Saint Luis Rey

Saint Luis Rey dates back to the years just before the Second World War and was formally registered in the early 1940s. One theory links the brand’s name to Thornton Wilder’s 1927 novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey; another—and more likely—connects it to the town of San Luis in the heart of Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo region, famed for top-quality wrapper leaf. The marque was first recorded by Zamora y Guerra Co. of Havana, then re-registered in 1940 by British importers Michael De Keyser and Nathan Silverstone. After Cuba’s nationalisation of the tobacco industry on 15 September 1960, ownership passed to the state, yet the brand continued to be marketed exclusively in the United Kingdom—through N. K. Silverstone Cigar Ltd—until 1992. Today Saint Luis Rey is rolled at the historic Briones Montoto factory in Havana (home of Romeo y Julieta). Production remains limited, which has only added to the brand’s mystique. Since the early 2000s the regular line has contracted to a handful of vitolas, but the marque is a favourite choice for Edición Regional releases. All vitolas are Totalmente a Mano with Tripa Larga, using a robust blend of filler and binder leaves from Vuelta Abajo; some special editions also draw on tobacco from Semi Vuelta. The result is an intense, full-bodied flavour prized by experienced smokers. The brand’s best-known size is the Lonsdale—reportedly a favourite of Frank Sinatra—alongside sought-after cigars such as the Regios and Serie A. Under the current Habanos S.A. portfolio, Saint Luis Rey is listed in the “Other Brands” category and still receives occasional regional-edition releases that keep collectors alert. Flavor Profile: Full