H. Upmann Cigars – A Brief History
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If you have ever taken time to read the story of how the H. Upmann cigar came to be, you would realize that it seemed like it was set in Hollywood. From the tales of a young man’s sojourn to an unknown land, learning the thriving business in the land to the transition into developing the business, increasing patronage, and gaining global recognition.
Furthermore, the hand, the cigar company, played in the espionage will certainly be an exciting part of the movie if it ever comes to the big screen. These tales make up the exciting story of one of the oldest cigar brands in the world. If you are not familiar with the story, there is nothing to worry about.
This article will teach you everything you should know about the history of the H. Upmann Cigars. Enjoy the read.
History Of H. Upmann Cigars
Early History
Set in the Mid-eighteenth century, the story of the H. Upmann cigar starts with a banker named Hermann Dietrich, who traveled across the world for greener pastures. He met an English passenger who showed him the ropes about the Cuba Tobacco industry to his luck.
1843 was a great year for Hermann; he established a bank where tobacco manufacturers and traders could transact business. His love for the Tobacco industry was too strong; he had an idea of promoting the business through cedar boxes that resonated with the manufacturers and traders.
From this time, the use of Cedar boxes as a means of packaging the cigars became vogue. Till today, the brand still uses cedar packaging to preserve the richness of its cigars. Hermann continued with this intensity, and in 1844, he bought a local cigar company, and the story transitioned to a new level.
Success Story
The combination of finance and the cigar business proved to become valuable assets for Hermann and the expansion of his ideas to the global stage.
The brand continued to produce cigars and was generating interest in the whole of Havana. From 1862 to 1893, the Upmann cigar won several international cigar awards that gave them some much-needed recognition among locals and outsiders.
If you get an H. Upmann cigar, you would see the medals proudly decorated on the brand’s packaging. Cedar boxes’ use continues to be a style even up till now, which is credited to Hermann.
Espionage
This is the part of the story where the beat goes up a beat to show the party’s intensity. Not many cigar enthusiasts know that the Upmann cigars were heavily involved in espionage during the First World War. The Upmann cigar business was firmly behind the concealing of German intelligence in America and Cuba.
These intelligence networks were involved in dispiriting Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which shows that German agents were under Upmann’s cigars’ wings. Sadly, Cuba took the war to Germany in 1917, forcing the Upmann banks to close for 30 months.
In 1918 after the US had placed Hermann’s names and brother, who was involved in the crimes, in the Enemy Trading List. The brothers were placed under house arrest and kept in the La Cabañas prison.
Furthermore, the brothers were charged with bank fraud, where Hermann tried to escape by air after finding out that he tried to use people’s money to move some assets. Their bail was announced at one million dollars which hit the company well below the belt.
The Sun After The Rain
Frankau & Co bought the Upmann cigar company after years of running the vibrant brand.
The company led the Upmann cigar to more stability, but that got a bit of a stumbling block with the Fidel Castro regime in full swing.
As a result, Mendez and Garcia, who were part of the Upmann cigar company after it was bought, moved the brand to the Dominican Republic.
The Cuban H. Upmann is still produced in the Dominican Republic today, which suits the environment enriching the cigar’s flavor for all to enjoy.
What is the Upmann cigar’s history without taking it how it became the signature of John F. Kennedy? Before signing the embargo on Cuba, JFK requested as many Cuban cigars as his representatives could find.This led to the general acceptance of the Sherman cigars across the world.
Today
Now, there are varieties of H. Upmann cigars in the world today. With the rich taste and tropical feel, it is no secret that it is one of the most popular today. Some of the most adored H. Upmann cigars are the Upmann Royal Robusto, Upmann No. 2, and Upmann Magnum 46.
These cigars represent the true heritage of the cigar company in their length, feel, and flavors. The beauty of the H. Upmann is it harnesses the history of the old times and infuses it with the recent innovations.
Bottom Line
There are not many brands that can boast about having such a rich heritage and still being able to stand the test of time, like the H. Upmann cigar., It embodies the girth, stability, and resilience of a true man. People admire the brand because of the legacy that it has and the sophistication of its design.
The packaging shows beautiful details about all the flavors. It also accentuates the tropic’s aroma in the air when it is opened from the cedar box. Indeed, you will love an experience with the H. Upmann Cigars.
Dan Stevenson
I have been smoking cigars for 30 years and counting, I started at 18 years old with mild Cubans and worked my way up to medium and now bold. I own 4 humidors, that I try to keep stocked at all times.
