Quintero Cigars

Quintero cigars are unusual in the Cuban cigar pantheon in that they were not originally born in Havana.  Cigar production was once spread across the island, only becoming concentrated in Havana more recently.  It was in the southern city of Cinfuegos, in 1924, that Agustín Quintero decided to set up his factory, aided by his four brothers.  The tobacco used when the brand first started was from the Vuelta Arriba in Remedios, local to the first factory’s location.  Still today the logo printed on each box and tubo to contain Quintero cigars proudly bears the name of the city in which the brand was born.

While proud of their roots in the south, Quintero became a Havana brand in the 1940s as the brothers sought to increase the size of their production and upgrade their tobacco to the Vuelta Abajo stock of Pinar del Rio used today.  Key to their success was the abilities of Augustin as a selector and blender of tobacco.  Having made a reputation for earthy, rich flavours with the tobacco of the south, he managed to select the right crops and producers from the more premium stock to maintain that brand identity, leading to his cigars having a very distinctive taste.  They found their biggest welcome in the markets of Spain, where the preference was for these raw, pure tobacco notes, and by the 1950s Quintero found themselves one of the most popular brands on the Iberian peninsula, along with Juan Lopez.

Huge change came the way of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960, with Quintero more affected than most.  After Castro nationalised all production it was decided that Quintero would abandon their handmade heritage in favour of being a completely machine-made brand.  Rolling machines had become prevalent in the industry during the 1950s as they offered great opportunity to increase production while lowering cost, and for decades Quintero was the only brand made in this way but still exported on a global scale.

Over the course of the next 40 years Quintero’s vitolario was reduced to a fraction of its peak.  In 2002 change beckoned again, as the decision was made to return all production to hand in order to position Havana cigars as premium products in an expanding global market.  Today’s Quintero are crafted by hand using Tripa Corta – chopped pieces of filler tobacco wrapped in a long binder before the application of the wrapper leaf.  The result is an aromatic, medium-strength blend at a very affordable price, intended as an entry point to Havana cigars, or as a brand to be purchased at high volume.

Quintero Favoritos: A petit robusto, 50 ring gauge by 4 ½ inches long.  Only a fraction smaller than the classic robustos used by bigger brands, this smoke will bring medium-strength and flavours of wood and nuts for about 40 minutes.

Quintero Panatelas: The same Vegueritos vitola – 38 ring gauge by 5 inches – as the Rafael Gonzalez Panatelas Extra, and a perfect mid-day short smoke.  Earthy notes which will pair well with a coffee to provide a pick-me-up.

Quintero Londres Extra: The only Quintero cigar to have always been hand-made, and the only one to survive from the brand’s launch until now.  The 40 ring gauge by 4 ⅞ inch size is not often used in Havana production, but has been popular with Quintero fans for its entire almost 100 year existence.

Cienfuegos itself is also known as The Pearl of the South, located on a stunning Caribbean bay around 160 miles from Havana.  Today it is known as a centre of industry; in Agustin Quintero’s day it was a thriving trading point, using its proximity to the sea to export sugar to the world.  The planning and development done around that time are now recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage list, such is the beauty of the architecture.  Agustin and his brothers would have contributed to that prosperity through their hard work and success – it is fitting that today their cigars still carry the name of the city on their boxes.

As it is a lesser-known brand, and as all its cigars use short-filler tobacco, Quintero has never been chosen for a Regional Edition or Limited Edition release.  Their flavour profile has stayed true to the earthy, rugged style which saw it become popular in the early days.  While many brands have sought to become more rounded and smooth, Quintero embraces the raw tobacco notes in the blend, a trait which is still particularly favoured by Spanish smokers today.  Where other brands seek pomp and ceremony with luxurious packaging and extravagant sizes, Quintero work towards practicality and accessibility with tubed cigars and low prices.  This is a brand for every person, every day; a brand which reminds us that luxury products like Cuban cigars can be for every smoker.  Augustin and his brothers would be proud.

Brand Founded: 1924

Strength: Medium

Construction: Handmade, Tripa Corta

Continuous Production Cigars: 6