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HOYO DE MONTERREY CIGAR HISTORY
A Spaniard Jose Gener, originally a leaf grower and eventually the founder of one of the greatest Cuban cigar factories on the Island of Cuba, began producing the great Hoyo de Monterrey cigar brand in 1960. Gener was one of the most important barons of the tobacco industry, who acquired his fortune by cigars and sugar cane. The trademark Hoyo de Monterrey (Hole of Monterrey) was registered in Cuba in 1867 by Gener. Later, the "Le Hoyo" series was added to the commercial Cuban cigar market in the mid-seventies.
The name Hoyo de Monterey translates roughly as "the valley of Monterrey", which is a particularly fertile area of land in the "Vuelta Abajo" region of South West Cuba. Gener farmed in this valley for many years during the late 1800's. Hoyo de Monterrey is known to all Cuban cigar connoisseurs due to its distinctive cigar flavor, silky richness and complexity of taste.
The Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona is perhaps the most sought after and coveted Cuban cigar made. Some believe "gold" really does grow from the ground! These Cuban cigars are produced in seven factories, Hoyo cigar vitoles and the magnificent Hoyo Double Corona are made with only the finest Cuban tobacco.
Gener foresaw the ample potential of this trade, and in 1851 he convinced his uncle to open a factory in Havana, Cuba. He created a new trademark for this cigar industry, La Escepción, which used to try to get into the American cigar market. He gained quick success and recognition.
He was a Cuban tobacconist who personally controlled both harvesting and tobacco manufacture, which is the reason why he achieved great experience in the elaboration and marketing of his Habanos.
Gener invested the profits in purchasing the best farms and plantations in Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Río, mainly the areas close to San Juan y Martinez. He acquired the Hoyo de Monterrey plantation in 1860, with which he tried to capitalize the success of La Escepción.
In the United States and Europe, Hoyo de Monterrey cigars were considered the smoothest and lightest Cuban cigar trademark with cigarettes.
Jose Gener started printing the initials of his most distinguished buyers in the cigar's rings (vitolas). He achieved complete control of the business from 1870 to his death in 1900. His cigar factory was one of the greatest in Cuba, with more than fifty cigar makers and more than fifty million Cuban cigars produced every year.
After his death, his heirs (inclined to the sugar cane business) sold the Hoyo de Monterrey trademark to Ramon Fernandez and Fernando Palicio, co-owners of the trademarks Punch and Belinda. Hoyo de Monterrey made the trademark's most prestigious vitolas in the 30's.
At present, Hoyo de Monterrey still keeps the prestige of being one of the best Cuban cigar trademarks among the smoothest cigars, offering about fifteen handmade models and about the similar number made mechanically.