Ramón Allone's story - Iconic: Pioneer of Habano packaging

The Ramón Allones story: it tells of the immigrant whose ideas became the industry benchmark - a pioneer who matured premium tobacco, rethought cigar boxes and shaped the visual identity of Habano.

In 1830, the destitute Galician emigrant Ramón Allones arrived in Cuba; coming from the humblest of backgrounds, he worked his way to the top. An often quoted anecdote about a gold coin he spurned on his arrival remains dubious - what is certain, however, is that he quickly became a specialist who pushed things forward. 

The current logo of the Ramón Allones brand, richly illustrated with crowns, coats of arms and lions: Ramón Allones was the first to have these colourful lithographs printed on his boxes.

The beginnings: entry in the register and an early myth

The Ramón Allones story officially begins in 1845 with the registration of the Ramón Allones trade mark. There is a Vista that shows 1837 as the year of foundation, but the 1845 entry in the register is considered more reliable. Initially, the brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones were both listed as owners, but Ramón was in charge. After all, the brand is named after him, not his brother. However, we don't know for sure, which gives the whole thing a slightly mythical flavour. According to Por Larrañaga, the brand is one of the oldest Habanos still in production today. 

A very old logo of the Ramón Allones brand. The year of foundation, fundada, of the brand is stated as 1837. Officially, according to the register, the Ramón Allones brand has existed since 1845 / Source: Enzo A. Infante: “Havana Cigars 1817-1960”, Neptune City 1997

The first address - a legendary house

The „La Eminencia“ factory (Ramón Allones' first factory) was located at Calle Animas No. 129 in Centro Habana. Whether today's house is still the original cannot be said for sure. It is worth noting that later, in 1899, Romeo y Julieta cigars were made there. The Ramón Allones story is an important part of the history of the city and cigars. 

Factories where Ramón Allones brand cigars were made, 1/5: The first address, Calle Animas No. 129 (later the neighbouring building, No. 131, was added). Production began there around 1845, perhaps even earlier.

From the ground up: Craft, knowledge, mature tobacco

Like Jaime Partagás and José Gener, Ramón Allones learnt his trade in the fields of Pinar del Rio and by transporting tobacco - under the tobacco magnate Juan Conill Pi.

Ramón Allones' history marks a milestone: he was the first to offer premium cigars made from specially matured tobaccos - a clear sign of his connoisseur qualities. 

Special formats of the Ramón Allones brand are always available as Edición Limitadas and, as they are strictly limited and only ever available in one country, they are highly sought-after: here is the Edición Regional Alemania Sr Henry, issued to mark the 90th birthday of Heinrich Villiger.

The packaging revolution: box, litho, 8-9-8 and the cigar ring

Since Allones had been in business, he had been looking for more appealing packaging. Previously, cigars - sometimes 10,000 of them - were stored in large wooden boxes. Allones introduced cedar boxes containing 25 cigars and was the first to decorate them with four-colour, gold-decorated lithographs of the brand emblem.

He is also regarded as the inventor of the „8-9-8“ arrangement (8 cigars at the bottom, 9 in the middle, 8 at the top), which preserves the shape of the cigar, and introduced cigar rings with brand imprints. Ramón Allone's history includes other brands from his company: Flor Extrafina, El Designio, Arnida, Flor de Alma, Margarita, United Service, Silfide Argentina, Silfide Chilena, Silfide Oriental, Silfide Peruana (NB: Silfide, English sylph, refers to an imaginary aerial being, going back to records by Paracelsus). Ramón Allones was also very creative when it came to brand names.

A current Ramón Allones box: We have Ramón Allones to thank for the fact that the crates are still decorated with beautiful and elaborate lithographs today. Each crate thus becomes a jewellery box.

Coat of arms, purveyor to the court - and the Suez moment in 1869

The Ramón Allones boxes are emblazoned with the coat of arms of the Spanish royal family. He is said to have declared himself purveyor to the court of His Royal Highness of Spain and the Khedive of Egypt** - reports that sound like bragging. However, there is evidence of his involvement in the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869: the Khedive ordered cigars with solid gold rings from Ramón Allones, which were served to the guests - including Ramón Allones and Giuseppe Verdi (who composed his opera «Aida» especially for the occasion) - on a jade tray. The Ramón Allones story thus has one of the most dazzling appearances in cigar history.

**Note: The Khedivat Egypt or Chedivat Egypt was founded as a sub-state of the Ottoman Empire in 1867 and existed in this form until the beginning of the First World War. Source Wikipedia.

