Montecristo Cigars – A Brief History
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Montecristo is a cigar-producing brand that is popularly known across Cuba and The Dominican Republic. The cigar brand was established by Alonso Menéndez, who bought the Particulares Factory in July 1935. After acquiring the famous Particulares brand and Byron, Menéndez named his new brand Montecristo.
The name, Montecristo, was inspired by a novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, authored by Alexandre Dumas. The novel was viral among the cigar rollers in the factories, and they were known to read copies of the book on the rolling floor.
The Montecristo logo, which consists of a fleur-de-lis, and a triangle of six swords around it, was designed by the brand’s British distributor, John Hunter Morris, and Elkan Co. Ltd.
A year after establishing his cigar brand, Menéndez established another firm, but this time, with a partner and named the brand Menéndez, Garcia y Cia. Considering how rapidly Montecristo grew, the brand purchased the famous. H. Upmann Factory and transferred the cigar production to the newly acquired firm.
After Fidel Castro nationalized Menéndez’s factory and cigar production factory in 1960, Menéndez, having only seven dollars with him, fled Cuba with his family.
On reaching the Canary Islands, Menéndez and Benjamin, his son, established a new brand called Montecruz. Montecristo and Montecruz had some similarities; however, a cross replaced the fleur-de-lis on the Montecristo design. Montecruz, being a replica of Montecristo, quickly became a famous brand among cigar lovers.
The cigars were wrapped with rich and flavorful Cameron wrappers, which had become an excellent replacement for Havana wrapper. Montecruz quickly became one of the most demanded premium cigars in the U.S.
The company relocated to the Dominican Republic in 1970, and by acquiring the rights to the name, they renamed the brand ‘Montecristo’ again. The location change made the brand accessible for U.S buyers, considering that the U.S banned Cuban cigars from selling cigars in the U.S.
Where Are They Made Now?
Presently, the Dominican Montecristos are produced by Atladis, S.A, a Spanish-French joint venture, one of Habanos’ investors, and the Cuban cigar’s official exporter. The Dominican version of the Montecristo has gained more popularity and is even more preferred to the Cuban versions.
The Dominican Montecristo cigars’ flavors are milder; however, they are made in various flavors. Montecristo in Cuba has since become government property, and they also produce a variety of intensely flavored cigars, such as the Montecristo Classic.
Their Most Popular Cigar Produced
Montecristo Edmundo
The Montecristo Edmundo, named after the Alexandro Dumas novel hero, Edmund Dantes, is a perfect example of how cigars with broader gauge have grown over the years.
Cigar lovers enjoy the Montecristo Edmundo for the smooth and slightly tangy taste known with all Montecristo cigars, which is why the brand has been recognized as one of the best in the world.
Montecristo Edmundo was the pioneer of the standard cigar range in 1971, and the cigar burns perfectly, with the appropriate ratio of combustion and ash. Montecristo Edmundo’s flavor is typically spicy and salty; however, further in the taste, cigar smokers will experience a hint of sweetness.
The size of a Montecristo Edmundo is about 5 1/3″, with a ring gauge of 52.
Montecristo No. 2
The Montecristo No. 2 cigar is identifiable by every cigar lover. The cigar comes with a distinctive Piramides design that makes it stand out among other cigars.
Only the best of Cuba’s rollers are permitted to roll a Montecristo No. 2. Being one of Winston Churchill’s best, the cigar has a peculiar and incomparable history. The approximate length of the Montecristo No. 2 is about 6 1/8″, with a ring gauge of 52.
Montecristo Línea 1935 Leyenda
The Montecristo Linea 1935 Leyenda cigar is a complex cigar with an incredible girth that allows the tobacco’s intricate flavor to improve with every puff. The cigar came from pre-revolutionary Cuba when it was created to celebrate the establishment of the Montecristo brand.
The Montecristo Line cigars are made with the best quality tobacco from the Pinar del Rio region.
The perfect blend gives the best flavored Montecristo cigar in the cigar markets today. The cigars are available in three bands, the classic Montecristo, the Linea 1935 brand, and an additional Montecristo foot band for protection. The length of the Montecristo Linea 1935 Leyenda cigar is approximately 6 1/2,” and it has a ring gauge of about 55.
Bottom Line
The Montecristo brand retained great taste and quality throughout the years, and today, it is one of the most sought-after cigars. Cigar lovers worldwide relish the great taste and flavor of the various Montecristo cigars. Fortunately, they are also one of the readily available brands of cigar for online purchase in a box.
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.
