Bolivar

Bolivar was established in the early twentieth century, conventionally dated to 1902 and attributed to Jose F. Rocha, and named after the Venezuelan liberator whose portrait has appeared on the band ever since. From the outset it occupied the strong end of the Havana spectrum, and that position has survived every reorganisation of the Cuban industry. It has also historically been one of the cheaper marcas to produce at scale, which supported a very wide size range.

The modern Cuban line is short. The Belicosos Finos and the Royal Coronas carry most of the volume, supported by the Petit Coronas and a regular stream of regional editions that trade on the brand's reputation for power. Rolling is handled by the Partagas operation, which historically shares blending resources and leaf grades across Bolivar, Ramon Allones and La Gloria Cubana.

A separate non-Cuban Bolivar is sold by General Cigar, part of the group of Havana names it acquired through the Villazon and Honduran lineage. As with the other split trademarks, the two brands are unrelated in blend and manufacture. The 1902 founding date rests on brand tradition and is treated here as reported. Bolivar's small modern range makes it one of the marcas most dependent on limited and regional releases for its visibility, and those editions are among the most closely followed in the Habanos calendar.