Ramón Allones

Ramón Allones is a historic premium cigar brand name with two distinct manufacturing traditions: a Cuban marque produced in Havana for Habanos S.A., and a separate Honduran brand produced for General Cigar Company. The name was established in Cuba in 1845 by brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones. It became associated with elaborate cigar presentation and is commonly credited, although not without competing claims, with several important packaging innovations: the use of colored lithographic artwork on cigar boxes, cigar bands, and the 8-9-8 box arrangement. The Cuban brand underwent several ownership changes before being acquired by the Cifuentes family. Production was subsequently transferred to the Partagás factory in Havana, where the marque continued to be made. The factory was nationalized by the Cuban revolutionary government on September 15, 1960, together with the rest of the country's cigar-manufacturing sector. Ramón Allones was retained as one of the Cuban brands selected for continued production and remains part of the Habanos portfolio. Cuban Ramón Allones cigars are generally positioned toward experienced premium-cigar smokers who favor medium-full to full-bodied blends. The brand has historically shared certain stylistic traits with Partagás, including a substantial flavor profile, related production traditions, and overlapping approaches to vitolas and presentation. Its commercial range has contracted considerably over time. After Altadis acquired a controlling share of Habanos S.A. in 2001, many sizes were discontinued, including the traditional Coronas and the 8-9-8 format associated with the brand's early packaging history. The core Cuban range has included the Gigantes double corona, Small Club Coronas petit corona, and Specially Selected robusto. The Specially Selected, Gigantes, and Small Club Coronas have been particularly recognized among aficionados. Habanos has also used Ramón Allones for limited and regional releases distributed in selected national markets. These editions included products for Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Asia-Pacific, the Benelux region, France, Lebanon, Spain, Canada, and parts of South America. The UK-only Belicoso, released in 2005, has been described as a possible early model for the later regional-edition program because it appeared in a single market without the additional bands or packaging later used for many regional releases. Other regional editions included Selección Suprema, Eminencia, Estupendo, Gran Robusto, Especial de Allones, Phoenicios, Grande, Celestial Fino, Petit Únicos, Beritus, and Patagón. An Allones Extra was issued as an Edición Limitada in 2011. The Ramón Allones name therefore represents both a Cuban heritage brand and a separate non-Cuban production line rather than a single globally standardized product range. The Cuban expression remains tied to Havana manufacture, Habanos distribution, traditional Cuban cigar craftsmanship, and a relatively full-bodied profile. The Honduran expression belongs to a different corporate and manufacturing lineage under General Cigar Company. This dual identity is central to understanding the brand and prevents it from being treated as interchangeable with other cigar names that share similar historical associations.

Ramón Allones was created in Cuba in 1845 by brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones. The founders are distinct from the Antonio Allones associated with the El Rey del Mundo cigar brand. From its early history, Ramón Allones became associated with premium cigar presentation as well as cigar manufacture. It is often identified as an early adopter of colored lithographic box art, cigar bands, and the 8-9-8 packing arrangement. These claims are part of the brand's traditional history, although other cigar makers have also been credited with pioneering some or all of the same practices. The company passed through multiple ownership changes before being acquired by the Cifuentes family. Under the Cifuentes ownership, production moved to Havana's Partagás factory. That association became a defining part of the Cuban brand's identity: Ramón Allones cigars continued to be made at the factory and developed a profile broadly linked with the substantial body and traditional presentation associated with Partagás. On September 15, 1960, the Cuban government nationalized cigar manufacturing and took control of the Partagás factory. Ramón Allones was among the brands selected to remain in production after nationalization. It subsequently became part of the Cuban state tobacco system and is now produced for Habanos S.A. in Havana. The Cuban version is generally described as medium-full to full in body and has retained a reputation for robust, traditional flavor. The brand's portfolio has narrowed over time. After Altadis acquired a controlling stake in Habanos S.A. in 2001, a large number of Ramón Allones sizes were discontinued. The reductions affected historically important formats, including Coronas and the 8-9-8 size associated with the brand's packaging legacy. The remaining core range has centered on a smaller group of handmade vitolas, notably Specially Selected, Gigantes, and Small Club Coronas. A second, separate Ramón Allones brand is produced in Honduras for General Cigar Company, which is associated with Swedish Match. The Cuban and Honduran products should not be treated as one manufacturing line: they have different production locations and corporate histories, even though they share the Ramón Allones name. The Cuban marque has also been used for market-specific regional editions. Releases appeared in countries and regions including the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Asia-Pacific, the Benelux region, France, Lebanon, Spain, Canada, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. The 2005 UK Belicoso is notable because it was reportedly introduced for one market without the additional bands or special packaging that later became characteristic of regional-edition releases. A further limited-edition product, Allones Extra, appeared in 2011. These releases extended the brand's collector appeal while the regular range remained comparatively compact.

