Pepin Garcia
Encyclopedia
Don José "Pepin" Garcia is currently the CEO of El Rey de los Habanos, Inc, a cigar company in Miami, also known as Don Pepín Cigars. He is a noted cigar
maker living in Miami, Florida
. Born in Cuba
, he is a master cigar roller and blender, and the creator and maker of numerous popular cigar brands.
, a town in Villa Clara province
, Cuba.
in 2001. He spent thirty years in Cuba developing his skills as a torcedor (cigar roller) and blender, earned numerous accolades for his blending abilities and achieved the highest ranking possible as a cigar roller, Class 8 (Master). Among the awards he won was the Productivity Prize for rolling 320 Julietas (a vitola of 7 x 48 in size) in four hours. The Cuban press often compared the speed and dexterity of his rolling to that of a magician. He is also a Tabaquero Maestro (Master Blender), and was also a “teacher of teachers” in the arts of blending and rolling cigars.
He helped blend cigars such as Cohiba
, Partagas, and Montecristo
. During the 1990s, he was in charge of Quality Assurance for the Cohiba brand, and was also a consultant to several Cuban cigar makers. Also during the 1990s, he was accounted Cuba's most productive master roller.
, Florida
but soon established his own company
and factory
. The company, El Rey de los Habanos, Inc. was begun in June 2002, but was not formally incorporated until December of that year. He is currently the President, and his daughter Janny is the treasurer. The corporate offices are at 1120 SW 8th St, Miami, Florida.
The first brand Pepin made on his own was Tatuaje for Pete Johnson, and after this brand received high ratings in Cigar Aficionado magazine, Pepin was suddenly in great demand and many people wanted a Don Pepin brand. The tiny Miami factory was unable to keep up with the growing demand, and it became necessary to open a second factory, Tabacalera Cubana, in Estelí
, Nicaragua
.
Don Pepin’s goal is to re-create the Cuban style as closely as possible without using Cuban tobacco. He has found that Nicaraguan tobaccos render the flavor closest to the Habanos he has in mind, although other tobaccos are used as wrappers from time to time, notably Ecuador
an grown Connecticut shade. His cigars are not for everyone, as they are medium- to full-bodied and can pack quite a punch.
All of the cigars made at his factories are made in the Cuban style and are finished with a triple cap. In addition, every box is marked with the date of manufacture, a practice which is beginning to gain favor outside of Cuba, where it has always been done.
at 1120-1124 SW 8th St., Miami. The factory was started by Don Pepin in 2002. The factory manufactures not only Pepin's own brands, but several brands for major clients and house brands for various cigar stores. The factory currently employs 12 rollers, all Class 8 (Master), and they can turn out about 800,000 cigars per year.
On August 18, 2010, Eduardo Antonio Fernandez Pujals, who owns 50% of the shares of El Rey de los Habanos Inc., sued the Garcia family claiming, "breach of fiduciary duties, conspiracy to commit breach of fiduciary duties, aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties, conversion, tortious interference, and ultra vires..."
, Nicaragua
, Tabacalera Cubana S. A. was established in June 2006 to allow the company to meet the growing demand. It is larger than the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Miami, and currently employs 62 rollers, allowing the company to turn out in excess of 3.5 million cigars per annum. A new factory is being built which will employ 100-110 rollers, allowing the factory to make from 7 to 9 million cigars per annum.
TACUBA has also expanded into growing its own tobacco and expects to be able to harvest approx 120,000 kg. of tobacco annually for use in the cigars they make, with no plans to re-sell.
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
maker living in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Born in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, he is a master cigar roller and blender, and the creator and maker of numerous popular cigar brands.
Early life
Christened José García, Pepin was born into a large family of tobacco growers/cigar makers in BáezBaez
Baez or Báez is a Spanish-Basque surname meaning son of Basque Country; notable people with this surname include:*Albert Baez , physicist, father of Joan Baez*Anthony Baez , victim of NYPD police brutality....
, a town in Villa Clara province
Santa Clara Province
Santa Clara was a historical province of Cuba. Until 1976, its territory was that of the modern Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus....
, Cuba.
