(Miami,
Florida) October 09, 2012— The Menendez family is beaming with pride due to
a recent induction in the Cigar
Aficionado Hall of Fame. The Menendez family has a long and storied
history in cigar lore which has continued on to spread post-communist Cuba.
Alonso Menendez, Cuban
citizen and master of the tobacco trades in Cuba would be proud of where his
offspring has taken the Menendez last name. His son Benjamin “Benji” Menendez who is current Senior Vice President of
General Cigars was recently inducted into the Cigar Aficionado Hall of Fame.
His other son Felix Menendez
(currently in Brazil) is one of the founders of Brazilian cigar giant Menendez Amerino who’s best selling
brand is the Dona Flor line.
Benji and
Felix Menendez both learned their craft in Cuba as they were heavily involved
in the family business which created the Montecristo brand and was majority
owner of the H Upmann factory in Pre-Castro era Cuba. Post-Castro the brothers
left Cuba with father Alonso and opened up shop in Spain. After sourcing
Brazilian tobacco from the Amerino family they were hooked on the now famed
Mata Fina tobacco. Later in the early 1970’s Benji and Felix settled in Brazil
and formed Menendez Amerino with the Amerino family. In Brazil during 1970 the brothers together
with the Amerino’s, partnered with Arturo Torano and created the Alonso Menendez
and Dona Flor brand.
The Alonso Menendez
brand quickly became Brazil’s best-selling brand and exploded in the European
Colonies. Known for its rich, robust and uniquely Brazilian flavor which is
unmatched by any other tobacco in the world, it is a corner piece of Menendez
Amerino. The Dona Flor brand was created after a friendship was struck between
the author of the bestselling book, Dona Flor and her Two Husbands and Mario
Amerino. Mario’s name was mentioned in the book so to return the favor they
named a cigar brand after the book and the Dona Flor brand was born. Dona Flor
is now Brazil’s most popular brand.
In the early
80’s Benji left Brazil to later work with General Cigars and was responsible
for creating the award-winning Benjamin Menendez Partagas Master Series
Majestuoso. Benji continues to make his family proud has he can now claim to be
one of only 15 members in the Cigar Aficionado Hall of Fame. The induction
ceremony took place last month at the Grand Havana Room in New York City.
As for younger
sibling Felix Menendez, he stayed in Brazil, and oversaw Menendez Amerino which
grew into a giant with strong sales in Europe and in South America. The Alonso
Menendez and Dona Flor brands continue to be the most popular and are now
making a push to create greater awareness of Brazilian tobacco in the U.S.
Dona Flor
cigars are currently available in the US to premium cigar retailers. The Alonso
Menendez cigars are being released in the first quarter of 2013 along with a
special Limited Edition 35th
Anniversary blend which Menendez Amerino states will be their finest cigar
to date. These two top selling cigar brands in Brazil are true 100% original
Brazilian Puros—using only Brazilian grown Mata Fina and Mata Norte Tobacco for
35 years—and while 99% of all cigars produced today are Nicaraguan, Dominican
and Honduran, these cigars hold a unique niche on the world market today.
Dona Flor USA/Double Edge
Inc. is also proud of this unique
legacy, and WAS chosen to be the exclusive DISTRIBUTOR and IMPORTER of the
Menendez Amerino premium cigar lines. For more information on where to Find
Your Dona Flor and for news of the Alonso Menendez re-launch, contact Dona Flor
USA by phone or by email. 877.321.5569 |
sales@donaflorusa.com
Twitter: Dona Flor USA
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