Sautter has always been know for selling the very finest vintage and aged Cuban cigars but every now and then something incredible comes through the door and this month we are featuring a truly amazing cabinet of H.Upmann cigars that we are still researching but which we believe dates from the last years of the 18th century.
We have some more remarkable cigars in the humidor to tell you about in the coming weeks and as a way to introduce you to one specific box we have an overview of the warranty seals that appear on the outside of Cuban cigar boxes.
We all enjoyed the Hunters and Frankau summer party and the official launch of the wonderful new Flor de Cano short Robusto. Read more about the cigar and the party but be quick, they are selling fast!.
If you can think ahead to the chilly months of next winter from the heat of a British summer we have now finalised the program for two trips to Cuba during the tobacco harvest and the Habanos festival. Discovering the process of growing and maturing the tobacco through to making the cigars is a trip every true cigar lover should take and we have some great trips planned.
Finally we have the winner of our Duke competition and a new competition to win a fabulous new Sautter boardroom ash tray which is big enough for almost two days worth of Laurence’s cigars so it should last any normal smoker weeks. it’s simple to enter so get stuck in.
Johnny Sautter
H. Upmann - History
Every cigar brand name has a fascinating history and the H Upmann brand is no exception. The mild-medium cigars which boast a smooth and subtle flavour have been the favourites of aficionados and Presidents since their introduction back in the 1840s.
At that time a German banker called Herman Upmann, who also happened to be a very keen cigar smoker moved to Havana to open a branch of his families bank.
His love of cigars and his fascination with their manufacture led him to invest in a cigar factory in Havana in 1844 and right up to 1922 he and his family ran both the bank and the cigar business.
Through the late 1800s, the H. Upmann brand gained recognition at exhibitions all over the world and won gold medals at eleven international exhibitions. These medals together with Herman’s signature were used to create the Upmann brand logo which still appears on the boxes of their cigars today.
In 1922 both the bank and the cigar business failed and had to file for bankruptcy. The British firm, J. Frankau & Co. (today part of the exclusive UK Habanos Importer Hunters and Frankau) bought the brand and the factory and continued to produce Upmann cigars right up until 1935.
Then in 1935 the factory and the H.Upmann brand was sold to Menéndez, García, y Cía, who continued production right up to the Cuban revolution. It was during the ownership of Menéndez and García that a new cigar brand was created called the H. Upmann Montecristo Selection. This line would develop into the stand alone Montecristo brand.
Upmann cigars offer a characteristic smooth, subtle, mild to medium smoke. They are perfect for new cigar smokers and they also appeal to the day-time tastes of seasoned connoisseurs. In the larger sizes are among the most rare and sought-after cigars in the world.
It is well known that the Petit Upmann was the favourite cigar of US President John F. Kennedy. His former press secretary Pierre Salinger is on record telling the story of being sent out by the President one evening to buy up every box of Petit Upmann he could lay his hands on in Washington. When he returned the next morning with some 1,200 cigars the President pulled a document out of his desk drawer and signed into law the embargo on Cuban imports that continues to this day.
Sautter’s latest amazing historic discovery Cigars from the late 19th Century
Once every 20 to 30 years a really historic discovery is made in the Cigar world. Sautter has a World wide reputation for finding vintage cigars.
Our recent discovery of an almost complete cabinet of H.Upmann cigars from the late 19th Century is the subject of an initial video with described by Cigar consultant Simon Chase as “a very remarkable find”. ”We are looking at something which is very special … this is a very remarkable find”.
To put these cigars in context they were made soon after Charles Dickens died, around the time that Henry Ford produced his first car and a young journalist called Winston Churchill went to Cuba for the first time to cover the war against the Spanish.
We have worked with world famous cigar consultant Simon Chase to produce a short video which reviews what we know about this historic discovery so far based on the provenance of the cabinet which was locked up on the original owners death around 1900 and was only reopened in the last two years.
Link to the video on the Sautter You Tube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC5DkZzZDnE
The cabinet originally contained 500 cigars. Remaining in the cabinet today are:
- Perfectos - 125 cigars (5 bundles of 25's cigars each)
- Boune Bouche - 48 cigars (2 bundles of 24's cigars each)
- Excepcionales - 48 cigars ( 2 bundles, one with 25's cigars, one with only 23 cigars)
- Invicibles - 91 cigars (3 bundles of 25's cigars and 1 bundle with 16 cigars)
- In addition there are about 5 damaged cigars.
Most of these names and cigar sizes and not on record anywhere so you can expect them to reappear as UK regional editions over the next few years.
When you look at these cigars you need to consider that they were made towards the end of the 19th Century and to put that in context :
In Great Britain-
- Charles Dickens died in 1870,
- Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
- In 1890 Stan Laurel was born
In the USA
- In 1876 National League baseball was founded and General Custer was killed.
