SAINT LUIS REY

The Saint Luis Rey are a great cigar brand also produced in the Romeo Y Julieta factory like so many famous brands. The Pyramide or the Regious No 1 are my favourite smokes from this range.

This cigar brand was registered in 1940 under the name of Zamora and Guerra. Despite its success, it disappeared and vanished in the oblivion up to the moment of its renaissance in 1940, under the impulse of a British cigar import company.
Nowadays, its cigars are manufactured in the same factory where the Romeo y Julieta are made. It is located at 852 Belascoain Street. Leaves from Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Rio are used in its production.

The cigarettes from Saint Luis Rey are characterized by a mid softness, in terms of aroma, taste and strength. They include hand made and machine produced vitolas. It is not a very demanded brand, but it has a established market.
The Saint Luis Rey are commercialized in Canada, Caribbean countries, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Swiss, and the Far East.

HOYA DE CANO

I do not normally like cigars that are packed and stored in tubes and particularly cellophane, however the obvious convenience factor makes it some times unavoidable. The Flor De Cano is a great cigar range and linked to one of my favourite brands Rey Del Mundo and of course the Romeo Y Julieta factory

La Flor de Cano
Made in Lazaro Pena Factory, Havana
Created in 1884 by Tomas and Jose Cano, this brand is often hard to find due to the small production quantities, but it offers a medium-strength smoke and excellent workmanship in the handmade sizes.

This brand was created in 1884 by the brothers, Tomás and José Cano Saínz, and it has kept its undeniable quality, which makes it one of the favourite ones and most well known by the expert smokers worldwide.
The factory was located at the beginning at 66 Rayo Street, in Havana. At present, the Flor de Cano Cigars are produced in the factory El Rey del Mundo at 816 San Carlos Street, where the brand Los Statos de Luxe are also made. The Flor de Cano cigar have a short filling and are made with one leaf of wrapper and another one of capote.
The vitolas with cellophane are made mechanically, the others are hand made.
Its cigar comes from Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio) and it is mainly commercialized in Spain, Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Canada, and Mexico.

In 1848, the Spaniard Antonio Allones settled in Havana, into the tobacco business. Four decades later, in 1882, being already an important tobacconist, he introduced a very special cigar, elaborated with leaves from Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Río, to which he distinguished with the name of El Rey del Mundo (The King of the World).
Allones transferred his Company to Diaz and Brothers Society, in 1905, which became El Rey del Mundo Cigar Co. afterwards, one of the most prestigious factories in the tobacco industry at the moment: Romeo Y Julieta Nowadays El Rey del Mundo appears among the most well-known habanos and coveted by experienced smokers.
El Rey del Mundo cigars are smooth and light, with standard flavor and aroma, and a well balanced strength. They are mainly commercialized in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean and Canada.

It is said that due to its name, related to a love story, Romeo y Julieta has become one of the most famous cigar brands in the world.
In 1875, the enterprise of Inocencio Álvarez and Manín García created this brand whose reputation as a handcraft jewel in the art of good smoking would make it one of the leaders in the international market.
Romeo y Julieta brand has been awarded with several golden medals in different Universal Exhibitions as Antwerp (1885), Paris (1889 and 1900) and Brussels (1897).
In 1897, the brand was bought by the Association Rodríguez- Argüelles & Co.; three years later, in 1903, the Association dissolved and the Cuban enterprise Romeo y Julieta Cigar Factory was created.
The owner José Fernández Rodríguez, a Spanish emigrant in Cuba, increased the productivity of his employees through a system of incentives, which permitted to increase the cigars' production and their quality. He also introduced bands or personalized vitolas to some of his most selected clients.
There were printed more than 20 000 different vitolas. He also used publicity tricks as to name his own racing horse after the name of the brand, and took it to the most important races in Europe. On the other hand, he also opened a shop in the hotel Capulet in Verona, the city where Shakespeare's the drama, Romeo and Juliet, took place. Under the command of Fernández, the factory moved to O'Reilly Street where it is at present.

Romeo and Juliet brand offers vitolas from medium to strong strength, with good combustion and brown color of the wrapper. Its tobacco is from Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio). This brand is commercialized in Spain, France, Benlux, Hong Kong, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Canada, East Europe, Swiss and Great Britain.

Cuban cigar sales up 7 percent €270 million in 2007

Cuban cigar sales rose 7 percent to US$402 million (€270 million) in 2007

Although smoking bans have made it harder to puff a cigar in many parts of the world, total sales increased regardless, Habanos vice president Manuel Garcia said Wednesday, without giving a reason for the company's gains.Cuban cigars comprise 80 percent of the world cigar market " not counting the United States, which has had a trade embargo banning Cuban products since 1962. Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Cuba's domestic market remained top consumers of Cuban cigars last year, while sales in Canada fell 7 percent, as stricter anti-smoking laws took hold, Garcia said.Like wine, the taste of top tobacco depends on the soil and climate in which it is grown. Sun-drenched plantations in the humid, western province of Pinar Del Rio have made Cuban cigars famous for centuries. Most produced on the island are hand-rolled and destined for premium sellers. Read More

COSTA RICAN CIGARS

This is an interesting Cigar Company from Costa Rica and they look well worth trying. It is amazing how the Cigar business has evolved due to the American embargo on Cuban Cigar imports that has spawned many a famous brand from nearby countries to Cuba that have similar soil and weather required for Cigar production.

