Bolivar

Bolivar stands as one of Cuba's most powerful and full-bodied cigar brands, renowned for delivering bold, uncompromising flavors that embody the strength and character of its namesake, South American liberator Simón Bolívar. The Cuban-produced Bolivar cigars are very full-bodied, with considerable ligero in the blend and have traditionally been some of the strongest and most full-bodied Havana cigars, designed for the bold, audacious, and discerning aficionado with strong, bold and complex characteristics. Bolivar is renowned as one of the world's leading the toughest and most complex in the Habanos S.A. portfolio, with this strength and aromatic richness being the result of the generous use of ligero in the filler of cigars. Bolivar cigars are synonymous with Cuban quality and are revered around the world for the detail that goes into their production, with the consistency of the tobacco and rolling that set Bolivar cigars apart. This legendary marca represents the pinnacle of Cuban cigar strength and complexity, offering experienced aficionados an intense smoking experience that demands respect and appreciation.

Background

The brand was founded (possibly in Great Britain) by José F. Rocha around 1901 or 1902, though the brand was not registered in Havana (Cuba) until 1921, under the ownership of Rocha's firm, J.F. Rocha y Cia. The story goes that Jose named the brand after General Simon Bolívar, a valiant hero who led the revolution that liberated Latin America from Spanish Rule, with both Cuban and non-Cuban versions being named for the South American revolutionary, Simón Bolívar. The company originally began in Britain, where countries like Cuba were considered part of the 'new world', but having realised the great value of Cuban soil – perfect terrain, temperature and environment, production quickly moved, with Spanish Jose F. Rocha creating the cigars in the early 20th century. Rocha was in charged of the brand until his death in 1954, when the Cifuentes y Cia purchased Bolivar and moved production to their Partagas factory in Havana, with the same accomplishment occurring when they took over Bolivar as had made Partagas a worldwide success. After the Castro revolution, Bolívar was nationalized. The brand's evolution reflects over a century of Cuban tobacco craftsmanship, maintaining its reputation for producing some of the most potent and characterful cigars in the world.

History

During the early years, the Bolivar brand produced the world's smallest cigar called the Delgado. However, it was not until the transfer of production to the Partagás factory for Bolivar to acquire an important reputation in export markets, and thanks to the business acumen of Cifuentes and the production quality of the craftsmen at the Partagás factory, Bolivar quickly established itself as one of the most renowned Cuban cigar brands on the market. In 2002, when European conglomerate Altadis bought into Habanos, the number of vitolas in the brand was reduced and the machine-made smaller cigars have all but disappeared. The brand celebrated significant milestones including its 100th Anniversary commemorated through special releases, with exclusive releases like the Hunters & Frankau Bolivar Centenary Dinner held in London in November 2002.

Reputation

The Cuban Bolivar has a reputation among cigar aficionados of being one of the strongest and most full-bodied cigars, with its Royal Corona, Coronas Junior, Petit Coronas, and Belicosos Finos being famous examples of the marque. Bolivar cigars embody quintessential Cuban quality and enjoy a well-deserved worldwide reputation, hand-rolled by skilled and highly qualified master torcedors, reflecting the authenticity and tradition of Cuban cigars, with the brand being admired for its commitment to excellence and offering a classic smoking experience for all Cuban cigar lovers. However, the novice would do well to proceed cautiously with a Bolivar cigar as these things are strong, bold and complex, with first time smokers likely being unaware just what is happening to their palate as the bold flavor may overwhelm them, yet for those with a touch of discernment, Bolivar will liberate your smoking experience from the mundane smokes of the past. The brand commands respect in the premium cigar market as a benchmark for Cuban strength and complexity.