-
In 1892 the General Electric Company was founded
-
In 1896 Henry Ford produced his first car
In Cuba
- in 1868 revolutionaries under the leadership of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes had proclaims Cuban independence from Spain sparking a ten year war of independence
- in 1895 a young journalist called Winston Churchill made his way to Cuba to cover the war and to find himself fighting for the Spanish at battle of Iguara.
We are still researching these remarkable cigars so expect updates in future newsletters.
Sautter Trips to Havana in February
If you are a cigar smoker then a trip to Havana and Pinar del Rio is a must and a trip with Sautter in February during the tobacco harvest or for the annual Habanos festival week is a trip you will remember every time you light up a fine aged Cuban cigar.
In 2012 we will run two trips;
One from the 12th to 19th February for Cigar enthusiasts keen to submerge themselves in the full manufacturing process from the fields to the factory.
And our annual trip to the Habanos Festival will run from the 19th to the 26th of February with some exceptional special events planned for this year.
The details and itineraries for the two trips are:
Cigar Enthusiasts trip 12th – 19th February 2012
Sunday 12th February
Fly Gatwick to Havana with Virgin
Arrrive Havana Sunday evening
Transfer from Airport
Sunday 12th
Check in to Hotel Nacional, Havana
Evening meal at El Ajibe
Monday - 13th Nacional
Walking tour of Old Havana
Lunch at Ambos Mundos, the hotel where Hemmingway stayed
Tour Of Havana in old convertible cars
Evening meal at Old Havana restaurant (barbeque atop Spanish centre)
Tuesday - 14th
Breakfast at Hotel
Leave early to visit Vinales & Pinar del Rio
Barbeque lunch at Local Tobacco Farm in Vinales
Overnight in a Casa Paticulares
Evening at Music spot near Church
Wednesday - 15th
Breakfast at Casa
Drive to Pinar del Rio to visit the farm of Alejandro Robaina
Lunch at Café near Robainna farm
Return to Havana and the Hotel Nacional
Evening meal at Old town restaurant
Thursday - 16th
Factory Tours
Morning tour of El Laguito & Romeo y Julieta/H.Upmann factory
Lunch at Templete
Afternoon tour of Cigar Stores in Old Havana
Evening Meal in Havana (La Guarida)
Friday 17th
Transfer to Sol Palmeras (Varadero) after breakfast.
Friday & Saturday nights in Sol Palmeras
Sunday afternoon Transfer from Sol Palmeras to Havana for Sunday evening PM return Virgin flight (Lands in the UK on Monday morning)
If you would like to bring your Partner with you on this trip there is an option to depart to Varadero on Tuesday morning for those who would rather head to the beach than the Tobacco fields and factories. You can then meet up again on Friday in Varadero.
Habanos Festival 19th to 26th February
Sunday 19th February
Fly Gatwick to Havana with Virgin
Arrrive Havana Sunday evening
VIP Reception at Airport
Transfer from Airport
Sunday Evening - 19th
Check in to Hotel Nacional
Evening meal at El Ajibe
Monday - 20th
Tour of Old Havana
Walking tour led by historian
Lunch at Ambos Mundos
Afternoon at leisure at the Nacional Hotel
Evening Habanos Welcome event
The Partagas Factory in Old Havana
Pic 8
Tuesday - 21st
Breakfast at Hotel
Trip to Tobacco Farm
Lunch
Return to National in the afternoon
Evening Cigar Tasting and dinner in Presidential Suite at Nacional
Wednesday - 22nd
Breakfast at Hotel
El Laguito Factory Tour
Lunch at Old Havana reststaurant
Afternoon Tour of Partagas Factory
Evening meal at La Guarida
Thursday - 23rd
Breakfast at Hotel
Tour of Cigar Stores
Lunch at il Templete
After lunch walk to Condes de Villa Nueva
Evening Cigar Dinner in Presedential Suite
Friday 24th
Breakfast at the Hotel
Tour of Havana in classic old cars
Lunch at a old town restaurant
Afternoon at leisure at the Nacional
Habanos Gala Dinner
Saturday 25th
Breakfast at Hotel
Baseball Game against the rollers
Early evening drinks and Canapes outside the veranda outside the Presidential suite
Sunday 26th
Day at leisure by the pool at the Nacional
Sunday evening transfer to Airport for return flight
Monday 27th
Arrive Gatwick Airport
A trip to Cuba is a wonderful adventure and for serious cigar smokers it is a trip to heaven. You will see all aspects of the cigar production process and enjoy great food and wonderful freshly rolled cigars in a vibrant friendly country.
Contact us now for further details, flights and to get a package cost based on your specific requirements.
email events@sauttercigars.com.
Warranty Seals
Ever wondered what that strange green bank note like seal is on the side of your fine box of Havana’s? We have recently found a box of cigars with one of the very first seals and with the help of those nice people at Hunters and Frankau we will try to explain a little about the history of the ‘Warranty Seal’
The warranty seal was first introduced in 1889 by Royal Decree of the King of Spain. Then in 1912 the independent Cuban government passed a law authorising the use of a new design, which is similar to the one is use today. It was modified slightly in 1931 and more radically in 1999 with the addition of the red serial number and an emblem that is visible only under ultra-violet light. This seal appears on all tobacco products made in Cuba.
