since the beginning.  The founder was a master blender who created Cuba's most famous cigars.  The cigar factory was located in Havana and is still there today. S t Louis Rey cigars were sold in all parts of Cuba, so even as Fidel Castro changed many aspects of Cuban society, St Louis Rey cigars remained relatively unaffected.  They’ve a strong team that works hard to make sure that the quality of their cigars continues to be the best.  They want to continue making great-tasting cigars, which means continuing to innovate in their products and not just sticking with what they know works.



Older Post Newer Post

0