A little bit of cigar history: A. Hillen

[El Presidente]

I came across this commemorative dish on-line and thought I would do a little digging. 

 

 

A. Hillen Cigars history

The history of A. Hillen Cigars is primarily the history of the "Red Anchor" brand, which dates back to the 1770s in Delft, Holland. The brand was revived in 2022 by United Cigars. 

Early History in the Netherlands (1770-1937)

Founding: The history begins in 1770 when a trademark for "Red Anchor" was registered by a cigar shop.

Establishment: On February 22, 1772, Albertus Hillen Sigarenfabriek officially began manufacturing Red Anchor cigars at a factory in Delft, Holland, with legal permission from the local municipality.

Family Business: The brand remained within the Hillen family for generations. After Albertus's death in 1834, his wife Anna Maria van Spreeuwenburg continued the business until her death in 1838. Their daughter and her husband then acquired the business and the brand.

Expansion & Industrialization: Around the 1890s, the company was sold to Martinus Hioolen, who expanded the brand's distribution network across major Dutch cities. In 1909, new machines were acquired for mechanical production, and special tin packaging was introduced to facilitate exports.

Decline: The brand faced challenges in the 1920s due to market saturation and new excise taxes, eventually going out of business in March 1937. 

Modern Revival (2022-Present)

In 2022, United Cigars acquired the rights to the Red Anchor brand and reintroduced it to the market, celebrating its 250th anniversary. The modern version of the cigar is produced by the Kelner Boutique Factory in the Dominican Republic, a partnership chosen to maintain the brand's Dutch heritage, as the Kelner family also has Dutch roots. 

The modern blend uses an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper, a Dominican Monte Plata binder, and a mix of Dominican and Pennsylvania fillers. The initial 2022 release ("The Admiral" vitola) was a limited edition, followed by the introduction of additional regular production sizes in 2023.