Vegas Robaina cigars – An exclusive tribute to a Cuban tobacco legend

Vegas Robaina cigars honour the Cuban tobacco grower Alejandro Robaina, his family's centuries-old tradition and the work of all vegueros.

Where do cigars come from?

Alejandro Robaina is arguably the most famous tobacco farmer in Cuba and the world. His picture initially adorned the band of the Vegas Robaina brand.

To the point

Vegas Robaina cigars make the name of a famous Cuban tobacco grower a trademark and stand for very special tobacco and the tradition of tobacco growing in Cuba.

What are Vegas Robaina cigars?

Vegas Robaina cigars are a Habanos brand introduced in 1997, named after the famous Cuban tobacco farmer (veguero) Alejandro Robaina.

The brand combines a family name with the history of Cuban tobacco cultivation. Alejandro Robaina was one of Cuba's best-known vegueros and became a symbol of high-quality tobacco far beyond the island's borders.

At the same time, the brand is not exclusively a tribute to Alejandro Robaina. The name Vegas Robaina also stands for his family and the numerous unnamed vegueros, whose knowledge, experience and labour form the basis for the reputation of Habanos. Habanos itself explicitly describes the brand as a tribute to Cuban tobacco growers through the person of Alejandro Robaina.habanos.com)

The history of the family dates back to the year 1845. Since that time, tobacco has been grown on the family's plantations in Cuchillas de Barbacoa in the district of San Luis, in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region.

Alejandro Robaina, his name stands above the entrance to the Vega. Since 1845, his family has grown tobacco there.

Vegas Robaina today

Vegas Robaina cigars are considered a special speciality within the Habanos portfolio.

The product range today includes the two formats Unicos and Famosos. In addition, there have been Edición Limitadas, Edición Regionales, and custom-made products that are extremely interesting for collectors.

With this, the brand unites three levels: the individual Alejandro Robaina, the Robaina family and the large community of Cuban Vegueros.

The simple logo of the Vegas Robaina brand, which emphasises the family's origins in the region since 1845.

Why are Vegas Robaina cigars special?

Vegas Robaina cigars are special because their name is directly linked to a specific tobacco grower and a family tradition that has grown over generations.

Alejandro Robaina was the family patriarch of a tobacco family from the Vuelta Abajo. His plantation is situated in the San Luis region, in the Cuchillas de Barbacoa. Tobacco has been grown there since the mid-19th century.

The bond between family, land and tobacco shaped Alejandro Robaina's life. His knowledge of cultivation was passed down within the family. This was not simply about growing tobacco, but about a precise understanding of every single plant and every single leaf: which leaf had to be harvested when, how a plant was treated and under what conditions particularly high-quality tobacco could be produced.

It is precisely this experience that still makes the work of the vegueros a craft today that cannot be replaced by machines. No two leaves are the same. Knowledge, intuition and experience play a decisive role.

Alejandro Robaina in his element: amongst magnificent tobacco plants. (Source: Habanos S.A.)

Alejandro Robaina himself became an internationally known personality. Many aficionados knew him personally. He travelled to cigar events all over the world, welcomed visitors to his plantation and sat with guests on the terrace of his house.

In addition, it was his special way of interacting with people that made him an extraordinary personality. After only a short time, he gave many visitors the feeling that they had known each other for years.

His fame also stemmed from countless cigar events, which he liked to attend. He was always keen on exchanging views with aficionados from all over the world. (Source: Habanos S.A.)

Vegas Robaina in the context of the world of Habanos

Vegas Robaina cigars hold a special position within the world of Habanos because, unlike many classic cigar brands, they were not inspired by a historical brand name, a place or a figure from the past.

Instead, in 1997, the name of a tobacco grower who was still alive at the time became the brand name. Alejandro Robaina was personally present at the launch of the brand in the Hotel Ritz in Madrid. At that time, he was 78 years old.

The brand also evokes an entire community. Behind the term „Veguero“ are the tobacco growers, whose labour forms the basis for the production of high-quality Habanos. The Robaina family stands as a representative of this tradition.

Originally, there were five different sizes of Vegas Robaina.

The Vegas Robaina brand has existed since 1997.

