Photos Le Hoyo de Monterrey history

Photos

From the plantation at San Juan y Martínez to the magnificent „La Escepción“ factory and today's Corona factory: this gallery shows the formative places, details and eras of Le Hoyo de Monterrey's history - origin, change and continuity in pictures.

History

The Le Hoyo de Monterrey history began in the 19th century with José Gener and his plantation in the Vuelta Abajo. Hard work, pride and heritage gave rise to a brand that still stands for Cuban authenticity, consistency and handcrafted elegance today.

👉 Read now 👉 Le Hoyo de Monterrey history - The origin decides

Winston Churchill, one of the greatest lovers of Cuban cigars and a British statesman, visited the famous La Escepción factory in person.

José Gener y Batet, the founder of the Hoyo de Monterrey and La Escepción brands. His contemporaries seem to have feared him for the most part.

The La Escepción factory, which also produced the Hoyo de Monterrey, was one of the most important factories in the whole of Havana. Here is a logo from the time after José Gener's death; his wife (la viuda = widow) continued to run the business.

Even today, the Hoyo de Monterrey brand logo still includes a reference to its founder, José Gener.

The Hoyo de Monterrey brand logo has been redesigned several times over the years.

The still magnificent building on Calle Maximo Gomez (the street used to be called Calzada del Monte), where the La Escepción factory with the Hoyo de Monterrey brand was located.

The name of the La Escepción factory, where Hoyo de Monterrey cigars were made, is inscribed on the doorpost of the former factory.

The solid wooden door of the former manufactory of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand has existed from the very beginning, since 1882.

The left-hand doorpost of the former Hoyo de Monterrey factory bears the name of its founder, José Gener.

Hoyo de Monterrey is not just the name of a cigar brand, but originally and still today the name of a tobacco plantation in San Juan y Martinez in Pinar del Rio. José Gener bought this plantation and named his cigars after it.

The former manufactory of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand is not only magnificent on the outside, the interior is also adorned with elaborate stucco work and beautiful wrought-iron railings.

This is the former manufactory of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand before renovation; every house facade in Havana struggles with the rather aggressive climate of the sea.

Good material: the original door from the former manufactory of the Hoyo de Monterey brand. The colour is gradually disappearing, but the elaborate decorations have been preserved for decades.

The building of the former Hoyo de Monterrey brand factory stood empty for many years. A sign announced a refurbishment. Since 2022, the building has shone in new splendour.

Today, Hoyo de Monterrey brand cigars are made in the famous La Corona factory on Avenida 20 de Mayo in Havana.

👉 Read now 👉 Le Hoyo de Monterrey history - The origin decides

External website: Montecristo history at Wikipedia

Picture credits

Claudia Puszkar
Winston Churchill: Wikipedia
Adriano Martinez Rius: “The Great Habano Factories” / Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1

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Photos Rafael González

The 5th Earl of Lonsdale, Hugh Cecil Lowther, had his own cigar created and memorialised his name with a format designation, namely Lonsdale.

Flor de Rafæel Gonzáles Marquez: this is the official name of the brand today.

Flor de Rafael Gonzáles Marquez: Today, the brand is usually just called Rafael González, but it is also known as Flor de González or Flor de Márquez. But here the rule is: many names, one brand.

From the beginning until a few years ago, this notice was found on every box: The cigars should either be smoked within a month or after a few years. This applies not only to Rafael González brand cigars.

The old design of the Rafael González boxes: It is written on the bottom of the box that these cigars were created „... BY THE MARQUEZ RAFAEL GONZALEZ GRANDEE OF SPAIN...”. Apart from this statement, however, there is no evidence of the existence of this count or marquis.

The modern and contemporary design of the Flor de Rafael Gonzalez: no longer a decorated box, but a semi-boìte box made of natural wood.

The cigar ring of the Rafael González cigars has also been changed, but is still very similar to the old ring that the formats used to have.

Rafael Gonzalez brand cigars have been produced in this factory on Calle Belascoain No. 852 for decades, at the latest since 1940.

The factory where the Rafael González brand cigars were made on Calle Belascoain No.852. This factory was the El Rey del Mundo factory, then the Romeo y Julieta factory and now it is the H.Upmann factory.

The factory where the Rafael González brand cigars are made on Calle Belascoain No. 852: Although it is a factory, the interior design is also a little chic.

The factory where the Rafael González brand cigars were made on Calle Belascoain No.852: This building was probably built in 1914, at least that's the date on the gable.