El Laguito Cigar Factory is a Cuban factory building established by Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba and recognized as the site where the Cohiba cigar was first manufactured.[1]
| El Laguito Cigar Factory | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Cigar factory |
| Town or city | Playa, Havana |
| Country | Cuba |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Client | Fidel Castro |
Early history
editIn the 1960s, the El Laguito factory was established by Fidel Castro with the help of Eduardo Ribera, a cigar maker. The factory was located in Havana, in the area of Playa.[2] The property was described as a palm-fringed colonial-style home originally owned by an English family known for producing Fowler's West India Treacle.[3]
Cohibas
editThe Cohiba, a trademark now owned by Habanos S.A., was conceived in the factory in February 1967.[4] The varieties included Exquisitos, Lancero, Behike, and more.
In the mid-to-late 1960s, one of Castro's bodyguards was noticed smoking a noticeably aromatic but unbranded cigar. After locating the cigar maker, Eduardo Ribera, it was agreed to establish the El Laguito Factory which would eventually brand the cigars as Cohiba and become Castro's signature brand.[5] Castro exclusively smoked the Cohibas before he gave up cigars for health reasons.[6] The El Laguito factory-made Cohiba Lancero cigars were originally presented as diplomatic gifts for allied countries and friends of Castro.[7]
Trinidad
editThe El Laguito factory produced a cigar brand called 'Trinidad' which included the Trinidad Fundadores and Trinidad Panatela.[8] Trinidad Fundadores were exclusively produced at the factory starting in 1980. Diplomatic Trinidads were presented as gifts by the Cuban Government which included former President Fidel Castro, his secretary of state, and other high-ranking Cuban diplomats.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Cuban Cigar For The Elite Goes Public - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ "The History of El Laguito Cigar Factory in Havana". cndenglish.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ "Party... and don't forget the cigars - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ "Smoke Success - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ Stubbs, Jean. “TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF? THE HAVANA CIGAR REVISITED.” NWIG: New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, vol. 74, no. 3/4, 2000, pp. 235–55. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41850061. Accessed 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Cigar Lovers Pay Homage to Finest | News-Press, Feb 28, 2003 - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ "A Conversation With Fidel | Marvin R. Shanken". cigaraficionado.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ "THING; For Castro And Friends - The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ "From Havana Comes A New Cigar - Newspapers.com™". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.