Facts about Vegas Robaina cigars

• Introduction: 1997
• Family tradition: Tobacco cultivation since 1845
• Origin: Vuelta Abajo, San Luis region, Cuchillas de Barbacoa, Cuba
• Namakesake: Alejandro Robaina
• Special feature: A famous tobacco grower gave his name to a Habanos brand
• Concept Tribute to Alejandro Robaina, his family and the Cuban vegueros
• Known for: the combination of family history, tobacco growing and high tobacco quality
• Production: The brand has been associated with the carefully selected tobaccos of the Robaina vegas
• Special features: In addition to regular formats, there were and still are special editions, regional issues and custom-made products.
• International significance: Alejandro Robaina was known worldwide as an ambassador for Cuban tobacco and Habanos.

How the Robaina family came to tobacco

The name Robaina has stood for tobacco cultivation and family unity for almost 200 years.

The Alejandro Robaina family was of Spanish origin on both their mother's and father's sides. Jerónimo Pereda, his mother's grandfather, came from the province of Santander. Leopoldo Robaina, his other grandfather, came from the Canary Islands, where his parents had already cultivated tobacco.

Both men settled in the San Luis de los Pinos region around 1845.

Maruto Robaina González, the father of Alejandro Robaina, came from the Leopoldo Robaina family. On the maternal side was María Pereda Valdés, who was born from the marriage of Jerónimo Pereda and his wife.

The two families were already closely connected through their neighbourhood. With the marriage of Maruto Robaina and María, this bond became even tighter.

The family's further path was characterised by working together and strong family cohesion. Over many years, hard work and gathered experience created the conditions for the plantation to develop into what it is known for today.

Alejandro Robaina (far right) as a very young man on his plantation. (Source: Min Ron Nee: “AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POST-REVOLUTION HAVANA CIGARS”, Hong Kong 2003, ISBN: 978-3980930826)

Alejandro Robaina – the man behind the brand

Alejandro Robaina was born on 20 March 1919. He grew up in the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region and remained closely connected to tobacco cultivation throughout his life. He died on 17 April 2010. He lived to the age of 91.

His name became a synonym for the Cuban tobacco grower.

His family always had a central importance for him. Once he said that there was something he would never want to go without: sitting on the terrace together with his family, looking at the flowers and smoking cigars.

According to his own accounts, Alejandro Robaina had been smoking since he was ten years old.

Having started at the age of 10, Alejandro Robaina smoked cigars well into old age. (Source: Habanos S.A.)

Alejandro Robaina and Fidel Castro

A particularly well-known episode from Alejandro Robaina's life concerns his conversations with Fidel Castro.

According to traditional accounts, Robaina was a staunch advocate of family-run tobacco farming. He held the view that a family's specialised knowledge was crucial for the quality of the tobacco.

It is reported that Alejandro Robaina convinced Fidel Castro not to nationalise the tobacco plantations in the same way as other areas of production. Robaina argued this by pointing to the special significance of the knowledge passed down through generations.

The story is also supported by Robaina's own statements.

A cigar of the Vegas Robaina brand.

In 1997 Robaina became a cigar brand

In 1997, Habanos S.A. decided to introduce a brand bearing the name of the most famous Cuban tobacco grower. The global launch took place in the presence of the then 78-year-old Alejandro Robaina at the famous Hotel Ritz in Madrid.

This is how the Robaina surname became a cigar brand.

The initial range comprised five formats. The early Vegas Robaina cigars featured wrapper leaves from the Vegas of the Robaina family.

Alejandro Robaina's portrait was on every box. Later, the brand's visual identity was updated and the logo simplified.

The brand has also been chosen several times for Ediciones Regionales. In addition, there were special small-batch productions and special humidors.

Thus, from the name of a tobacco farmer, a brand evolved that to this day is associated with the personality of Alejandro Robaina and with the Cuban tobacco tradition.

The first cigars of the Vegas Robaina brand were made from tobaccos from the Vega Robaina.

Here you can find the Vegas Robaina manufactory

If the live folder does not work, please click here for the Vegas Robaina factory.

Picture credits

• Claudia Puszkar
• Habanos S.A.

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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

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