Dunhill

Dunhill cigars refer to a family of premium cigars associated with Alfred Dunhill, the British tobacconist and luxury-goods business founded around Alfred Dunhill's London tobacco retailing activities. The cigar subject is distinct from the broader Dunhill fashion and accessories brand. Its historical importance came less from a single continuously manufactured cigar than from Dunhill's role as a specialist retailer, distributor, marketer, and commissioning partner for prestigious Cuban cigars. Alfred Dunhill opened his first tobacco shop on Duke Street in London in 1907. The business developed relationships with Cuban cigar makers and marketed cigars under several names and arrangements. Among the best-known early Dunhill-associated offerings were the Selección Supremas sizes, made by established Cuban producers including Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta, as well as the Don Cándido line. Dunhill's reputation was reinforced by its position as a favored tobacconist among prominent British customers, including King George VI and Winston Churchill, although the cigar business itself remained dependent on Cuban production and changing commercial agreements. The Cuban Revolution transformed the ownership and distribution structure of the cigar industry. After nationalization, Cuba's state tobacco monopoly, Cubatabaco, granted Dunhill exclusive rights to several brands and lines. These included Don Cándido, Don Alfredo, La Flor del Punto, and a number of Selección Suprema sizes produced by Cuban marques that continued operating under the new state system. Don Cándido had originated in the 1930s as a premium cigar associated with Cándido Vega Díaz. Don Alfredo was created in the 1960s and named for Alfred Dunhill, while La Flor del Punto is generally associated with the 1970s and Cuban factory production. Dunhill and Cubatabaco later pursued a cigar sold directly under the Dunhill name. Discussions began in the late 1970s, an agreement was reached in 1982, and the cigars began appearing in retail markets in 1984. Distribution initially covered ten countries and later expanded to approximately thirty. The line was produced in Cuba for Dunhill, but the arrangement was time-limited. When the contract expired in 1991, Dunhill did not renew it and considered alternative production locations, including the Canary Islands, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. Dunhill ultimately ceased making cigars under that arrangement and transferred rights to use the Dunhill name on tobacco products to British American Tobacco. The tobacco business also became organizationally separate from Alfred Dunhill Ltd. in 1967. Dunhill's pipe-tobacco operations underwent later manufacturing changes: blending was transferred to Murrays of Belfast in 1981 and subsequently to Orlik of Denmark in 2005. These developments illustrate that Dunhill tobacco was not a single integrated production business. Rather, its history combined London retailing, Cuban manufacturing relationships, branded distribution, licensing, and changes in ownership or production partners. Because the available reference material does not establish a current producer, owner, or continuing production status for the cigar subject, those fields remain unspecified.

Dunhill's cigar history grew out of Alfred Dunhill's London tobacconry rather than from a clearly documented single cigar factory. Alfred Dunhill opened his first tobacco shop on Duke Street in 1907. The shop and the wider tobacco business developed a specialist reputation and established commercial links with Cuban cigar manufacturers. Dunhill marketed cigars under several names and also offered selected sizes made by established Cuban marques. The early Selección Supremas range is particularly associated with this model: Dunhill presented a selection of sizes produced by makers such as Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta. The business also distributed or promoted brands including Don Cándido. Don Cándido had been created in 1935 by Cándido Vega Díaz as a premium development connected with the El Rey del Mundo trade. The cigars were produced in Havana at the Briones Montoto factory, formerly associated with Romeo y Julieta, and were distributed exclusively through Dunhill arrangements. Dunhill's standing as a high-end tobacconist was further reinforced by its association with prominent British customers, including George VI and Winston Churchill. The Cuban Revolution and the nationalization of the Cuban tobacco industry changed Dunhill's commercial position. Cubatabaco, the Cuban government tobacco monopoly, granted Dunhill exclusive rights to several cigar brands and lines after the revolution. These rights covered Don Cándido, Don Alfredo, La Flor del Punto, and numerous Selección Suprema sizes made by Cuban marques that survived nationalization. Don Alfredo had been created in the 1960s for Dunhill and named after Alfred Dunhill; it was made at Havana's José Martí factory, formerly the H. Upmann factory. La Flor del Punto is generally dated to the 1970s and associated with the Partagás factory. Its name may have evoked the small white dot or point used on the shank of Dunhill smoking pipes, although the precise naming rationale is not fully established. Dunhill later sought a product carrying its own name rather than only distributing or exclusively representing other Cuban brands. Discussions with Cubatabaco began in 1977, and an agreement was reached in 1982. Dunhill cigars appeared in stores from 1984, first in ten countries and eventually in about thirty. The line was produced in Cuba for Dunhill under the agreement. In 1991, when the contract expired, Dunhill decided not to renew it. The company assessed possible production locations in the Canary Islands, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras, but the available reference does not establish a subsequent long-term Dunhill cigar manufacturing program in any of those locations. The tobacco branch of Alfred Dunhill Ltd. had already been separated as an independent entity in 1967. Dunhill's pipe-tobacco manufacturing also moved between production partners: blending was transferred to Murrays of Belfast in 1981 and later to Orlik in Denmark in 2005. These changes show that the Dunhill tobacco name covered a network of brands, licenses, retail relationships, and manufacturing arrangements rather than one stable corporate production chain. After the Cuban contract ended, Dunhill eventually transferred rights to put its name on tobacco products to British American Tobacco. The current ownership and production status of the cigar subject are not established by the supplied reference, so the entry does not treat Dunhill cigars as definitively active or defunct.

1. 2005Pipe-tobacco production moves to Orlik

   Dunhill pipe-tobacco blending was transferred from Murrays to Orlik of Denmark.

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2. 1991Cuban cigar contract expires

   Dunhill did not renew its Cuban cigar contract after it expired and examined alternative production locations.

