UK Regional Editions Archives - Hunters & Frankau

UK Havana Cigar Portfolio

UK Regional Editions

Larrañaga 47

Brand: Por Larrañaga
Year: 2021
Flavour: Light to Medium
Vitola: Julieta No.2
Ring gauge: 47
Length: 7 Inches / 178mm
A classic "Churchill" size, this cigar is presented in Semi Boîte Nature (SBN) boxes of fifty cigars. The first time the UK had created such a box for one of its REs. Just 1,500 boxes were made, 75,000 cigars in total. A delicious cigar with impressive ageing potential.

Private Stock 230

Brand: Ramón Allones
Year: 2020
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Partagás 16
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 6 ¾ Inches / 170mm
Originally intended as a cigar to help celebrate H&F's 230th anniversary in 2020 its launch was delayed until 2022. Adorned with a band inspired by those which dressed the original Ramon Allones Private Stock cigars that were discontinued in the 1970's. However, this band also bears the size name, making it unique.

La Reina

Brand: El Rey del Mundo
Year: 2018
Flavour: Light to Medium
Vitola: Laguito No.1
Ring gauge: 38
Length: 7 ½ Inches / 192mm
Every one of these elegant light-to-medium cigars were made by just two cigar rollers working in El Laguito factory. El Laguito is home of Cohiba and the birthplace of the Laguito No.1 size. This is a cigar that demands to be sipped rather than gulped and will reward the patient smoker with layer upon layer of subtle and nuanced smoke laced with cream and with an underlying sweetness.

Británicas Extra

Brand: La Gloria Cubana
Year: 2017
Flavour: Medium
Vitola: Británicas Extra
Ring gauge: 48
Length: 5 ⅜ Inches / 137mm
Inspired by the incredible success of the 2011 UK Regional Edition, the Bolivar Británicas Extra, this medium-bodied perfecto was not released until 2020. Thankfully it was well worth the wait for this long anticipated release. The bands that dress the cigar are faithful recreations of the type used during the late 1890's or early part of the 20th century, helping this cigar to look as good as it tastes.

Selección Superba

Brand: Juan López
Year: 2016
Flavour: Medium to Full
Vitola: Geniales
Ring gauge: 54
Length: 5 ⅞ Inches / 150mm
60,000 Selección Superba were produced by the Empresa de Habana at their factory in San Antonio de los Baños in Havana Province. They are presented in 6,000 numbered boxes, containing 10 cigars each and quickly became another very collectable UK Regional Edition.

Hunters & Frankau 225 Aniversario

Brand: Ramón Allones
Year: 2015
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Insólito
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 5 ½ Inches / 141mm
Commissioned to commemorate the 225th anniversary of Hunters & Frankau, these cigars were aged for two years in the UK prior to release. A modern vitola with a distinctive, classic twist, the ‘cabeza tombada’ or ‘dropped head’ finish of the cap. The cigars were presented in SLB boxes of 25 with 225 special cabinets also made which each held 100 cigars (four boxes).

Belgravia

Brand: Bolívar
Year: 2015
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Montesco
Ring gauge: 55
Length: 5 ¼ Inches / 130mm
Sharing its dimensions with the R&J Wide Churchill and being named after a plush part of West London gives this cigar a particularly English feel. There is even a statue of Simon Bolivar in Belgrave Square, Belgravia, where the cigar was introduced for the first time.

Sobresalientes

Brand: Por Larrañaga
Year: 2014
Flavour: Light to Medium
Vitola: Sobresalientes
Ring gauge: 53
Length: 6 Inches / 153mm
The Spanish word “Sobresaliente” translates to “Outstanding” and is also the vitola de galera (factory name) for the size. It was first seen in 2007 as the Partagas Sobresaliente in the Replica de Humidor Antiguo. Only 200 humidors containing 50 cigars were made and the size remains extremely rare.

Gran Cano

Brand: La Flor de Cano
Year: 2013
Flavour: Medium
Vitola: Gordito
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 5 ½ Inches / 141mm
After the success of the 2010 Short Robusto, this gordito provides all of the distinctive Flor de Cano flavours that proved to be so popular, but with an extra inch and a half of smoking time. Presented in unvarnished boxes of ten.

Petit Belicoso

Brand: Ramón Allones
Year: 2012
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Petit Belicoso
Ring gauge: 52
Length: 5 Inches / 125mm
Now with one Regional Edition per region each year, H&F decided to pay homage to the first ever UK release from 2005. Although it is half an inch shorter, the ring gauge and brand remain the same. Both cigars were figurados and both delivered robust signature Ramon Allones flavour.

Británicas

Brand: Bolívar
Year: 2011
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Británicas Extra
Ring gauge: 48
Length: 5 ⅜ Inches / 137mm
This is a figurado, which means the sides of the cigar are not parallel. But it’s not a classic double-figurado like most of Cuaba’s vitolas Instead. The correct term to describe its shape is a perfecto and there are no other perfectos in any brand made in Cuba these days. The consistent draw of this technically difficult cigar to hand roll became its hallmark and its robust flavours made it a classic.

