People sleep in Honduras sometimes when it comes to cigars, but those who know, definitely KNOW what’s up with a great Honduran blend – rich, flavorful, spicy… it’s all there. All you need is lighter to make it come alive.
Saint Luis Rey cigars are made by hand in Honduras as the “Hecho a Mano” label proclaims. It’s always nice to see them on our racks because it’s an old brand that has gone through a few changes of ownership and evolutions. At the time of this writing, Altadis (who also produces the non-Cuban versions of Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Aging Room, H. Upmann, and Henry Clay) is responsible for the stewardship of this vintage cigar label.
Even Altadis doesn’t know exactly how Saint Luis Rey cigars got their name. The company explains that there are two leading possibilities for the source of the name a) Thornton Wilder’s novel, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," and b) the town of San Luis, Cuba, where these cigars were originally rolled. B sounds like a much stronger case when you put it that way, but we’re not historians and we’re just here to roast up some delicious tobacco.
For decades delicious Saint Luis Rey cigars have been produced at the Flor de Copan factory in Honduras. While early blends were more towards the medium part of the spectrum, fuller cigars eventually became something of a hallmark for the brand. Eventually, this led to the fantastic Cardenas blend, which scored 93 points from Cigar Aficionado in 2021 thanks to its “Vibrant notes of savory wood, red pepper spice, and almond” which were “punctuated by snaps of leather and just a hint of chili oil.” Even the construction was on point, as the judges praised the draw as “excellent” and the burn “dead even.”
The Cuban and non-Cuban versions of Saint Luis Rey cigars can go head to head forever and we’ll happily smoke the results on the sidelines. This is a brand that flies under the radar and yet never goes out of style. Honduras is a flavor country, and SLR cigars are some of the best blends you’ll find there.
Please browse our selection of Saint Luis Rey cigars at your leisure.
