| It's hard to think about good cigars without doing | | | | cigars inside the boxes were no longer filled with the |
| two things: thinking of H. Upmann, and drooling. To | | | | cigars made by other manufacturers. In some |
| many cigar lovers, H. Upmann is the cream of the | | | | versions of this legend, it was not Hermann and |
| crop, the apex of ashes. Sold under two brands, one | | | | August who were bankers, it was their nephews, |
| made by Habanos SA in Cuba and the other made | | | | German and Alberto. |
| by Altadis SA in the Dominican Republic, H. Upmann | | | | Late into the 19th century, H. Upmann began to rise |
| provides smokers with an experience unlike any | | | | to greatness: H. Upmann cigars were featured at |
| other. To not smoke an H. Upmann is to be let down. | | | | cigars shows and displays and were the recipient of |
| To not smoke an H. Upmann is also to miss out on | | | | seven gold medals. The Upmann brothers were on |
| one of the most interesting stories in the history of | | | | their way. |
| cigars. | | | | Near the start of the 20th century, the Upmann |
| Dating back to at least 1844, the legend of H. | | | | bank, as well as their cigar business, went out of |
| Upmann cigars is a bit ambiguous; there is more that | | | | business, dealt a blow of the hard times. J. Frankau |
| one version, more than one version that involves | | | | and Company, a firm from Britain, purchased the H. |
| two brothers: Hermann and August. Some versions | | | | Upmann brand and continued producing cigars for |
| of the tale believe the brothers' last name was | | | | over a decade. In 1935, the H. Upmann brand was |
| originally Hupmann, and the "H" was turned into an | | | | sold to Menedez, Garcia, y Cia. This company |
| initial because H. Upmann was more artistically | | | | continued producing cigars until the Cuban revolution. |
| appealing than simply Hupmann. Others believe that | | | | During their production, Menedez, Garcia, y Cia |
| the H in H. Upmann stands for "Hermanos," meaning | | | | created a unique line of H. Upmann cigars, the H. |
| brothers in Spanish. Still, some insist that is simply | | | | Upmann Montecristo Selection. This cigar would |
| stands for "Hermann." | | | | eventually become known to smokers by one name: |
| Prior to 1844, the brothers were German bankers | | | | Montecristo. |
| who relocated to Havana, Cuba. Lovers of cigars, | | | | Following the Cuban Revolution, production of the H. |
| they were rumored to use cigars as a marketing tool | | | | Upmann brand was moved to the Canary Islands and |
| for their bank, as a lure for potential customers. This | | | | eventually relocated to the Dominican Republic. It is in |
| account has led Hermann and August to, according to | | | | the Dominican Republic that H. Upmann cigars are still |
| some, be credited for being the first to package | | | | produced for American consumers. |
| cigars in boxes made of cedar. | | | | While the H. Upmann brand is used to label non-Cuban |
| Originally, the cedar boxes were filled with the cigars | | | | cigars, Cuban made Upmann's still exist and are |
| of various manufacturers, but the outside of the box | | | | consumed frequently by international smokers. H. |
| contained the H. Upmann insignia, introducing the | | | | Upmann also manufactures a brand of cigarettes and |
| name into circulation. Once the Upmann's purchased a | | | | two cigarillos, short cigars wrapped in whole leaf |
| cigar factory, called The Jose Marti Factory, the | | | | tobacco. |