Cabañas: The First Cuban Cigar Brand

[El Presidente]

 

 

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Origins

• Around 1797, Francisco Cabañas started rolling cigars in Havana — at a time when Spain’s tobacco monopoly made that technically illegal.

• By 1810, Cabañas was officially registered, making it the oldest recorded Cuban cigar brand.

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Rise to Prominence

• The brand expanded operations to Jesús del Monte and became the first Cuban marque to export to England and the Spanish court.

• In 1848, it became Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal y Cía, marking its family expansion.

• That same year, Jaime Partagás tried to ride its coattails by launching “Flor de Cabañas,” sparking a legal dispute.

• At the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, Cabañas earned a gold medal, cementing its global reputation.

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Decline & Revival

• After thriving through the 19th century, Cabañas was eventually discontinued in 1962 when the industry was nationalized.

• 1989: briefly revived by Habanos S.A. as a machine-made line (Coronitas, Belvederes, Chiquitos, Perfectos, Preciosas, Suaves, Superfinos).

• 2005: quietly removed from the Habanos portfolio.

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Legacy

• Despite its disappearance, Cabañas holds the crown as the first true Cuban cigar brand, predating Por Larrañaga (1834) and Punch (1840).

• In 2019, JR Cigar and José “Pepín” García launched a Nicaraguan tribute line, keeping the name alive.

• In 2023, Cabañas was inducted into the Cigar Hall of Fame, an overdue recognition for its role in shaping the Cuban cigar world.

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Timeline at a Glance

• 1797 – Francisco Cabañas begins cigar production

• 1810 – Official registration (oldest Cuban brand)

• 1848 – Becomes Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal

• 1851 – Wins gold at the Great Exhibition

• 1962 – Ceases after nationalization

• 1989 – Revival as machine-made line

• 2005 – Discontinued by Habanos

• 2019 – Nicaraguan revival by Pepín García

• 2023 – Inducted into Cigar Hall of Fame