The history of Henry Clay in Havana begins around 1850 with factory addresses such as Calle Aguacate No. 98 and San Nicolas No. 128, and later Calzada de Luyano No. 100 comes into the picture: La Loma, the impressive factory on the hill. Changes of ownership, British capital, American Tobacco and the „Iron Palace“ mark the eras.
History Henry Clay
The Henry Clay brand bears the name of a US politician (1777-1852), but its foundations were laid in Cuba. Founders such as Juan Antonio Bances and Julián Álvarez Granda build factories, export branded cigars and shape the market. After the revolution, production in Cuba ceases; in the 1980s, the name returns as a non-Cuban brand.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (3/3): A historical drawing of the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100. The drawing is not quite correct, the round gable with the inscription was further to the right.
(Source: Gustav Bock: “The Truth about Havana Cigars”, New York 1904)
The logo of the Henry Clay brand when it was owned by Julian Álvarez.
(Source: Adriano Martinez Rius: “The Great Habano Factories”, Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1)
An advert for Henry Clay brand cigars, owned by Julian Álvarez, after 1875
(Source: Adriano Martinez Rius: “The Great Habano Factories”, Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1)
A Vista of the Henry Clay brand from the period after 1883
(Source: Adriano Martinez Rius: “The Great Habano Factories”, Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1)
He gave the brand its name: Henry Clay, American politician and extremely important in his time.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Gustav Bock: He was one of the personalities in Cuban cigar history who played a decisive role in shaping it.
(Source: Enzo A. Infante: “Havana Cigars 1817-1960”, Neptune City 1997)
Segundo Álvarez: Hardly anyone knew Havana's cigar landscape so well.
(Source: Enzo A. Infante: “Havana Cigars 1817-1960”, Neptune City 1997)
Juan Antonio Bances: banker, financier, firmly rooted in the tobacco business, was the co-founder of the Henry Clay brand around 1850 and later, around 1880, owner of the Partagás brand
Amir Saarony and contributors: “Partagás - The Book”, ISBN: 978 0 9879290 1 3)
Julian Álvarez Granda: Together with Juan Antonio Bances, he founded the Henry Clay brand
(Source: Adriano Martinez Rius: “The Great Habano Factories”, Barcelona 2005, ISBN: 84-609-4024-1)
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (1/3): the first Henry Clay brand cigars were made in one of these houses on Calle Aguacate No. 98 from 1850.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were produced (2/3): A second factory was located on Calle San Nicolas No.128 shortly after the introduction of the Henry Clay brand, from 1859.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (3/3): The factory on the Calzada de Luyano No.100.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (3/3): Here is a historical photo of the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100.
(Source: Gustav Bock: “The Truth about Havana Cigars”, New York 1904)
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (3/3): Here is a view of the left-hand side of the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (3/3): Here is a historical photo of the left side of the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100
(Source: Gustav Bock: “The Truth about Havana Cigars”, New York 1904)
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were produced (3/3): This grid shows the year in which the factory on Calzada de Luyano No. 100 was built: 1883.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were produced (3/3): A doorpost inside the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100 bears the name of the brand: Henry Clay.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were produced (3/3): A second doorpost of the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100 bears the inscription „Fabrica de Tabacos“ and the name of another important brand: Aguila de Oro.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were produced (3/3): Today, cigarillos are produced in the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were made (3/3): Typical construction in Havana: passageways behind the pillars in front of the house on Calzada de Luyano No.100.
A factory where Henry Clay brand cigars were produced (3/3): Today, the factory on Calzada de Luyano No.100 produces cigarillos using modern machinery.
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