La Aurora

Eduardo León Jimenes, just eighteen, founded the brand in 1903 in the community of Don Pedro, Guazumal, near Santiago de los Caballeros, with only six employees. Coming from a family of tobacco growers, he quickly won over local smokers. In 1912 the factory moved to Santiago de los Caballeros, further fuelling its growth. Over the following decades the house launched a range of vitolas that became favourites among aficionados. In parallel it diversified under the E. León Jimenes name, producing rum and coffee, and established the La Aurora Cigar Institute, the first comprehensive training school for cigar enthusiasts.