Gilbert de Montsalvat signature

Behind the Gilbert De Montsalvat cigars is the Swiss-born entrepreneur Raymondo Bernasconi, originally from the United States. Together with his wife Sue, he successfully operates the renowned cigar store House of Smoke in Basel. In addition to the welcoming retail shop with its integrated lounge, Ray also works as a cigar distributor for several prestigious brands throughout Switzerland. Thanks to his iconic Caribbean hat, which also appears on the cigar bands across his collections, he is instantly recognizable and a familiar, welcome guest at cigar trade shows around the world. His journey began with the Gilbert De Montsalvat cigars, which originally stood out with their striking pink packaging before evolving into a more conventional, yet still distinctive, blue design. They were later joined by the bolder Gilbert De Montsalvat Revolution Style cigars, created to evoke the classic Cuban flavor profile—hence the name Revolution Style.

Gilbert De Montsalvat: Raymondo Bernasconi's Creative Vision

When the brand was launched in 2009, Raymondo deliberately kept the origin of the name a mystery, leaving cigar enthusiasts guessing for quite some time. By inventing an entirely fictional biography for Mr. Montsalvat, he gave aficionados plenty of room for imagination. Every cigar lover is free to create their own story while enjoying these outstanding cigars. The Gilbert De Montsalvat Signature cigars are the work of legendary master blender Eladio Diaz, who spent many years overseeing production and quality control at Davidoff's Tabacalera. The fact that Ray convinced him, following his retirement in 2022, to develop this blend speaks volumes about the trust Eladio places in him. Perhaps Eladio's most famous creation is the ultra-premium Davidoff Oro Blanco, a cigar that has found many devoted admirers despite its price of around €500 per cigar.

The Gilbert De Montsalvat Signature Cigars: A Masterpiece by Eladio Diaz

The blend of the Gilbert De Montsalvat Signature cigars presented here consists of six different Dominican tobaccos, making them officially Dominican puros. Expertly crafted, the blend delivers a mild- to medium-bodied smoking experience with exceptional natural sweetness. This signature profile is complemented by notes of coffee and roasted aromas. The cigars are produced at the family's new boutique factory, Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera.