Por Larrañaga is the oldest Cuban cigar brand still in continuous production, founded in Havana in 1834 by Spanish immigrant Ignacio Larrañaga. The brand has remained in production for nearly two centuries through every major shift in the Cuban cigar industry, from the Spanish colonial era through Cuban independence, the introduction of mechanised cigar production in the 1920s, and the post-Revolution nationalisation of the tobacco industry. Today the Cuban Por Larrañaga is produced under Habanos S.A. A separate non-Cuban Por Larrañaga is produced in the Dominican Republic by Altadis USA for the American market.

The History of Por Larrañaga

Ignacio Larrañaga arrived in Cuba around 1825 and registered his cigar-making business in 1834, making Por Larrañaga, by some accounts, only the second Cuban cigar brand ever to be formally registered in Havana. The brand uses tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo region of Pinar del Río province, and has done so throughout its history.

By the late 19th century, Por Larrañaga had built a substantial reputation, particularly in the British market. The brand's prestige was such that it was referenced by Rudyard Kipling in his 1885 poem The Betrothed ("There's peace in a Larranaga, there's calm in a Henry Clay").

In 1925, Por Larrañaga became the first Cuban factory to introduce machine-rolling for premium cigars, a controversial move that triggered worker protests and boycotts in the Havana cigar industry. The decision shaped the next several decades of the brand's production: machine-made and partially machine-made cigars formed a significant portion of output for many years.

By the time of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Por Larrañaga was the sixth-largest Cuban cigar brand by volume. The brand was nationalised after the Revolution and brought under Cubatabaco (later Habanos S.A.). Since 2002, Habanos S.A. has progressively shifted Por Larrañaga production back toward fully hand-made cigars, and today the brand is produced as totalmente a mano, tripa larga, totally hand-made, long-filler, at the La Corona factory in Havana.

Where Por Larrañaga Cigars Are Made

Por Larrañaga is produced at the La Corona factory in Havana, with tobacco sourced from the Vuelta Abajo region. The brand is classified as light to medium-bodied. The 2002 transition away from machine-made production brought the brand into line with the rest of the Habanos S.A. premium portfolio, and all current vitolas are now hand-rolled long-filler cigars.

The Por Larrañaga Range

The current Por Larrañaga range is among the most focused in the Cuban portfolio.

The Petit Coronas (a Mareva at 5 1/8 inches by 42 ring gauge) is the brand's flagship and one of the most established Petit Coronas in the Habanos catalogue. The Montecarlos (a Dalia at 6 3/4 inches by 33 ring gauge) is a slim Lonsdale-style vitola and a long-standing fixture of the brand. The Galanes (added in 2021) is a more recent addition with the largest ring gauge in the standard portfolio.

Por Larrañaga is regularly selected for the Edición Regional series, limited regional releases produced for specific national markets, including Por Larrañaga 47 (UK Regional Edition 2021).

Por Larrañaga Cigars at CigarBox

Browse our wider range of Cuban Cigars and the complete Cigars By Brand catalogue. For comparison reading across origins, our Cuban Cigars vs New World Alternatives blog post is a useful starting point. The Dominican Cigars: A Smoother Alternative to Cuban Classics post is a companion read for the Dominican option in particular. You can also browse our Nicaraguan Cigars and Dominican Cigars collections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Por Larrañaga the oldest Cuban cigar brand?

Yes, Por Larrañaga is widely recognised as the oldest Cuban cigar brand still in continuous production. The brand was registered in Havana in 1834 by Ignacio Larrañaga and has been produced without interruption ever since, through Cuban independence, the post-1959 nationalisation, and the modern Habanos S.A. era.

Who founded Por Larrañaga?

Por Larrañaga was founded in 1834 by Ignacio Larrañaga, a Spanish immigrant who had arrived in Cuba around 1825. Larrañaga is credited as the sole founder. The brand established a reputation in the late 19th century, including being referenced in Rudyard Kipling's 1885 poem The Betrothed, and remains in production today under Habanos S.A.

Are Por Larrañaga cigars Cuban?

The original Por Larrañaga is Cuban, founded in Havana in 1834 and produced today by Habanos S.A. at the La Corona factory. A second, legally distinct Por Larrañaga is produced in the Dominican Republic by Altadis USA for the American market. CigarBox stocks the Cuban version.