This logo of the Ramón Allones brand was used when the brand was owned by the Cifuentes family (also the owners of the Partagás brand) and the cigars were manufactured on Calle Industria No.520. / Source: Enzo A. Infante: “Havana Cigars 1817-1960”, Neptune City 1997

Owners, relocations, new chapters

In 1899 Allones, now very old, sold his brands to Jesús Vales; production moved to Calle Galiano No. 98, and shortly afterwards Calle Animas No. 129/131 became the headquarters of Romeo y Julieta.

In 1911, the British Frankau acquired the brand and produced under the name „Allones Limited“ - with two factories: one in the Marianao district and one at Calle Zanja 62.

In 1927, Cifuentes, Pego y Cía. (owner of the Partagás brand) bought the Ramón Allones brand; since then, the cigars have been made in the Partagás factory on Calle Industria - just behind the Capitol. After the revolution, production continued without interruption; in 2012, the brand moved together with others to the new Partagás factory, Calle San Carlos No. 816. The Ramón Allones story thus remains continuously present. 

Factories where Ramón Allones brand cigars were made, 2/5: Allones sold the brand to Jesús Vales in 1899. From then on, Ramón Allones brand cigars were produced at Calle Galiano No. 98 until 1911.

Character in the smoke: blend, ligero, wrapper leaves

All Ramón Allones are made from a tobacco blend from the Vuelta Abajo. They are characterised by a relatively high proportion of ligero leaves - the result: intense, strong, rather earthy. The wrapper leaves are predominantly dark in colour. The Ramón Allones story can therefore also be summarised in sensory terms: a profile that connoisseurs can clearly categorise. 

Factories where Ramón Allones brand cigars were made, 4/5: In 1927, the Cifuentes family (owners of the Partagás brand) bought the Ramón Allones brand. From then on, the cigars were made in the Partagás factory on Calle Industria No. 520.

Conclusion - what remains

The Ramón Allones story is the story of a pioneer: aged tobacco, 25-cigar cedar boxes, lithography, 8-9-8, cigar ring - and a brand that has lived on and been successful despite changes of ownership and relocations. Anyone who knows the story will understand why this Habano has a place of honour in industrial and design history. 

Factories where Ramón Allones brand cigars were made, 5/5: Since 2012, Ramón Allones brand cigars have been made in the current Partagás factory on Calle San Carlos No.816.

Here you will find the Ramón Allones manufactory

If the live folder does not work, please click here for the Partagás manufactory, where the Ramón Allones is produced.

Picture credits

• Enzo A. Infante: “Havana Cigars 1817-1960”, Neptune City 1997
• 5TH Avenue Products Trading-GmbH
• Claudia Puszkar

Curated for you

External website: Experience the Habanos Club in Germany

At Origin Of Cigar: THE PLEASURE LETTER by Origin Of Cigar: A curated email celebrating the fine pleasures of Cuban cigar culture.

Historical Habanos manufactories documentary film

In this film, their stories - and their true faces - are uncompromisingly revealed. This is far more than just a documentary film - it is a journey into the soul of Cuba. 

What is in your drawers?

Some chapters in the history of cigars still lie in hidden in drawers, archives or private collections. Do you own Records, documents or references to Cuban cigar brands? Or do you know Sources, that could help with historical research? Then please send us an e-mail. Claudia Puszkar will contact you personally and discuss everything else with you. Together we can Bringing buried stories back to light. 👉 admin@origin-of-cigar.com

New to Cuban cigars? Or deep into it?

FAQ - Read the frequently asked questions

Open the glossary of Cuban cigars

Who is behind Origin Of Cigar?

Who we are and how you can reach us → Please click here

Ramón Allones Photo Gallery

If you do not see the photo gallery, please click here for the Ramón Allones photo gallery

References

• Min Ron Nee:
  • “AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POST-REVOLUTION HAVANA CIGARS” / Hong Kong 2003, ISBN: 978-3980930826

• Instituto de Investigaciones del Tabaco Cuba:
  • „The world of Habanos“ / Havana 2013, ISBN: 978-959-7212-08-9

• Adriano Martínez Rius:
  • “Habano the King” / Barcelona 1998, ISBN: 84-930387-1-7

• Adriano Martinez Rius:
  • “The Great Habano Factories” / Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1

• Orlando Quiroga:
  • “El Habano al rojo vivo” / Havana 2002

• Enzo A. Infante:
  • “Havana Cigars 1817-1960” / Neptune City 1997

• Eumelio Espino:
  • “El Habano - De la semilla al puro en 539 pasos” / Madrid 2019, ISBN: 978-84-09-07091-6

• Alexander Groom:
  • “El Habano Moderno” / Helios House Press 2022, ISBN: 978-911683-05-6

You are here: