Vegueros

About

Vegueros Cigars Vegueros cigars were introduced to the market in 1996. The intention of the brand’s creation was twofold: to release a line of high-quality, totally handmade Cuban cigars at a more accessible price point than had ever come from Cuba before, and to pay tribute to the farmers – Los Vegueros – whose tireless work in the tobacco fields makes it possible for us all to indulge our smoking pleasure. While the majority of the tobacco grown in those fields is given over to the state for use in the wider industry, some is permitted to remain on the farm – that is then rolled into cigars for the farmers’ own consumption. The name was adopted as a nod to their labour, and a new brand was born. While it is officially classed as a Havana brand, Vegueros cigars are actually rolled in Pinar del Rio, where the tobacco is grown. This is the region where the most high-quality tobacco is grown, and the area is known for supplying only the most premium brands with their raw materials. The Francisco Donatién factory was originally built in the late 19 th century as a prison, before being converted in the 1960s to make cigars for the local market. The initial line-up of Vegueros crafted in this factory took some of the most popular Cohiba cigars shapes – Laguito No 1 and 2, Seoane and Mareva – and applied them to a much more affordable product. While these releases proved popular, in 2012 the entire line was replaced by the Vegueros we see on the market today. In 2012, Vegueros were one of the first Cuban brands to undergo a full revamp and modernisation, being dressed in new bands of metallic foil and given more of a 21 st century image. They are the only brand to be housed in metal tins, as opposed to the traditional wooden boxes, giving them a further edge over all the other marcas fighting to be noticed on cigar shop shelves. Cigars are available to buy in tins of 16 or boxes of 4, as well as individually, and those tins allow them to be stored safely as well as giving