There are more than two dozen Cuban cigar marques, each with its own house style, range of sizes and history. This overview introduces the names you are most likely to meet and links to the catalogue for each. Founding dates below are those given in the marques’ own histories; sources sometimes differ, and several smaller marques have had their ranges reduced or discontinued over the years, so always check current availability.
The best-known houses
Cohiba
Created in the 1960s and released commercially in the early 1980s, Cohiba is often treated as the flagship Cuban marque. Cohiba: The History of a Modern Cuban Marque · Cohiba
Montecristo
Founded in 1935, Montecristo’s numbered sizes — particularly the No. 2 and No. 4 — became some of the most widely recognised cigars in the world. Montecristo Cigars: History of a Numbered Classic · Montecristo
Romeo y Julieta
Dated to 1875 and linked with the Churchill size. Romeo y Julieta: History of the Marque · Romeo y Julieta
Partagás
One of the oldest houses, founded in 1845 and usually placed at the fuller end of the range. Partagás: One of Havana’s Oldest Houses · Partagás
H. Upmann
Dated to 1844 and associated with the Upmann family’s banking and trading interests. H. Upmann: A Banker’s Cigar · H. Upmann
Hoyo de Monterrey
Founded in 1865 and generally considered one of the lighter houses. Hoyo de Monterrey: History and House Style · Hoyo de Monterrey
Other marques
| Marque | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cuaba | A modern marque (1990s) known for figurado shapes. |
| Diplomáticos | Numbered sizes closely related to the Montecristo range. |
| El Rey del Mundo | A nineteenth-century name usually described as light. |
| Fonseca | Traditionally presented wrapped in fine tissue paper. |
| José L. Piedra | A long-established value-oriented marque. |
| Juan López | A nineteenth-century marque with a small range. |
| La Flor de Cano | A historic marque with a limited range. |
| La Gloria Cubana | A nineteenth-century name; also used for non-Cuban cigars. |
| Por Larrañaga | Among the oldest names still associated with Havana. |
| Punch | Dated to 1840, recognisable by its classic box art. |
| Quai d'Orsay | Created in the 1970s with the French market in mind. |
| Quintero | Linked to the Cienfuegos region and the Quintero family. |
| Rafael González | A twentieth-century marque often described as delicate. |
| Ramón Allones | A nineteenth-century house often credited with early decorated boxes. |
| Saint Luis Rey | A mid-twentieth-century marque. |
| San Cristóbal de La Habana | Launched around 1999, named after the city’s founding name. |
| Sancho Panza | A nineteenth-century marque named after Cervantes’ character. |
| Trinidad | Long associated with diplomatic gifts before its commercial launch in the late 1990s. |
| Vegas Robaina | Named after the celebrated tobacco grower Alejandro Robaina. |
| Vegueros | Associated with Pinar del Río and its growers. |
How to compare brands
Brand is only one part of the picture. Two marques can make the same factory size, so it is often more useful to compare, say, every Robusto side by side. Read Understanding Cigar Vitolas and Cigar Strength Guide, then browse the catalogue.
