Bolivar
Year of foundation: 1927
Tobacco Country: Cuban
Tobacco Procedence: Vuelta Abajo
Factory: Partagas
Introduced in 1901, the powerful flavour of the Bolivar range is almost as widely know as it's namesake, Simon Bolivar (1783-1830), the celebrated Venezuelan warrior who liberated all or part of what is today Venezuela, Columbia, Peru and Bolivia.
The cigar brand was developed by the Jose Rocha Company (La Gloria Cubana) and was manufactured at the El Crepusculo factory, but was later acquired by Menendez, Garcia y Cia, and now produced at Partagas.
Today, Bolívar cigars are thought to be amongst the strongest, most full-bodied cigars produced in Cuba.
The Bolívar cigar is not for the beginner; it’s distinctively strong flavor and robust nature draw mostly seasoned Havana aficionados.
Oddly, at one time the Rocha Bolívar was famous for offering the world’s smallest Cuban cigar, the Delgado, measuring only 1 7/8 inches by 20 ring gauge.
It is said that the royal nursery at Windsor Castle once housed a spectacular dollhouse complete with a miniature box of Bolívar Delgado cigars in the residence.
Status
Bolívar is a current pre-revolution brand, established in 1902.
It is classed by Habanos SA as a multi-local brand, and has a minor market share.
Generally
The range comprises full strength cigars using tobacco from the premium Vuelta Abajo region.
Releases
Current production consists of seven handmade cigars.
Special packs of some standard cigars were available pre-1960 until the 1980s.
Bolívar cigars were included in the 1999 release of the Siglo XXI Humidor.
Special releases commenced in 2002.
History
In 1954, following the death of José Fernández Rocha, the Cifuentes family purchased the Bolivar and La Gloria Cubana brands from the Rocha family.
Production of Bolivar cigars was then moved to the Partagás factory.
Not all Bolivar cigars are made at the Partagás factory these days, but Partagás remains the primary factory for the Bolivar brand.
