La Gloria Cubana
Origin: Dominican Republic
La Gloria Cubana is a storied cigar brand created in Miami in 1972 at the El Credito factory, transformed into a cigar boom phenomenon by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. Now owned by General Cigar, it remains a benchmark for bold Dominican blends.
Key Facts
1972
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr.
General Cigar Dominicana (Santiago, Dominican Republic)
Dominican Republic
The Story
La Gloria Cubana's non-Cuban incarnation was created in Miami in 1972 at the El Credito Cigar Factory, which had been purchased by the Carrillo family in 1928. The brand didn't become a focus until Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. took over in 1980, updating the blend with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan-Dominican fillers. The new blend received a pivotal 90 rating from a then-fledgling Cigar Aficionado, and demand skyrocketed during the 1990s cigar boom. La Gloria Cubana became one of the most sought-after brands in America, known for its bold, full-bodied flavor profile. In 1999, Perez-Carrillo sold the brand to General Cigar Company and served as brand ambassador for a decade. Today, La Gloria Cubana is produced in the Dominican Republic under General Cigar (now Forged Cigar Company, a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group), with lines including Serie R, Esteli, and the limited-edition collaborations. The brand's Miami heritage remains central to its identity.
Notable Cigar Lines
Awards
- Multiple 90+ ratings from Cigar Aficionado
- Serie R consistently highly rated
