Description
One thing the creators of El Rey del Mundo cigars could not be accused of is modesty. The name translates to “King of the World” – a bold claim for any brand, never mind one which had just started and decided on this name at the outset. Nevertheless, Spanish-born Cuban cigar magnate Antonio Allones – brother and business partner of Ramón Allones – named the brand in 1882 and immediately began creating cigars many felt were worthy of the name. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Allones family had already brought them great fortune, and the initial cigars for El Rey del Mundo were manufactured in the same factory as those which bore his brother’s name. In short order their reputation began to outstrip that of their older siblings, and the King of the World had ascended to his throne, in cigar terms at least, by the beginning of the 20th century.
The King himself is seen on the livery still adorning the boxes of El Rey del Mundo today. His outfit could be seen as Taino, the indigenous people of Cuba, and represents the island; his hand grips a mighty cigar; his chariot is pulled by 5 beasts representing the continents of the world. His triumph is clear for all to see, and this confidence was what drove the brand to be the best and conquer the market in such quick time. The artwork, and official brand logo used by Habanos today, proclaims operation “desde 1848” (since 1848) which lends weight to the theory that Antonio Allones merely bought the brand in 1882, rather than creating it then. Whenever he took it over, it was sold in 1905 to Partagás, already the most expensive and luxurious cigar in the world.
El Rey del Mundo cigars are, and have always been, hand-rolled using Tripa Larga (long filler tobacco) from the Vuelta Abajo region. The blend is light-to-medium in strength, a trait which served it will in its early years but began to fall out of fashion in the latter half of the 20th century. The cigars were still popular, but less so that at their peak, and gradually the vitolario was slimmed down until we were left with the small Regular Production portfolio we have today.
Despite preferences these days generally being for large-format cigars, from brands with powerful, spicy blends, there is still plenty of room in the market for lighter, more nuanced cigars and shorter smokes. This is what the core El Rey del Mundo vitolas provide; the special releases may diverge from this, but the identity of the brand remains the same. One suspects it will for another 100 years or more. This King’s reign is far from over.
[EL REY DEL MUNDO] | [HABANOS]