Vegas de Santiago, as the manufacturer of Premium Cigars from Costa Rica, can offer our customers theirown custom cigar "bands" and "boxes" using company logos and artwork.
Unique, colorful and tropical, custom cigar bands, area wonderful way to advertise your business or services.They remind your customers and clients, of how"special" they are to your own business.
Long before the arrival of Spanish settlers, the Indians of Costa Rica planted tobacco... and they would barter tobacco in exchange for new things brought in... by the Spanish Explorers. As indicated by the first Spaniards who settled in Cartago, which was the capital of the province... at the time.
Over Volcano Irazu's terracing slopes, native Indian villagers from Churuca traded tobacco and cigars (istepeques), around the region.
They were called Chircagres, (Churuca's inhabitants), and names of tobacco traders... were assimilated to the merchandise that is, domestic tobacco was named "Chircagres".
According to the descriptions, this "Chircagres" tobacco, of the Shaman Indian origin... was the variety of "Nicotiana Rustica": white flowers, round leaves and high nicotine concentration.
It seemed that domestic variety was mixed first and then replaced little by little, by smoother tobacco varieties whose seeds were brought by Spanish and Portuguese people, who traded with Central American colonies.
The almost legendary history reported by historians in 1502,is confirmed by religious writings, that were the real artisans of the development of the tobacco plantations in this region of Costa Rica, which were administratively, part of the Spanish properties in Guatemala at the time. Yet, for more than two centuries, church lands were dedicated to this plant and monks, at first, had monopoly of tobacco trading.More

The "Chaman Cigar" is created with "Longfiller from VdS Costa Rica Ligero", Binder from Central America and the Wrapper is Connecticut,from Ecuador.It is not a "VdS Puro" which is created with all "Costa Rica" Tobacco Ingredients, it is a "Shamanic Blend", designed to intrigue and enchant it's owners... and imbue the Spiritual Powers of the Shaman.

Vegas de Santiago's special "signature brand" of CigarTobacco is touched by the Gods... because it is grown withthe "Secrets of the Shaman" from the rainforests of Costa Rica.

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL'S CUBAN CIGAR SUPPLIER

My fathers favourite Cuban Cigar was the Churchill and therefore I personally find this book an interesting read. Churchill was supposed to have had a Cuban on his lips 24/7 and the servants had to follow him around with a dustpan and brush. I must get this book......

During the Second World War, Churchill's cigar was such an important beacon of resistance that MI5, together with the nation's top scientists, tested the Prime Minister's supplies on mice rather than risk sabotage. Today Winston Churchill and his cigar remains a global icon, memorialised by a one-hundred-and-one-foot statue of a cigar in Australia, while his cigar stubs are treasured as relics. Using original archival research and exclusive interviews with Churchill's staff, Stephen McGinty, an award-winning journalist, explores Churchill's passion for cigars and the solace they brought. He also examines Churchill's lasting friendship with Antonio Giraudier, the Cuban businessman who for twenty years stocked Churchill's humidor, before fleeing Castro's revolution. MORE
Churchill's Cigar:
A Lifelong Love Affair Through War and Peace by Stephen McGinty £7.99
Availability : Usually dispatched within 24 hours Stock : 10+

OTHER GREAT CIGAR BOOKS

The Great Habano Factories by Adriano Martínez NEW! Ref: 0350 "The Great Habano Factories" tells the story of sixteen carefully selected cigar factories, their brands and founders who laid the cornerstone of the great tradition of Habanos. This richly illustrated book encompasses in three stages the story of the cuban cigar industry, and documents with many colourful illustrations from the Cuban National Library the traces of time You pay £39.95 (+VAT)

Davidoff Legend-Myth-Reality Ref: 0328 Today Zino Davidoff is a byword for pleasure and savoir-vivre. Dieter H. Wirtz, cigar connoisseur and renowned author, has published a biography timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Zino Davidoff’s birth that successfully recounts the life and philosophy of the world’s most renowned cigar connoisseur in a lively and well-informed manner. A piece of exciting contemporary history that throws new light on many aspects of the master cigarmaker’s life. You pay £23.50 (+VAT)

An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars Ref: 0231
"An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars" has to be the most fascinating and comprehensive publication yet on the subject of Havana cigars in the modern era. Controversial and yet beautifully presented. A tomb to wet the appetite of any self respecting aficionado. Currently being updated in what will effectively be a Second Edition to include one or two earlier ommissions and the new Limited Editions of recent years. The perfect present ! 500 + Pages.
NOTE: If you are an USA Customer and you want this book to be delivered by regular mail which takes 5-7 days, please contact us by telephone or e-mail for a quote.You pay £55.00 (+VAT) Rudmans Pocket Guide to Cigars Ref: 0226 Rudman's Pocket Guide to Cigars probably contains more information under one cover than any other cigar publication of its size. Also in its fourth Edition. You pay £9.95 (+VAT Celebrating Cigars Ref: 0273
One of the most informative and comprehensive cigar books from the author of the "Cigar Companion". Features hundreds of colour photos of cigars, accessories, and up-to-date information.
NOTE: If you are an USA Customer and you want this book to be delivered by regular mail which takes 5-7 days, please contact us by telephone or e-mail for a quote.

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