Two German brothers had a very profitable banking business, and part of their practice was to give valued clients a premier cigar. The brothers, August and Herman Upmann, were themselves first-class aficionados, and opted to relocate their business to Havanna, Cuba. There, in 1844 the brothers acquired a private cigar factory to produce the cigars for their banking clients; they dubbed it the
H. Upmann Cuban Cigars Factory (now the esteemed José Martí Factory).
Under the brother's direction the brand quickly gained international recognition in the late 1800s, earning several gold medal titles in multiple countries' trophies prominently displayed on every box of H. Upmann cigars. Good things can't last forever, and in 1922 the brother's banking business and the H. Upmann Factory tanked at the same time. A tobacco mogul, J. Frankau & Co. acquired the H. Upmann brand and factory, saving it from a certain doom.
J. Frakau & Co. maintained production of H. Upmann until 1935 when Menéndez, García y Cía, purchased the marque. During its brief time under Menéndez, García y Cía a limited edition H. Upmann Monte Selection was produced; this cigar would later become the prestigious Montecristo Cuban cigar.
Today, H. Upmann is manufactured under Habanos SA and still follows the strict quality guidelines laid out by the first-class aficionados who founded the brand over a century ago. H. Upmann
cuban cigars are truly steeped in history and unparalleled by any other cigar in production; mild to medium and incredibly smooth, novices and aficionados alike can appreciate the quality over one century of experience creates.
