Montecristo cigar

The Montecristo cigar is a great smoke. Originally it was only produced in Cuba, then the Cuban revolution came and everyone went bananas. Not even Dumas, author of the Count of Montecristo could have created such an intricate plot. We've got the revolutionary, the wealthy plantation owner, and of course, the lady of their longings. In this case, is the rights to the Montecristo brand. The Menendez family is surprised by the revolution and striped of all material wealth, they flee the country barely with their lives. Castro, with socialist ideas in which wealth should be divided amongst the population, misses out in the most important wealth of all, inner wealth. The Menendez family seemed to have been left with nothing. After being owners of the largest tobacco company in Havana, the legendary H. Upmann factory and several other profitable business, the blow must have been hard. After many Years of anguish and effort in exile finally the Menendez family had a chance to prove themselves. A partnership to produce what they knew best, making cigars. They went to the Canary Islands and built the Compania Insular Tabacalera S.A. With their experience, they created the Montecruz cigar, with the same techniques the Montecristo cigar was made before in Cuba. The brand became an instant success and found a good public response. This gave the Menendez family financial independence again.

Yet, Cuba still produced the Montecristo cigar on the factories that were occupied by the new government. To make the story even more interesting, the Cullman family, that owned the US rights to the brand Montecristo sold it to the Menendez family.

Both seemed to have a little bit of the pie now, there were two brands and several lawsuits would follow.

The French company SEITA did several business with Cuba, and distributed Cuban Cigars throughout the world. After a while, Fidel Castro needed some money, and sold 50% of Habanos S.A. to SEITA. Mergers and acquisitions later, Tabacalera ended up with SEITA and called the company Altadis. Finally the two brands were reunited and became one.

The logo is made out of tree swords forming a triangle. Other three swords form a smaller tingle inside. In the middle a Liz flower is displayed and three red rectangles are between the sets of swords.

Almost half of Cuban exports depend on the Montecristo cigar. The taste of the cigar is strong but not too strong, complex and spicy. Every presentation being a unique smoking experience. The brand has a good ash and draw to it and produces a nice aroma.