La Gloria Cubana

La Gloria Cubana stands as one of the most iconic boutique cigar brands in the premium market, renowned for pioneering full-bodied cigars with substantial ring gauges. Welcome to La Gloria Cubana, the home of the original boutique cigar. The brand is celebrated for its innovative approach to cigar making, having introduced the first major premium brand to release a 6x60 as regular production and utilizing unique Spanish Press techniques. Since then, the La Gloria Cubana cigar has become the cigar of choice for cigar smokers who appreciate a richer, fuller bodied smoke. Today, it maintains its position as a flagship brand within General Cigar Company's portfolio alongside legendary names like Macanudo and Cohiba.

Background

In 1972, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr. officially launched La Gloria Cubana in the United States and later established El Credito Cigar Factory in Miami's Little Havana. Carrillo began handcrafting La Gloria Cubana cigars that reflected the deep tobacco heritage of the Perez-Carrillo family and took the brand into the modern age, eventually transforming La Gloria Cubana into one of America's most iconic cigar brands. The original non-Cuban La Gloria Cubana blend was created in Miami in 1972 at the El Credito cigar factory, but wasn't the focus until cigarmaker Ernesto Perez-Carrillo took over the company in 1980. It gained a cult following and, by the 1990s, eventually grew into a national brand causing Perez-Carrillo to move his production to the Dominican Republic in order to meet demand. La Gloria Cubana was sold to General Cigar Company by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo in 1999 for an undisclosed sales price.

History

For the next two decades, La Gloria Cubana was regarded as 'Little Havana's best-kept secret', which built a small but loyal following over time. In the spring of 1993, the brand's popularity and notoriety skyrocketed when Cigar Aficionado awarded four La Gloria Cubana cigars with a rating of 90 or above. The brand's success led to its acquisition by General Cigar Company in 1999, though Perez-Carrillo remained involved for a decade. In many ways, La Gloria Cubana paved the way for the many boutique brands on the market today.

Reputation

La Gloria Cubana cigars date back to well before the Cigar Boom era with a big brand name that boasts a loyal legion of connoisseurs who became fans years ago... A solid collection of flavor and strength profiles has made the brand a seminal classic. Today, La Gloria Cubana is made in the Dominican Republic, but General treats it with reverence, and still proclaims La Gloria to be a boutique brand. Fifty years after its creation, the LGC Classic continues to earn praise, as it claimed the 24th spot on Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2022! The brand is consistently recognized by industry publications and maintains a devoted following among enthusiasts who appreciate its rich, full-bodied character and innovative approach to cigar making.