世界之王

For Chinese-speaking enthusiasts: Formosa RE Taiwan is worth collecting! This is a rare Taiwan-exclusive release in the cigar industry, and the name "Formosa" itself is a historical symbol of Taiwan culture. Taiwan LCDH and cigar lounges usually provide it.

The brand name "El Rey del Mundo" means "King of the World" in Spanish - one of the boldest and most confident brand names in cigar history. Even when the brand had just been founded, the founder already styled himself as "King of the World" and was determined to make cigars worthy of the name.

El Rey del Mundo was founded in 哈瓦那 in 1848 by the German-Spanish Don Emilio Ohmsted (who also founded Sancho Panza) - among surviving Cuban cigar brands, it is a sister brand from the same year as Sancho Panza, 14 years later than Por Larrañaga (1834).

Since 2007 年, El Rey del Mundo has released more than 20 Edición Regional cigars -- one of the brands with the most REs in the Habanos portfolio, reflecting Habanos' high level of trust in the brand. This includes the 台灣-exclusive RE "Formosa" -- the only El Rey del Mundo regional edition for 台灣 (issued under the Portuguese colonial-era name "Formosa").

In 1882, Spanish merchant Antonio Allones took over the brand - he was the brother and business partner of Ramón Allones! The Allones brothers controlled two legendary brands in the cigar industry: elder/younger brother Ramón Allones (founded the eponymous brand in 1837) + younger/elder brother Antonio Allones (took over El Rey del Mundo in 1882) - the most powerful family dynasty in the cigar industry.

El Rey del Mundo La Reina LCDH/EE Gran Bretaña 2018 (Laguito No.1, 7½" × 38, Lancero) - 2018 年 英國 market exclusive Exclusivo Edición -- one of the cigar industry's most special EEs: rolled entirely at El Laguito (Cohiba factory), rather than on an ordinary production line. "La Reina" = "the queen" -- corresponding to El Rey (the king), "every king needs his queen".

El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme (5" × 48, vitola: Hermosos No.4) -- the brand's most famous flagship, one of the 2 regular-production releases still in existence. Robusto size, 48 ring gauge, long burn time. Its characteristic flavor is the opposite of typical Cuban cigars -- spicier in the first part and smoother in the later part. The SLB 50 (50-count semi-boîte nature box) version is regarded as "one of the best ageing cigars in the cigar industry". SLB 50 was discontinued in 2010; today only 25-count boxes remain.

The brand name "El Rey del Mundo" means "The King of the World 世界之王" in Spanish - one of the most imposing names in the cigar industry. When Antonio Allones took over the brand, he took this name seriously - "The King of the World cigar must be the world's top-end brand", using only the finest Vuelta Abajo tobacco leaves.

El Rey del Mundo was founded in 哈瓦那 by German merchant Emilio Ohmstedt in around 1848 - he was also the founder of Sancho Panza. But the brand's origin remains disputed: another version argues that it was founded in 1882 by the Spaniard Antonio Allones. Most cigar historians believe 1848 is the true origin, while 1882 was a re-registration after Allones took over.

El Rey del Mundo Royal Series (5" × 50, vitola: Dobles) - An LCDH (La Casa del Habano) global channel exclusive released in 2022. El Rey del Mundo joined the elite lineup of "LCDH exclusive brands" - only a small number of high-quality brands enjoy this honor. Flavors: cedar, nutmeg, toasted tobacco.

El Rey del Mundo Choix Suprême (5" × 48, vitola: Hermosos No.4, Robusto-style) -- the brand's soul cigar and one of only 2 regular-production releases today. A 45-minute experience, with flavors of sweetness, cream, light spice, and concentrated oily sweetness in the final inch. The SLB 50 packaging is regarded by collectors as "one of the best cigars for ageing". Cigar Aficionado has given it positive reviews multiple times.

In 1905, Allones company was acquired by Diaz Hermanos y Cía (owner Cándido Vega Díaz) -- the company was later renamed Rey Del Mundo Cigar Co. to highlight this most important asset. The company also owned Sancho Panza, Rafael González, Don Cándido -- forming the "4-brother brand group".