Marriage and children
His son, Jaime Garcia is following in his father's footsteps. He and his father created the blend for the Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ brand. His daughter, Janny O. Garcia, is also involved in the family business.Cuban years
Don Pepin began his life with tobacco in December 1961 at the age of 11 when he began working in a factory in Báez owned by an uncle. In March 1963, he began working at the Félix Rodríguez export cigar factory in Báez where he worked until he emigrated to NicaraguaNicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in 2001. He spent thirty years in Cuba developing his skills as a torcedor (cigar roller) and blender, earned numerous accolades for his blending abilities and achieved the highest ranking possible as a cigar roller, Class 8 (Master). Among the awards he won was the Productivity Prize for rolling 320 Julietas (a vitola of 7 x 48 in size) in four hours. The Cuban press often compared the speed and dexterity of his rolling to that of a magician. He is also a Tabaquero Maestro (Master Blender), and was also a “teacher of teachers” in the arts of blending and rolling cigars.
He helped blend cigars such as Cohiba
Cohiba
Cohiba may refer to:*Cohiba *Cohiba...
, Partagas, and Montecristo
Montecristo (cigar brand)
Montecristo is the name of two brands of premium cigars, one produced in Cuba for Habanos SA, the Cuban state-owned tobacco company, and the other produced in La Romana, Dominican Republic for the Franco-Spanish tobacco monopoly Altadis SA.- History :...
. During the 1990s, he was in charge of Quality Assurance for the Cohiba brand, and was also a consultant to several Cuban cigar makers. Also during the 1990s, he was accounted Cuba's most productive master roller.
Post-Cuba
He left Cuba in 2001, going first to Nicaragua, then he went to MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
but soon established his own company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
and factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
. The company, El Rey de los Habanos, Inc. was begun in June 2002, but was not formally incorporated until December of that year. He is currently the President, and his daughter Janny is the treasurer. The corporate offices are at 1120 SW 8th St, Miami, Florida.
Cigars
In the short time he has been on his own, Pepin Garcia has moved from a relative unknown to a major name in the "boutique" brand arena. In addition to his own brands, he has blended and makes several others for various companies. His skill as a master roller has often been recognized. Pete Johnson said that his "unusually adept skill is evidenced by the fine construction of the cigar". By 2007, his reputation as a superior cigar maker had grown and he was tapped to create and manufacture a completely new brand (San Cristobal) for a major premium cigar company, Ashton Distributors, Inc.The first brand Pepin made on his own was Tatuaje for Pete Johnson, and after this brand received high ratings in Cigar Aficionado magazine, Pepin was suddenly in great demand and many people wanted a Don Pepin brand. The tiny Miami factory was unable to keep up with the growing demand, and it became necessary to open a second factory, Tabacalera Cubana, in Estelí
Estelí
Estelí, officially Villa de San Antonio de Pavia de Estelí is a city and municipality within the Estelí department. It is the third largest city in Nicaragua, an active commercial center in the north and is known as "the Diamond of the Segovias."...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Don Pepin’s goal is to re-create the Cuban style as closely as possible without using Cuban tobacco. He has found that Nicaraguan tobaccos render the flavor closest to the Habanos he has in mind, although other tobaccos are used as wrappers from time to time, notably Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
an grown Connecticut shade. His cigars are not for everyone, as they are medium- to full-bodied and can pack quite a punch.
All of the cigars made at his factories are made in the Cuban style and are finished with a triple cap. In addition, every box is marked with the date of manufacture, a practice which is beginning to gain favor outside of Cuba, where it has always been done.
The El Rey de los Habanos factory
The El Rey de los Habanos factory, the first cigar factory established by Pepin, shares the address of the corporate headquarters in Little HavanaLittle Havana
Little Havana is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. Home to many Cuban immigrant residents, Little Havana is named after Havana, the capital and largest city in Cuba. The approximate boundaries are the Miami River , SW 16th Street , SR 9/West 27th Avenue and I-95...
at 1120-1124 SW 8th St., Miami. The factory was started by Don Pepin in 2002. The factory manufactures not only Pepin's own brands, but several brands for major clients and house brands for various cigar stores. The factory currently employs 12 rollers, all Class 8 (Master), and they can turn out about 800,000 cigars per year.
On August 18, 2010, Eduardo Antonio Fernandez Pujals, who owns 50% of the shares of El Rey de los Habanos Inc., sued the Garcia family claiming, "breach of fiduciary duties, conspiracy to commit breach of fiduciary duties, aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties, conversion, tortious interference, and ultra vires..."
Pepin Garcia brands
- Don Pepin Garcia Blue LabelDon Pepin Garcia (cigar brand)Don Pepín García is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by El Rey de los Habanos, Inc.-History:The brand was created by José "Pepín" García and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida, and at the factory in Estelí, Nicaragua,...
- Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ
- El Rey de los HabanosEl Rey de los Habanos (cigar brand)El Rey de los Habanos is a brand of premium hand-rolled cigars created and owned by José "Pepin" Garcia.-History:The El Rey de los Habanos is the first brand of premium cigars to be created by José "Pepin" Garcia after his arrival in the United States and is manufactured at the El Rey de los...
- Vegas CubanasVegas CubanasVegas Cubanas is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by El Rey de los Habanos, Inc.-History :This brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. It was introduced into national distribution in 2005.In 2007,...
- Don Pepin Garcia My Father
Client brands
- Black Cat Cigar Company, Philadelphia, PA, until ca. April 2008, now made elsewhere.
- Rey MiguelRey MiguelRey Miguel is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by Black Cat Cigar Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States.-History:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami,...
- Sam's GS StashSam's GS StashSam's GS Stash Cigars is a brand of hand-made premium stogs owned by Black Cat Cigar Company.-History:The brand was originally created by José "Pepín" García for the company owner's personal use. Production was increased and the brand was released publicly in late 2006 or early 2007...
- Rey Miguel
- The Cigar Merchant, AlpharettaAlpharetta, Georgia-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
, GAGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
NOTE: No longer with Pepin Garcia- Trahan Reserva Serie TTrahan-People:* Clifford Joseph Trahan, better known as controversial musician Johnny Rebel* D. J. Trahan, American professional golfer* Arthur Trahan, French-Canadian judge* Patrick Trahan, American football player-Products:...
- Trahan Reserva Serie T
- Cigar King, ScottsdaleScottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, AZArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
:- Cuban DiplomatCuban DiplomatCuban Diplomat is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by .-History and Background:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida.- Description :...
- Habana LeonHabana Leonright|thumb|300px|Habana Leon cigar band.Habana Leon is a brand of cigar.-History:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida....
- Havana SoulHavana Soul (cigar brand)Havana Soul is a brand of premium cigar owned by and created by José "Pepin" Garcia. It is manufactured in Little Havana, Miami, Florida at the El Rey de los Habanos factory.- Description :...
- Hirsh y GarciaHirsh y GarciaHirsh y García is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by .-History and Background:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida....
- Nacionales “W”Nacionales “W”Nacionales W is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by .-History and background:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida...
- Sancti SpiritusSancti Spiritus (cigar brand)Sancti Spiritus is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by Cigar King, Inc.-History and background:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida....
- Cuban Diplomat
- Holt's Cigar Co., Philadelphia, PA
- Little Havana Overruns
- Tatuaje Cigars Inc
- TatuajeTatuajeTatuaje is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by . It wascreated by Pete Johnson in close consultation with José Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Miami, Florida, and at Tabacalera Cubana S. A...
- CabaiguánCabaiguán (cigar brand)Cabaiguán is a brand of hand-made premium cigars owned by . It was created by Pete Johnson in consultation with Jaime Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Little Havana, Miami, FL.- Description :...
- Tatuaje
- Padilla Cigar Company, HialeahHialeah, FloridaHialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
, FL These were originally made for Padilla by Pepin, but in early 2008, the contract was not renewed. Padilla now makes them in his own factory.- Padilla Miami 8 & 11Padilla MiamiPadilla Miami, originally known as the "Miami 8 & 11," is a type of hand-made premium cigar manufactured by the Padilla Cigar Company. The cigar was introduced in 2005.-History and Background:...
- Padilla Signature 1932Signature 1932Signature 1932 is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by Padilla Cigar Company of Hialeah, Florida.-History and Background:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana section of Miami, Florida, with one size made...
- Padilla 1948
- Padilla Miami 8 & 11
- Top Shelf Cigar Company, SkippackSkippack, PennsylvaniaSkippack is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,758 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Skippack is located at ....
, PAPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
NOTE: No More by Pepin garcia.- Signature Select Green LabelSignature SelectSignature Select is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by of Skippack, Pennsylvania.-History and Background:José "Don Pepin" Garcia created the Signature Select Green Label at the company's request and the brand made its debut in late 2004....
- Signature Select Green Label
Tabacalera Cubana (TACUBA)
Located in EstelíEstelí
Estelí, officially Villa de San Antonio de Pavia de Estelí is a city and municipality within the Estelí department. It is the third largest city in Nicaragua, an active commercial center in the north and is known as "the Diamond of the Segovias."...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Tabacalera Cubana S. A. was established in June 2006 to allow the company to meet the growing demand. It is larger than the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Miami, and currently employs 62 rollers, allowing the company to turn out in excess of 3.5 million cigars per annum. A new factory is being built which will employ 100-110 rollers, allowing the factory to make from 7 to 9 million cigars per annum.
