The History of Montecristo Cigars: From Alexandre Dumas to Havana Icon

Founded in Havana in 1935 by Alonso Menéndez, Montecristo is the undisputed benchmark of handmade Cuban cigars. Accounting for roughly one out of every four Habanos sold globally, the brand’s yellow and red boxes adorned with crossed golden swords are recognized in every corner of the world.

Here is the rich history of Cuba’s most famous cigar house.

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1. The Tale of the Factory Lector (El Lector de Tabaquería)

In 19th and 20th-century Havana cigar factories, work was carried out in quiet concentration. To entertain and educate the Torcedores, the factory employed a professional reader (Lector) who sat upon an elevated platform reading newspapers, political philosophy, and classic literature aloud.

At the Particulares factory, the rollers’ favorite book was Alexandre Dumas’s 1844 masterpiece, The Count of Monte Cristo. When Alonso Menéndez acquired the factory in 1935, he honored the craftsmen’s passion by naming the brand Montecristo and designing a crest featuring six crossed rapiers and the royal fleur-de-lis.

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2. The Original Numbered Lineup (Nos. 1 through 5)

Originally, Montecristo launched with only five numbered vitolas:

• Montecristo No. 1: Cervantes (Lonsdale, 42 × 165 mm)
• Montecristo No. 2: Pirámide (Torpedo, 52 × 156 mm), arguably the most famous torpedo in cigar history.
• Montecristo No. 3: Corona (42 × 142 mm)
• Montecristo No. 4: Mareva (Petit Corona, 42 × 129 mm), the world’s most popular Habano.
• Montecristo No. 5: Perla (40 × 102 mm)

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3. Expansion: Línea Edmundo and Open Series

In modern times, Habanos S.A. expanded the Montecristo portfolio to cater to contemporary cigar enthusiasts:

• Línea Edmundo: Named after the novel’s hero, Edmond Dantès, featuring thicker ring gauges like the Edmundo (52 × 135 mm) and Double Edmundo (50 × 155 mm).
• Línea Open: Introduced in 2009 for outdoor enjoyment with a lighter, fresher profile (Eagle, Master, Regata, Junior).
• Línea 1935: The brand’s super-premium full-bodied range (Maltés, Dumas, Leyenda).

Discover our authentic range of Montecristo Cigars with guaranteed provenance.

Frequently asked questions

How did the Montecristo cigar brand get its name?

In 1935, factory lector (reader) read Alexandre Dumas's classic novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo' to cigar rollers at the H. Upmann factory in Havana. The rollers loved the tale so much that founders Alonso Menéndez and Pepe García named their new brand after it.

What is the best-selling Montecristo cigar in the world?

The Montecristo No. 4 (Mareva vitola, 42 ring gauge by 129 mm) is the best-selling handmade Cuban cigar on earth, celebrated for its rich notes of coffee, cocoa, and toasted wood.

What does the crossed swords logo on the Montecristo box represent?

The six crossed golden swords surrounding a French fleur-de-lis pay tribute to the swashbuckling adventures and duel scenes in Alexandre Dumas's novel.