1887 - 1899 (12 years)
This is an example of the very first Cuban warranty seal taken from an extremely rare box of 25 Partagas Cupidos which are believed to date from around 1897.
First Warranty Seal introduced by the Union of Manufacturers of Cigars and Cigarettes of the Island of Cuba (La Union de Fabricantes de Tabacos y Cigarros de la Isle de Cuba)
1899 - 1902 (3 years)
For just three years at the end of the Spanish - American War, when the United States temporarily governed Cuba, this seal was used.
1902 - 1912 (10 years)
1912- 1931 (19 years)
New, banknote-style design introduced by the law of the Republica de Cuba dated 16th July 1912, similar to the design today. Serrated edge (not shown).
1931 - 1961/2 (30 years)
'Cuban Government's Warranty for Cigars exported from Havana' added in English, French and German.
1961/2 - 1999 (37 years)
Straight as opposed to serrated edge on seal introduced.
1999
Complete re-creation of 1912 design with addition of red letter/number code but with different wording. Note five men in field, not nine.
The fight against the counterfeiters is a constant battle. If you look at a very recent box of Habanos cigars you will find the very latest seal introduced in 2009. This seal includes a bar code and a bicolour hologram to make the seal more difficult to copy. The label also includes hidden security dots which are only visible under certain light.
So the fight against forgeries which started over 120 years ago continues to ensure that you get the genuine hand made habanos.
We are grateful to Hunters and Frankau for supplying warranty seal images and information for this article.
Cuban Cigar Roller in Sautter
From Monday 11th July to Saturday 16th we will be welcoming the lastest Cuban Cigar roller to Sautters so pop in to sample the delights of a freshly rolled Cuban Cigar.
This years roller is Senor Yoel Ulacia Diaz. Senor Diaz is a 9th grade torcedor (cigar roller), the highest achievable grade within the Cuban industry structure, meaning he is capable of crafting any size or shape cigar within the Habanos S. A. portfolio.
He began his career in 1998 as a student roller at the world famous Partagás factory and, in recognition of his outstanding talent, he attained his 9th grade status in just two years.
He remains with the Partagás factory to this day but is now a Maestro de Calidad, or Master of Quality Control, and supervises the work of some 350 cigar rollers within one of Cuba’s most iconic cigar factories.
If by any chance you can’t get in to the store to see Senor Diaz at work just give us a ring and we will put some of his cigars aside for you to collect th next time you are passing Mount Street.
New Flor de Cano short Robusto launched at the Hunters and Frankau summer party
The Sautter team enjoyed a fantastic evening at London’s Lainsborough hotel recently for the launch of the new Flor de Cano UK regional edition cigar at the Hunters and Frankau summer party.
We were joined by a number of customers and Desmond made the trip back into London for his annual pilgrimage. We drank Pol Roger 2002 vintage champagne and were entertained by a wonderful Cuban band and miraculously the weather stayed fine all evening.
The long awaited Flor de Cano Short Robusto, which was originally billed as a 2010 Regional Edition made it’s long anticipated appearance and was greeted with approval by everyone who smoked it.
The La Flor de Cano Short Robusto is a smaller version of the original Flor de Cano Short Churchill, a Robusto, which took the market by storm in the late 1980s and today sells for very high prices at auction. Although a different vitola, much care and attention to detail has been paid to ensure the blend of the new edition remains faithful to the original, a cigar that was discontinued some 20 years ago. The attention to detail even extends to the packaging, where the original green ‘hot stamp’ has been faithfully recreated. As always with Regional Editions, these cigars have been produced in very limited quantities and only 1,200 individually numbered boxes will be released.
We have them in stock in Mount street now so pop in and try one, but be quick they are going fast.! So far we have sold all of our first allocation and three quarters of our next delivery. So give us a ring today if you don’t want to miss out on these very fine cigars.
Competition Winner
Back in our January Newsletter we set a competition in which we challenged our readers with the question "Which Dukedom will Prince William be given on his marriage to Kate Middleton.". As we now know the title given to the Prince on the eve of his wedding to Kate Middleton was the Duke of Cambridge.
The winner of the competition was Nigel Simpson and he popped in to Mount Street this week to pick up his regal box of Duke’s and his humidor is on the way!
New Competition
Register on the Sautter channel and you will be entered into a drawer for one of Sautter’s wonderful new Boardroom Crate ash trays.
Sautter new merchandise
Summer has arrived and with is a wonderful new colourful range of Sautter’s iconic flip flop ashtrays. Now available in a range of rainbow colours. They are also silver in a wide range of sizes and a rather fetching black.
Pop into see them in the flesh in Mount street or order on line.