TACUBA has also expanded into growing its own tobacco and expects to be able to harvest approx 120,000 kg. of tobacco annually for use in the cigars they make, with no plans to re-sell.
Pepin Garcia brands
- Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition (Cuban Classic)
- Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition (Cuban Classic) Maduro
- Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Maduro
- El Centurion
Client brands
- 5 Vegas
- Miami (one vitola, the "Shaggy Toro", is made at the Miami factory)
- Ashton
- Benchmade
- San Cristóbal
- La Aroma de Cuba (Edicion Especial, New Blend, and Mi Amor)
- Cigars International
- CI Legends Pepin Garcia - Yellow Label (one size: 5.75" x 54; Corojo wrapper)
- Cigar.com, Inc.
- Corojo LabelCorojo LabelCorojo Label is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by .-History and Background:The development of this proprietary brand was begun in 2004 by the in-house blending team. In early 2006, the company sought out Pepin Garcia and with his aid and that of his son, Jaime, the desired final blend was...
- Corojo Label
- EO Brands (United Tobacco)
- EO Premium 601 SerieEO Premium 601 SerieEO Premium 601 Serie is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by .-History and Background:The brand was created by José "Pepin" Garcia as well as the co-founders of United Tobacco Erik Espinosa & Eddie Ortega all 601 cigars are manufactured at the Tabacalera Cubana factory in the Estelí, Nicaragua...
- Cubao
- EO Premium 601 Serie
- Holt's Cigar Company, Philadelphia, Pa
- Casa Royale
- Connoisseur SelectionConnoisseur SelectionConnoisseur Selection is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by .-History and Background:The brand was first introduced to the U. S. market in 1983...
- FumadoresFumadoresFumadores is a brand of hand-made premium cigar blended and made by José "Pepin" García. The brand is owned by .-History and Background:First released in May 2007, this low-end brand is manufactured at Pepin's factory, Tabacalera Cubana in Estelí, Nicaragua...
- Old HenryOld HenryOld Henry is a brand of premium cigar owned by . It was created by José "Pepin" Garcia and is manufactured at Tabacalera Cubana in Estelí, Nicaragua.- Description :Old Henry, a Bulldog, was the mascot at Holt's for many years until his death in 2006...
- Tatuaje Cigars Inc
- Tatuaje Havana VITatuaje Havana VITatuaje Havana VI is a brand of hand-made premium cigar owned by Tatuaje Cigars, Inc. It was created by José "Pepin" Garcia in consultation with Pete Johnson and is manufactured at Tabacalera Cubana in Estelí, Nicaragua...
- Tatuaje Series P
- Tatuaje Havana VI
- Troya CigarsTroyaTroya is a U. S. brand of hand-made premium cigar originally owned by Lignum-2, Inc. The brand in an old Cuban brand, established in 1932, but the Cuban version is now offered only as an all-machine-made brand of but two vitolas.-History and Background:...
- Troya Clasico Pepin originally made these for Lignum2, but that company was sold to Altadis in 2008, and he therefore is no longer involved.
Miscellaneous
In addition to the regular production cigars noted above, Don Pepin has from time to time created special limited edition cigars for clients. Some of those are listed here, as well as some odds and ends.- El Centurion. El Centurion was a special, one-time limited release for Don Pepin himself and was limited to 50,000 cigars made in the Nicaraguan factory, TACUBA. There were three sizes: Guerrero, a 5x50 robusto; Emperadores, a 5.5x50 figurado, and Gladiatores, a 6.5x50 toro. They were packed in cedar boxes of 20.
- Tatuaje Bombazos. The Bombazos (4" x 46) were produced for Fumare Cigar in RenoReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, NVNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It is a strong, spicy blend. - Tatuaje La Maravilla. This cigar was produced for Leaf and Ale. The La Maravilla is a Punch Punch-sized cigar at 5-5/8" x 46.
- Tatuaje Cohetes (Rocket). This limited edition cigar was made exclusively for Tower Cigars. A short, fat cigar (4 x 50), it was packed in cabinets of 25, each numbered, dated and signed by Pete. There were only 50 such cabinets available. It was made in the Miami factory.
- Bad to the Bone was a special limited production made for the Outlaw Cigar Co., of Kansas City, MO. It was released during a rolling demonstration held in Kansas City by Don Pepin in June 2007.