El Rey del Mundo Formosa RE Taiwan - the only 台灣-exclusive RE! It has special meaning for Chinese-speaking enthusiasts -- "Formosa" is the historical name from when the Portuguese discovered 台灣 in the 16th 世紀 and exclaimed "Ilha Formosa" (beautiful island). This is a grail item in 台灣 cigar collecting.

El Rey del Mundo flavor: light to medium strength (light to medium) - one of the milder factions among 古巴 cigars. Characteristic flavors: cream, caramel syrup, light spice, cedar, nutmeg, toasted tobacco. The wrapper color is dark and oily - a representative color among 古巴 wrappers.

Siglo XXI Humidor (21st-century commemoration) - a special humidor with only 21 produced, containing 10 different vitolas of El Rey del Mundo (drawer 108-117)! It is one of the cigar industry's highest-honor special humidors, reflecting the brand's historical status.

The "king image" on El Rey del Mundo cigar boxes: a king dressed in Taíno Indian attire -- representing 古巴 indigenous identity. Holding a large cigar in his hand and driving a chariot drawn by five mythical beasts (representing the world's five continents). It is one of the most symbolic brand visuals in the cigar industry -- directly expressing the conquering imagery of the "King of the World".

The official Habanos logo marks "desde 1848" (since 1848) -- this marking supports the theory that Antonio Allones "acquired" the brand in 1882 年 rather than "founded" it. In other words, El Rey del Mundo really was founded by Emilio Ohmsted in 1848 年.

The 1940s-50s were the golden age of El Rey del Mundo - it was considered the "most expensive cigar in the world" at the time - a favorite of high society. The name "King of the World" was fully deserved.

El Rey del Mundo occupies drawers 108-117, a total of 10 drawers, in the Siglo XXI Humidor (21st-century humidor, only 21 numbered units) -- containing 10 different vitolas. It is one of the most precious humidors in Habanos history, with El Rey del Mundo holding the largest share.

Aged Choix Supreme SLB 50 (pre-2010) is a rare item in the eyes of cigar collectors -- the title of 'one of the world's best aged cigars' together with the scarcity of the SLB 50 packaging (50-count plain slide-lid box) makes it the best demonstration case for cigar aging. Recommended aging is 3-5 years, while some enthusiasts advocate 10 years of aging.

Choix Supreme is regarded as "one of the best cigars for ageing" -- the SLB 50 packaging is especially suited to long-term ageing. Choix Supreme aged 5-10 years is recognized by collectors as the "standard model for ageing light-bodied cigars".

After Antonio Allones took over, he positioned the brand as "the world's highest-end cigar" - using the very top Vuelta Abajo tobacco, and "the world's most expensive cigar" was how it was described at the time. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, pursuit by connoisseurs brought the brand to the peak of global renown.

El Rey del Mundo Império Humidor 2017 (50 Rodolfo 54 × 180mm × 450 numbered units) -- a 2017 humidor commemorating the brand's 170th anniversary. Note that this humidor marks the founding year as 1847 rather than 1848 -- reflecting the uncertainty around the brand's origins.

In 1905, the brand was acquired by Díaz Hermanos y Cía (owned by Cándido Vega Díaz). Production moved to the new factory at Calle Belascoain (Padre Varela) street No. 852 in 哈瓦那. The company was later renamed Rey del Mundo Cigar Company - named after the prestige of this brand.

Antonio Allones was the brother + business partner of Ramón Allones -- this blood relationship made El Rey del Mundo and Ramón Allones "sibling brands". Although the two brands have completely different styles (El Rey del Mundo is mild, Ramón Allones is strong), they share the Allones family's cigar-making DNA.

In the 1940-50 年代, El Rey del Mundo's prestige reached its peak -- it was a favorite of high society and was called the "world's most expensive cigar". Zino Davidoff listed El Rey del Mundo in his book as "essential for the aristocracy" -- a cigar that should be in any connoisseur's collection.

