Saint Luis Rey (cigar)
Saint Luis Rey is a Cuban cigar brand produced by Habanos S.A., the state-owned tobacco company.[1]
History[edit]
The brand's name is believed to be a reference to either the town of San Luis, Pinar del Río or the popular 1927 novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey by American author Thornton Wilder.[2] The brand was first registered by Zamora y Guerra Co., who were based in Havana.[3] In 1940, the name Saint Luis Rey was registered by two English tobacco importers, Nathan Silverstone and Michael De Keyser.[4][5]
The Saint Luis Rey factory and its assets were nationalized by the Cuban government on September 15, 1960.[6] From 1960 until 1992, the brand was marketed exclusively in the UK market by NR Silverstone Cigar Ltd.[7] In 1993, Habanos S.A. began exporting the brand worldwide.[citation needed]
In the US, the Saint Luis Rey trademark was registered by Altadis. In 2008, Altadis was acquired by Imperial Tobacco.[citation needed]
Production[edit]
Saint Luis Rey cigars are produced at the Briones Montoto factory in Havana, where Romeo y Julieta cigars are also produced.[8] All Cuban-production Saint Luis Rey cigars are made with leaves sourced from the Vuelta Abajo region.[2]
The brand is known for the Lonsdale size, which was a favorite of Frank Sinatra.[9][verification needed]
References[edit]
- ^ Habanos S.A., Brands: Saint Luis Rey, retrieved 30 Jan 2017
- ^ a b "Saint Luis Rey Brand – Habanos, S.A. – Official site". Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ Cigar Journal, Saint Luis Rey: Only For Britain, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany: 5th Avenue Products Trading Co., No. 17 (Dec. 2005), p. 2
- ^ "Tabaco Cubano - El Mejor del Mundo". www.angelfire.com. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
- ^ Shanken, Marvin R., Cigar Aficionado's Cigar Companion, Philadelphia, PA: Running Press (2005), ISBN 0762419571, p. 71
- ^ Savona, David, The Exodus, Cigar Aficionado, Nov/Dec. 2002
- ^ Cigar Journal, Saint Luis Rey: Only For Britain, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany: 5th Avenue Products Trading Co., No. 17 (Dec. 2005), p. 2
- ^ Shanken, Marvin R., Cigar Aficionado's Cigar Companion, Philadelphia, PA: Running Press (2005), ISBN 0762419571, p. 71
- ^ Bati, Anwer, The Cigar Companion, Philadelphia, PA: Running Press (1993), ISBN 1561382930, pp. 186-187