La Gloria Cubana is a historic cigar brand founded in 1885 in Cuba by Sociedad Cabanas y Castro. Initially produced in Havana, the brand changed ownership multiple times, including acquisitions by José F. Rocha (1905) and the Cifuentes family (1954), who moved production to the Partagás factory. After a post-revolution hiatus, it resumed limited production in 1965, maintaining a reputation for quality over quantity .
The brand uses Cuban-grown tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo region, known for its balanced medium-to-full strength profiles. Key flavors include earthy leather, cedar, nuts, and subtle citrus or chocolate notes, with aged variants developing sweeter nuances like honey .
Core product lines include:
- Medaille d’Or Series: Handmade long-filler cigars like the No.4 (32x152mm), featuring Cuban Vuelta Abajo tobacco with floral and creamy notes .
- Serie R: Full-bodied cigars with Ecuadorian Habano or Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers, blending Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Brazilian fillers. The Torpedo No.1 scored 92 points from Cigar Aficionado .
- Serie N: Uses a Nicaraguan Oscuro wrapper for spicy, cocoa-forward flavors .
- Regional Editions: Limited releases like the 2017 Spanish Serie D No.5 (50x110mm), offering peanut, vanilla, and black chocolate notes .
Non-Cuban versions are produced in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua under General Cigar Company, using Ecuadorian wrappers and multi-country fillers. Popular lines include Artesanos de Miami and Serie R Estelí .
La Gloria Cubana has won accolades, including a 98-point rating from Cigar Aficionado in the 1990s, and remains a favorite among enthusiasts for its craftsmanship and heritage .