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3. 1984Dunhill cigars launch internationally

   Dunhill-branded cigars began appearing in stores in ten countries, with distribution later expanding to approximately thirty.

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4. 1982Production agreement is reached

   Dunhill and Cubatabaco reached an agreement for cigars to be produced under the Dunhill name.

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5. 1981Pipe-tobacco blending moves to Murrays

   Blending of Dunhill pipe tobaccos was transferred to Murrays of Belfast.

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6. 1977Dunhill and Cubatabaco begin discussions

   Dunhill and Cubatabaco began discussing a cigar line that would carry the Dunhill name.

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7. 1970La Flor del Punto is introduced

   La Flor del Punto is generally associated with introduction during the 1970s and production at the Partagás factory.

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8. 1967Tobacco branch is separated

   The tobacco branch of Alfred Dunhill Ltd. became a separate entity.

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9. 1960Don Alfredo is created

   Don Alfredo was created for Dunhill during the 1960s and named after Alfred Dunhill.

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10. 1935Don Cándido is created

    Cándido Vega Díaz created Don Cándido as a premium cigar line associated with Dunhill distribution.

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11. 1907Alfred Dunhill opens a London tobacco shop

    Alfred Dunhill opened his first tobacco shop on Duke Street in London, providing the retail foundation for the later Dunhill tobacco and cigar business.

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Premium and luxury tobacco, with a heritage centered on specialist London tobacconry and prestigious Cuban cigar production.

• Selección SupremasCuban cigar selection

  Selección Supremas was a Dunhill-associated range of cigar sizes made by Cuban manufacturers. The selection included cigars produced by prestigious marques such as Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta, making the range an expression of Dunhill's specialist retail and distribution role rather than a single factory-made blend.

• Don CándidoPremium Cuban cigar1935

  Don Cándido was created in 1935 by Cándido Vega Díaz as a premium cigar associated with Dunhill distribution. The cigars were produced at Havana's Briones Montoto factory, formerly the Romeo y Julieta factory, and were intended for exclusive distribution through Dunhill arrangements.

• Don AlfredoPremium Cuban cigar1960

  Don Alfredo was created for Dunhill during the 1960s and named after Alfred Dunhill. Its cigars were produced at Havana's José Martí factory, formerly the H. Upmann factory, and became one of the Cuban brands associated with Dunhill's post-revolution distribution rights.

• La Flor del PuntoPremium Cuban cigar1970

  La Flor del Punto is generally associated with introduction in the 1970s and production at the Partagás factory. Its name may refer to the white point or dot used as an identifying detail on the shank of Dunhill smoking pipes, though the naming explanation is not definitive.

• DunhillBranded Cuban cigar line1984

  The cigar line sold directly under the Dunhill name followed negotiations with Cubatabaco that began in 1977. An agreement was reached in 1982, and the cigars entered international stores in 1984. The Cuban production arrangement ended when the contract expired in 1991.

• Dunhill pipe tobaccoPipe tobacco

  Dunhill's tobacco activities also included pipe-tobacco products. Their blending was transferred to Murrays of Belfast in 1981 and later to Orlik of Denmark in 2005. These products are included as part of the Dunhill tobacco history but are outside the specific cigar subject of this dossier.

• 2005Transfer pipe-tobacco blending to OrlikOther

  Dunhill pipe-tobacco blending had been handled by Murrays of Belfast since 1981.

  What changed. Blending was transferred to Orlik of Denmark.

  Aftermath. The move further changed the manufacturing partners involved in Dunhill tobacco products.

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• 1991End the Cuban cigar contractStrategy

  The Dunhill-Cubatabaco cigar contract reached its expiration date after several years of international distribution.

  What changed. Dunhill chose not to renew the agreement and evaluated possible production locations in the Canary Islands, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

  Aftermath. Dunhill eventually stopped making cigars under the arrangement and transferred rights to use its name on tobacco products to British American Tobacco.

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• 1982Develop a cigar under the Dunhill nameProduct launch

  Dunhill and Cubatabaco had discussed a directly branded Dunhill cigar since 1977.

  What changed. The parties reached an agreement to produce cigars bearing the Dunhill name.

  Aftermath. The cigars entered stores in 1984 and expanded from ten initial countries to approximately thirty markets.

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• 1967Separate the tobacco branch from Alfred Dunhill Ltd.Strategy

  The tobacco activities had become a distinct part of the wider Alfred Dunhill business.

  What changed. The tobacco branch was sold off and became a separate entity.

  Aftermath. The change established a more separate organizational structure for Dunhill tobacco operations.

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• 1991Dunhill declines to renew its Cuban cigar contract

  When the production and distribution contract expired, Dunhill chose not to renew it and evaluated possible cigar-production locations outside Cuba.

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• 1984Dunhill cigars enter international retail markets

  The Dunhill-branded Cuban cigars began appearing in stores, initially in ten countries and later in approximately thirty.

  Product launch
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• 1982Dunhill-branded Cuban cigar agreement reaches production

  Following discussions begun in 1977, Dunhill and Cubatabaco reached an agreement to produce cigars sold under the Dunhill name.

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• 1967Dunhill tobacco operations become a separate entity

  The tobacco branch of Alfred Dunhill Ltd. was separated from the wider company, changing the organizational structure behind Dunhill tobacco products.

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• 1907Alfred Dunhill opens a tobacco shop on Duke Street in London

  Alfred Dunhill's Duke Street tobacco shop established the London tobacconist context from which the Dunhill cigar business developed.

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• Dunhill transfers rights to use its name on tobacco products to British American Tobacco

  After ending its Cuban cigar arrangement, Dunhill eventually sold or transferred rights to place the Dunhill name on tobacco products to British American Tobacco.

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1. Dunhill (cigar)