A Century of Mastery and Passion
The excellence of Cuban know-how, shaped by the terroir of Recôncavo Baiano.
Historic Timeline
Founding of Menendez Amerino
The partnership between the Menendez family and Bahian tobacco culminated in an invitation from Mário Amerino Portugal to form a partnership. In 1977, Benjamim and Mário Amerino Portugal founded Menendez Amerino & Cia Ltda in São Gonçalo dos Campos, Bahia.
Arturo Toraño, Master Blender
Arturo, born in Cuba, joined Menendez Amerino in 1978, where he devoted himself to tobacco processing and stood out as a Master Blender. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, he elevated the product by perfecting every step of the craft: selection, classification, fermentation, and aging. His mastery imparted unique qualities that positioned Menendez Amerino as a true reference in the world of premium cigars.
Felix Menendez
Félix Menendez was born in Havana, Cuba, and in 1979 moved with his entire family to São Gonçalo dos Campos, Bahia, where he took on the role of industrial manager at Menendez Amerino. "In Bahia, I felt as if I had returned to Cuba - above all because of the warmth of the people, the colors, and the culture so similar to those of my homeland. In truth, I was a Bahian born in Havana."
Launch of the Alonso Menendez brand
The Alonso Menendez brand was created by Félix Menendez in 1980 as a tribute to his father. Its cigars feature a medium-strength blend with pronounced flavor, with Connecticut, Mata Fina, and Cubra wrappers, and Mata Fina and Mata Norte filler, available in vitolas such as Double Corona, Robusto, Corona, and Gran Corona. Destined for a discerning palate, the products are recognized for their high quality.
Launch of the Dona Flor brand
Dona Flor is an iconic brand and leader in the Brazilian cigar market. Inspired by the character in the novel Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, the brand pays homage to writer Jorge Amado, in tribute by Mário Amerino Portugal, co-founder of the company. Hand-rolled with selected leaves from the Recôncavo Baiano, the cigar stands out for its high quality, unique aroma, and personality appreciated in Brazil and Europe.
Creation of a portfolio of innovative products
The creation of Menendez Amerino's cigar portfolio was born from the fusion between Cuban tradition and Bahian terroir. The company combined the refined technique of selection, classification, fermentation, and aging with the richness of the leaves cultivated in Bahia. It was this meeting between the knowledge inherited from Havana and Brazilian raw material that allowed the house to design a product line with its own personality, capable of engaging with the world's most demanding palates.
New governance cycle
With a trajectory marked by tradition and commitment to quality, Menendez Amerino reached a significant milestone in its history in the 2000s, when it was acquired by a group of entrepreneurs. These new managers, preserving the family spirit that has always characterized the company, brought an innovative and modern outlook, implementing a robust management model with rigorous controls, well-defined policies, and efficient procedures.
Dona Flor Gran Corona scores 93 points
The Dona Flor Gran Corona cigar received the highest score ever awarded to a Brazilian cigar: 93 points in the review by the specialized magazine Cigar Journal, which since 1994 has become one of the leading international cigar publications, composed of more than 30 contributors from more than 30 countries who perform blind ratings of cigars, serving as a benchmark for producers and enthusiasts around the world.
Consolidating Menendez Amerino's presence worldwide
Dona Flor reaches new markets such as Europe, South America, Asia, South Africa, gaining global recognition. This is the result of a fully artisanal production process and manufacturing, from planting to the finished product. Each leaf is carefully selected, treated, and hand-rolled by experienced artisans, which guarantees the premium character of the cigars. This rigor and dedication result in products of internationally recognized quality, not only for their unique flavor and aroma, but also for the sophisticated design that carries tradition and culture.