Cabañas Cigars

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The history of Cabañas dates back to the very beginnings of the Cuban cigar industry. The brand was officially registered in 1810 and went on to become one of the most famous Habanos of its day. Its story reflects the rise, international success, and eventual decline of a long-established brand.

History

Francisco Álvarez Cabañas began making cigars in Havana as early as 1797. After its official registration in 1810, the brand developed through several generations of family ownership before later coming under British/American control, with production finally ceasing permanently in 2005.

👉 Read now 👉 Cabañas Cigars: The fascinating history of the oldest Habanos brand

The Cabañas brand logo. Cabañas, one of the oldest Havana brands, which sadly did not survive.

By 1840, the Cabañas brand was already so famous and highly regarded that even Jaime Partagás „stole“ this name to sell his own cigars. At the top it says: La Flor de Cabañas. Right at the bottom and much smaller: Partagás y Company. (Source: Amir Saarony and contributors: “Partagás – The Book”, ISBN: 978 0 9879290 1 3)

The cigar bands of the Cabañas brand, which was reintroduced in 1989, were adapted to the new logo with the letters CABS. The cigars produced between 1898 and 2005 were all machine-made. (Source: Min Ron Nee: “AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POST-REVOLUTION HAVANA CIGARS”; Hong Kong 2003, ISBN: 978-3980930826)

The first Cabañas brand manufactory was located from around 1790 at Calle Jesús María No.112, a small street in the southern part of Old Havana.

Around 1800, the city of Havana was nowhere near as large as it is today. It consisted of the present-day districts of Habana Vieja (Old Town) and Centro Habana. The first Cabañas factory was located in just such a small house. — Around 1800, the city of Havana was nowhere near as large as it is today. It consisted of what are now the districts of Habana Vieja (Old Town) and Centro Habana. The first Cabañas manufactory was located in such a rather small house in the Old Town on Calle Jesús Maria.

At Calle Dragones No. 4, 6 and 8 was located the Cabañas brand's manufactory, probably between the 1840s and 1870s under the leadership of Manuel Gonzalez Carvajal.

In this building (also known as the Iron Palace or La Corona Factory) at Calle Agramonte No. 10, the Cabañas brand cigars were manufactured from 1904 (likely until the 1930s).

The building with scaffolding on the right is the former Iron Palace, Havana's largest cigar factory, built in 1904. To its left is the Presidential Palace (now the Museum of the Revolution). The Cabañas cigars were also made in the Iron Palace, alongside around 90 other brands. — The building scaffolded on the right is the former Iron Palace, Havana's largest cigar factory, built in 1904. To its left is the Presidential Palace (now the Museum of the Revolution). The Cabañas cigars were also manufactured in the Iron Palace, alongside around 90 other brands.

External website: Search Google for the history of Cabañas

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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.