Saint Luis Rey is a Cuban cigar brand produced by Habanos S.A., the state-owned tobacco company.Habanos S.A., Brands: Saint Luis Rey , retrieved 30 Jan 2017
History The brand's name is believed to be a reference to either the town of San Luis, Pinar del Río or the popular 1927 novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey by American author Thornton Wilder. The brand was first registered by Zamora y Guerra Co., who were based in Havana.Cigar Journal, Saint Luis Rey: Only For Britain, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany: 5th Avenue Products Trading Co., No. 17 (Dec. 2005), p. 2 In 1940, the name Saint Luis Rey was registered by two English tobacco importers, Nathan Silverstone and Michael De Keyser.Shanken, Marvin R., Cigar Aficionado's Cigar Companion, Philadelphia, PA: Running Press (2005), , p. 71
The Saint Luis Rey factory and its assets were nationalized by the Cuban government on September 15, 1960.Savona, David, The Exodus, Cigar Aficionado, Nov/Dec. 2002 From 1960 until 1992, the brand was marketed exclusively in the UK market by NR Silverstone Cigar Ltd.Cigar Journal, Saint Luis Rey: Only For Britain, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany: 5th Avenue Products Trading Co., No. 17 (Dec. 2005), p. 2 In 1993, Habanos S.A. began exporting the brand worldwide.
In the US, the Saint Luis Rey trademark was registered by Altadis. In 2008, Altadis was acquired by Imperial Tobacco.
Production Saint Luis Rey cigars are produced at the Briones Montoto factory in Havana, where Romeo y Julieta cigars are also produced.Shanken, Marvin R., Cigar Aficionado's Cigar Companion, Philadelphia, PA: Running Press (2005), , p. 71 All Cuban-production Saint Luis Rey cigars are made with leaves sourced from the Vuelta Abajo region.
The brand is known for the Lonsdale size, which was a favorite of Frank Sinatra.Bati, Anwer, The Cigar Companion, Philadelphia, PA: Running Press (1993), , pp. 186-187
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