Medalla de Oro

Brand: Punch
Year: 2011
Flavour: Medium
Vitola: Dobles
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 6 ⅛ Inches / 155mm
Distinctive, medium-bodied and full of classic Punch wood notes. The flavours that this doble deliver more than match its gilded appearance. Presented in varnished SBN boxes of 10 cigars.

Regalías de Londres

Brand: Por Larrañaga
Year: 2010
Flavour: Light to Medium
Vitola: Gordito
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 5 ½ Inches / 141mm
The second offering from Por Larrañaga, ‘Regalías de Londres’ translates into English as “Gifts from London”. However, the word “Regalías” has another particular meaning that relates only to Cuban cigars. From the 1850s and 1860s, Havana’s cigar manufacturers used it to describe cigars of the highest quality. This proved to be the case in this instance and the ‘gifts’ quickly disappeared.

Short Robusto

Brand: La Flor de Cano
Year: 2010
Flavour: Medium
Vitola: Petit Robusto
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 4 Inches / 102mm
Inspired by the short-lived, handmade Flor de Canos produced between 1988 and 1992 and in particular the legendary ‘Short Churchill’. This cigar was a phenomenal success and great lengths were taken to faithfully recreate not only the original blend but also the original packaging, complete with the signature green ink hots tamp on the box.

Choix de L’Epoque

Brand: El Rey del Mundo
Year: 2009
Flavour: Light to Medium
Vitola: Petit Edmundo
Ring gauge: 52
Length: 4 ⅜ Inches / 110mm
Choix de L’Époque in English means “Choice of the Age”, an appropriate name given when the relatively new indoor smoking ban had just been put in place. Intended for connoisseurs to enjoy when time is limited and al fresco smoking is the only option.

Selección Suprema

Brand: Juan López
Year: 2009
Flavour: Medium to Full
Vitola: Torre Iznaga
Ring gauge: 52
Length: 6 ⅝ Inches / 170mm
Just 2,000 numbered boxes of 10 were made of this cigar in an extremely rare size. Known as ‘Torre Iznaga’ in the factories of Cuba and named after an old tower standing in the city of Trinidad, Cuba. The cigar quickly built up a loyal fanbase.

Serie d’Oro No.1

Brand: Punch
Year: 2008
Flavour: Medium
Vitola: Pirámide
Ring gauge: 52
Length: 6 ⅛ Inches / 156mm
The format of this cigar, as well as its name and packaging, including the popper stud used to secure the ribbon on the box, were all originally inspired by a 1929/1930 price list published by Melbourne Hart & Co., a former British Habanos importer. A collectors item.

Glorioso

Brand: La Gloria Cubana
Year: 2008
Flavour: Medium
Vitola: Dobles
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 6 ⅛ Inches / 155mm
A Habanos brand not normally imported into the UK made this an intriguing selection for British smokers. The band and ‘vista’ (the label on the inside lid of the cigar box) were faithfully recreated from examples taken from the early part of the 20th century. A must have cigar for many collectors.

Magnifico

Brand: Por Larrañaga
Year: 2007
Flavour: Light to Medium
Vitola: Partagas 16
Ring gauge: 50
Length: 6 ¾ Inches / 170mm
The iconic gold band on this cigar was re-created from an original version dating back over a century. It is also the first UK Regional Edition to be adorned with the instantly recognisable silver and red second band denoting the regional market it is destined to be sold in. A much sought after cigar today.

Belicoso Finos

Brand: Ramón Allones
Year: 2005
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Campana
Ring gauge: 52
Length: 5 ½ Inches / 140mm
A pioneering cigar. One of the first to be released as a Regional Editions when the concept was launched in 2005. This Campana sized cigar did not come dressed with a second band denoting the region but has become infamous as the UK’s first offering. A powerhouse of a cigar but now sadly extremely rare.

Read About UK Regional Editions

Since 2005 Hunters & Frankau, along with the other companies that distribute Habanos in different territories around the world, have been invited by Habanos S.A. to bid for the chance to develop their own special cigars in some of the less well-known Habanos brands.

These cigars, made in limited quantities and for sale exclusively within their own markets, are known as Regional Editions.

All Regional Editions are made in certain non-global brands in standard Habanos vitolas (cigar sizes) that are, nonetheless, new to the selected brand.

Hunters & Frankau were among the pioneers of this project with the Ramon Allones Belicoso Fino, one of the very first Regional Edition releases.

Since 2005 the Regional Edition concept has been refined. Boxes are all now individually numbered and each cigar is dressed with a second band to identify the region for which it was made.

Between the years 2008 and 2011 Hunters & Frankau (as well as other distributors) were able to request two Regional Editions per year. In 2012 this was reduced to one.

Prior to 2011 all UK Regional Editions carried a second band with the words “Exclusivo Reino Unido” (United Kingdom). However, since then the words have changed to “Exclusivo Gran Bretaña” (Great Britain).

EMS

UK Havana Cigar Portfolio