Raices Nuevo Comienzo

The name Raíces means “roots” in Spanish and refers to the name of the factory in Honduras where Raíces cigars are made. Its full name is Tabacalera Raices Cubanas, roughly meaning Cuban roots. Both the factory’s owner, Hugo Endemaño, and the owner of Raíces Cigars, Ralph Montero, have Cuban roots. Ralph was born in Cuba and was formerly the master blender at Alec Bradley. Together with Alan Rubin, he helped the cigar brand gain an international reputation before the two sold their company to tobacco group STG in 2023. Alan has since focused on playing golf; Ralph wanted to give the cigar business another go!

Father and Son on a Shared Mission

We welcomed Ralph and his son to our trade fair in September 2026. Together, they answered the many questions from the aficionados attending. Both are down to earth and easy to talk to. Ralph has always favoured full-flavoured cigars – and his own brand, Raíces, shows it. The cigars are made in Danlí, a centre of tobacco production in southern Honduras.

Raíces Nuevo Comienzo: The Story Behind 1941

The Raíces 1941 Nuevo Comienzo presented here combines tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua in a medium to full-bodied cigar. A wrapper from the Honduran region of Trojes surrounds two binders: one from Jamastrán in Honduras and one from Estelí in Nicaragua. The filler also contains tobaccos from both countries. The cigars are handmade and lightly box-pressed. The year 1941 is the birth year of the founder, Romay Endemaño, and his wife, Maria. Nuevo comienzo, meaning new beginning, refers to their son Hugo taking over the factory and to Ralph Montero returning to the cigar industry in 2024. Hugo and Ralph had already worked together for years while Ralph was still with Alec Bradley.

Available Nuevo Comienzo Cigar Vitolas

We currently have two sizes to choose from. The Robusto measures 12.7 cm with a ring gauge of 52 and is an option if you would like to try the blend in a shorter format. The Gran Toro, at 15.24 cm and a ring gauge of 54, is longer and slightly thicker. Both sizes use the same blend; the choice mainly depends on how much time you have for your cigar. I chose the larger Gran Toro for my tasting, as I knew writing this text would take a little longer! At first, I picked up notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a little wood, accompanied by just a touch of pepper and a creamy sweetness. These are not mild cigars; they call for a bit of attention. In the final third, earthy and spicier notes became more prominent. I thoroughly enjoyed the Gran Toro and would happily reach for it again!