• 2016

  Patagón regional edition is listed for South America

  [1]Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org

  Patagón is released for Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay in the Petit Edmundo format.

• 2011

  Allones Extra is released as an Edición Limitada

  [1]Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org

  The brand issues Allones Extra as a limited-edition cigar in the Francisco vitola.

• 2005

  First listed regional-edition releases appear

  [1]Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org

  The Cuban marque issues listed regional products including Belicoso for the United Kingdom, Selección Suprema for Italy, and Eminencia for Switzerland.

• 2001

  Portfolio rationalization follows the Altadis investment in Habanos

  [1]Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org

  After Altadis obtains a controlling share of Habanos S.A., numerous Ramón Allones sizes are discontinued.

• 1960

  Cuban cigar manufacturing is nationalized

  [1]Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org

  The Cuban government nationalizes cigar production and takes control of the Partagás factory where Ramón Allones was made. The brand remains in Cuban production.

• 1845

  Ramón Allones is established in Cuba

  [1]Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org

  Brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones create the cigar brand in Cuba.

A traditional, full-flavored premium cigar marque with strong Cuban heritage, aimed primarily at experienced cigar enthusiasts and collectors. Its regional and limited releases add scarcity and market-specific appeal.

• Core handmade Cuban cigar

  Specially Selected

  A robusto-format cigar and one of the best-known surviving core products in the Cuban Ramón Allones range. It is associated with the brand's medium-full to full-bodied style and is frequently identified as a principal offering for aficionados.

• Core handmade Cuban cigar

  Gigantes

  A long double-corona cigar measuring approximately 194 millimetres in length with a 49 ring gauge. Its large format reflects the traditional, substantial character historically associated with Ramón Allones.

• Core handmade Cuban cigar

  Small Club Coronas

  A petit-corona format measuring approximately 111 millimetres by 42 ring gauge. It is one of the smaller core vitolas retained in the Cuban range after the brand's broader historical portfolio was reduced.

• Regional-edition cigars · 2005

  Regional Edition releases

  The Cuban brand has issued market-specific cigars under names including Selección Suprema, Eminencia, Belicoso, Estupendo, Gran Robusto, Especial de Allones, Phoenicios, Grande, Celestial Fino, Petit Únicos, Beritus, and Patagón. Their distribution was limited to designated national or regional markets.

• Edición Limitada cigar · 2011

  Allones Extra

  A limited-edition Cuban Ramón Allones cigar released in 2011 in the Francisco vitola, measuring approximately 143 millimetres with a 44 ring gauge.

• 2005

  Introduce market-specific Ramón Allones regional editionsProduct launch

  Background

  Habanos used the brand for products targeted at individual national or regional markets.

  Action taken

  Regional releases were issued for markets including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Switzerland, among others.

  Aftermath

  The program expanded the brand's collector and specialty-retail presence beyond its core vitolas.

  Source

• 2001

  Reduce the regular Ramón Allones size rangeStrategy

  Background

  Altadis acquired a controlling share of Habanos S.A., after which the Ramón Allones portfolio underwent substantial rationalization.

  Action taken

  Many sizes were discontinued, including Coronas and the 8-9-8 format associated with the brand's historical packaging tradition.

  Aftermath

  The surviving core range became more concentrated around Specially Selected, Gigantes, and Small Club Coronas, while regional and limited releases provided additional variety.

  Source

• 1960

  Retain Ramón Allones after nationalizationStrategy

  Background

  The Cuban government nationalized cigar manufacturing and assumed control of the Partagás factory on September 15, 1960.

  Action taken

  Ramón Allones was selected as a Cuban brand to continue in production under the national tobacco system.

  Aftermath

  The marque continued as a Havana-made Cuban cigar and later became part of the Habanos S.A. portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Ramón Allonesen.wikipedia.org