El Rey del Mundo flavor positioning: light to medium strength -- elegant, balanced, complex, sweet -- the elegant style of the "King of the World". Flavor description: caramel, cream, roasted nuts, light honey, cedar, light floral notes, a syrup-like finish -- one of the sweetest brands in the Habanos portfolio.

El Rey del Mundo 120 Aniversario Humidor 2002 (25 Pirámides + 25 Taínos) -- released in 2002 to commemorate the brand's 120th anniversary. Pirámides was a completely new format at the time. Taínos was discontinued 2 years after this humidor was released (2006), further increasing its collectible value.

All 古巴 versions of El Rey del Mundo are "totalmente a mano con tripa larga" (fully handmade long filler), using all Vuelta Abajo tobacco, produced at Briones Montoto Factory (Romeo y Julieta factory).

In 1882, Antonio Allones (another Spanish merchant unrelated to the Ramón Allones brothers) took over the brand - according to cigar expert Min Ron Nee's An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars, Allones already held the El Rey del Mundo trademark as early as 1873.

After the revolution, the owners fled to 宏都拉斯 -- founding the 宏都拉斯 version of El Rey del Mundo (produced by the Villazon family, sold today in the 美國 market). Today's "two El Rey del Mundo" structure continues: 古巴 version (Habanos S.A.) + 宏都拉斯 version (Villazon).

For Taiwanese and Chinese-speaking enthusiasts: El Rey del Mundo is one of the "best Cuban entry-level brands" -- medium strength, creamy caramel flavors, unlikely to scare off beginners, while retaining the core characteristics of Cuban cigars. More approachable than Cohiba, milder than Bolívar, and slightly cleaner than Hoyo de Monterrey.

El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse (4" × 30, vitola: Entreactos) - a small-format classic - 101mm × 11.9mm, miniature size. Fully hand-rolled, long filler. Hard to find in most markets, it represents the brand's "collector-niche" character. A 20-30 minute experience, with slight sweetness, light woodiness, toasted notes, and floral aroma.

The relationship between El Rey del Mundo and Sancho Panza -- both brands were founded in 1848 by German businessman Emilio Ohmstedt, both belonged to the Rey del Mundo company, both were produced at the Romeo y Julieta factory after the Revolution, and both are niche brands in Habanos' "Other" category. It is the cigar industry's most perfect example of twin brands.

The factory was located at 852 Calle Belascoain, 哈瓦那 (Padre Varela 街 852 號) -- one of the most important cigar factories from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Production today has moved to Romeo y Julieta Factory (that is, Briones Montoto Factory).

El Rey del Mundo is classified as Other in the Habanos system (a niche brand). All cigars use entirely Vuelta Abajo tobacco leaves, "totalmente a mano con tripa larga" (fully handmade long filler). Before the revolution, the product line had as many as 17 sizes - one of the richest in the cigar industry. Today, only 2 regular-production items remain - a representative case of Habanos' reduction strategy.

After the 1960 revolution, the brand was nationalized - but production continued. It moved to the Romeo y Julieta factory (Briones Montoto Factory), and remains in the same factory as Romeo y Julieta, Saint Luis Rey, and Rafael González to this day.

El Rey del Mundo Choix du Roi RE Bélgica-Luxemburgo (limited to 9,000 boxes) - 比利時 + 盧森堡 market RE. "Choix du Roi" = "the king's choice" -- directly echoing the brand name.

El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse (4" × 30, Small Panetela) - a tiny Panetela size, another regular-production item today. Hand-rolled, long filler -- even with its extremely small size, the level of craftsmanship is not reduced. It is hard to find in some markets.

Brand portfolio under Rey del Mundo Cigar Company: El Rey del Mundo + Sancho Panza + Rafael González + Don Cándido (made for Dunhill). It was one of the strongest cases of a "single company, multiple brands" in pre-revolution 哈瓦那.

17 historical classic pre-revolution formats: Coronas de Luxe (Coronas), Elegantes (Panetelas Largas), Epicures (Small Panetela), Gran Coronas (Coronas Gordas), Grandes de España (Delicados), Isabel (Carlotas), Lonsdales (Cervantes), Lunch Club (Franciscanos), Panetelas Largas, Petit Lonsdales, Royal Series series, etc. -- all discontinued today. Aged versions are legendary collectibles in the auction market.

El Rey del Mundo wrapper characteristics: dark, oily, and rich in aroma -- one of the oiliest wrappers in the cigar industry. Even though the brand's flavor leans mild, visually it still has the luxurious feel of the "King of the World".

El Rey del Mundo is one of the "most underrated premium brands" -- its light and mild style seems out of step with today's mainstream of "strong, large ring gauge" cigars, but for "light premium appreciation connoisseurs", it remains an indispensable choice.

Although today's El Rey del Mundo regular series has only Choix Suprême + Demi Tasse, it continues to be released by Habanos as RE, EE, Edición Limitada -- reflecting that the brand's historical status makes Habanos unwilling to let it disappear, while using the RE and LCDH series to keep the brand active.

The brand remained very popular in the 1960s-70s. But from the 1980s onward, its popularity declined - global enthusiasts turned toward stronger flavors, and El Rey del Mundo's medium-mild profile lost its mainstream position. From the "most expensive cigar in the world", it became a "connoisseur brand".

El Rey del Mundo Petit Coronas (5⅛" × 42, vitola: Mareva) -- discontinued in 2012 -- this was the key point when the regular line was reduced to only 2 items, Choix Supreme and Demi Tasse.

In the 1960-70 年代, El Rey del Mundo maintained extremely high popularity in the 英國 market -- at the time, the cigar market preferred milder tastes, and El Rey del Mundo's light to medium style was very well received. After the 1980 年代, tastes shifted toward stronger profiles, and the brand's popularity declined.

Recommended ageing: El Rey del Mundo is suitable for ageing 3-5 years (basic) to 10 years (advanced) -- making the flavors more complex and the spices more pronounced. It is one of the few brands in the cigar industry that clearly recommends long-term ageing.

El Rey del Mundo Tainos (7" × 47, vitola: Julieta No.2 = Churchill) -- a Cuban Churchill discontinued in 2006. Today, aged versions are rare. SLB 50 packaging was discontinued in 2000.

Recommended pairings: rum (sweetness matches well), dry brandy or cognac, fruit-forward craft beer (cider and light IPA). For Taiwanese enthusiasts: aged rum + Choix Supreme is a classic combination, and also suits caramel-flavored desserts.

El Rey del Mundo Grandes de Espana (slender Panetela size) - a discontinued legendary vitola, representing the brand's "1920-50 年代 elegance". Old versions today are collector's items.

Features of El Rey del Mundo cigar bands: a simple, elegant red-and-gold color scheme -- the words "King of the World" paired with crown decoration. The cigar band design is understated, forming an interesting contrast with the brand's commanding name, "King of the World" -- a representative example of restrained luxury.

The U.S./Honduran version of El Rey del Mundo was produced by Villazon & Company (later acquired by JR Cigars / Altadis USA). The initial version was led by "cigar-industry legend Frank Llaneza" -- a key figure in the cigar boom of the 1990s. Production was later moved to Nicaragua, made in the same facility as Punch. The quality differs greatly from the Cuban version.

Pairing suggestions: El Rey del Mundo suits rum (sweetness echoes), dry brandy or cognac (complementary), fruit-flavored beer (cider, mild IPA) -- one of the cigar industry's most versatile brands for pairing choices.

El Rey del Mundo Tres Petit Coronas (4.3" × 42, vitola: Minutos) -- a Petit Corona format discontinued in 1999.

El Rey del Mundo Lonsdales (discontinued) - Cervantes size, the vitola most popular among 英國 aristocrats in the 19-20 世紀.

El Rey del Mundo Variedades (4.2" × 29, vitola: Chicos = cigarillo) -- a machine-made small cigar discontinued in the 1980s -- it was the brand's only machine-made cigar.