Bolivar
A historic Cuban marque named for revolutionary Simón Bolívar
- Founded by
- José F. Rocha
- Family
- The Cuban brand is produced for state-owned Habanos SA; the non-Cuban brand is associated with General Cigar Company, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Tobacco Group.
- Made in
- Honduras
- Factory
- Partagás Factory, Havana, now known as the Francisco Pérez Germán factory
- Lines here
- 4
Shop this brandBoxes from $93
The house
The story of Bolivar
José F. Rocha founded Bolívar around 1901 or 1902, possibly in Great Britain. Named for South American revolutionary Simón Bolívar, the brand was registered in Havana in 1921 under Rocha's firm, J.F. Rocha y Cia.
Among its early curiosities was the Delgado, described as the world's smallest cigar. Measuring 1⅞ inches with a 20 ring gauge, it appeared as a miniature box in the royal nursery's dollhouse at Windsor Castle.
After Rocha's death, Cifuentes y Cia purchased the company and brand rights in 1954. Production moved to Havana's Partagás Factory, now known as the Francisco Pérez Germán factory, where many Bolívar sizes continued to be made.
Following the Cuban Revolution and the nationalization of tobacco, the Cifuentes family left Cuba. In 1978, Ramón Cifuentes licensed the Partagás and Bolívar names to General Cigar Company for new, Cuban-tobacco-free cigars aimed at the American market. The resulting Dominican-made Bolívar exists separately from the Cuban brand produced for Habanos SA.
Milestones
Moments that made the house
- 1921
Havana registration
The Bolívar brand was registered in Havana under J.F. Rocha y Cia.
- 1954
Cifuentes acquisition
Cifuentes y Cia purchased the company and brand rights after José F. Rocha's death and moved production to the Partagás Factory.
- 1978
American-market relaunch
Ramón Cifuentes licensed the Partagás and Bolívar names to General Cigar Company for Cuban-tobacco-free cigars sold in the United States.
- 2002
Production changes
Changes instituted after Altadis acquired a controlling share in Habanos SA led to several Bolívar vitolas being removed from production.
- 2004
Gold Medal shop release
Wolters in Cologne commissioned several thousand boxes of Bolívar Gold Medals exclusively for its shop.
- 2005
Non-Cuban blend reformulated
The Dominican Bolívar was reformulated with a Honduran San Agustin ligero wrapper and Nicaraguan filler.
- 2007
Gold Medal reinstated
The Gold Medal returned as a La Casa del Habano cigar.
- 2011
Gold Medal discontinued
The reinstated Bolívar Gold Medal was discontinued.
Craft
How they make them
Cuban Bolívar cigars are traditionally full-bodied and contain considerable ligero in their blends. The marque historically included handmade, machine-made and machine-finished cigars, although production changes begun after 2002 removed several vitolas. General Cigar's separate version initially used mild Dominican Olor filler; in 2005 it was reformulated with a Honduran San Agustin ligero wrapper and Nicaraguan filler to move closer to the full-bodied strength associated with Cuban Bolívar.
Details
Things most people don't know
- Namesake
- Both Bolívar cigar brands are named for South American revolutionary Simón Bolívar.
- Miniature cigar
- The Delgado measured 1⅞ inches with a 20 ring gauge and was described as the world's smallest cigar.
- Royal dollhouse
- A miniature box of Delgado cigars appeared in the royal nursery's dollhouse at Windsor Castle.
- Gold foil release
- The Bolívar Gold Medal was wrapped halfway in gold foil and packaged in boxes of ten.
- Two distinct brands
- One Bolívar is produced in Cuba for Habanos SA, while another is produced in the Dominican Republic for the non-Cuban market.
- Film appearance
- In Black Hawk Down, Somali warlord Osman Ali Atto smokes Bolívar Belicoso cigars.
In the humidor
Bolivar up close
Shop this brand
