Habanos SA announces the San Cristóbal de La Habana 1519

As part of the annual Habano Festival, Habanos SA has announced the release of a new limited edition cigar celebrating the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Havana in Cuba, San Cristóbal de La Habana 1519.

The cigar is 170 mm long with a 57 gauge, a robust new double vito called Roque. A total of 500 humidors are manufactured, each containing 100 cigars, for a total production of 50,000 cigars. Each is wearing a special version of the brand's standard band, a sign of the city's 500th anniversary celebrations.

The San Cristóbal de La Habana brand celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It was launched in 1999 as a new brand dedicated to Cuba's most famous city, as well as to Christopher Columbus. The line's original vitolas bear the names of the forts that protected the city in colonial times, but have since expanded to include the Prado, a main artery linking the Capitol to the Malecón, as well as a series of cigars launched in 2004 and named after some of the city's most famous and historic streets.

Habanos SA also announced the upcoming release of the San Cristóbal 20 Aniversarioa 6 3/8 (162 mm) x 52 parejo vitola, which will be offered exclusively to La Casa del Habano retailers. The company has not announced release dates for either cigar.