Cuesta-Rey

The story begins in 1884, when Ángel LaMadrid Cuesta, a young Spanish immigrant, opened his first cigar factory in Atlanta. Partnering with Peregrino Rey, he created the Cuesta Rey brand, then moved the company to Tampa in 1896, settling in the Ybor City district. The cigars were once favored by King Alfonso XIII of Spain, who named Ángel Cuesta supplier of tobacco to the King and the Spanish Court. In 1958 the Newman family acquired the brand. After the Cuban embargo of 1961, Stanford Newman introduced Cameroon tobacco for the wrappers, preserving quality and flavor. Since the 1980s, production has been entrusted to Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic.