We are celebrating a very special anniversary this year: BOCK Y CA. cigars are turning twenty-five. Have you heard of this traditional brand? Check out our blog post to learn more about the exciting history of this legendary brand and discover what makes it so unique to this day.
Did you know that Gustav Bock, the founder of BOCK Y CA. cigars, also invented the cigar band? In 1880, he came up with the groundbreaking idea of wrapping a piece of paper around his cigars to protect the white gloves of his distinguished customers. Thus, the cigar band was born! This invention would change the world of cigars forever.
The origins of the BOCK Y CA. brand
The history of BOCK cigars goes back to 1888, the year the brand was first mentioned. The German entrepreneur Gustav Bock Müller (1837–1910), also known as “Don Gustavo”, emigrated to Cuba. He is considered the first non-Spanish European to produce cigars in Cuba. In 1865, he founded the “El Águila de Oro” company in Havana, which was also the name of his first cigar brand. This is how the first BOCK Y CA. cigars came to be, proudly bearing the name of their creator.
As mentioned earlier, Bock was not only a pioneer in the manufacture of cigars but also an innovative thinker. He is still known today as the inventor of the cigar band. Soon after its invention, his logo adorned the strips of paper. It is not known whether the colorfully printed paper bands actually served to protect the white gloves of high society or whether they were more of a marketing strategy used as anti-counterfeiting measures to combat illegal trade on the black market. We may never know the answer to this question. However, one thing is for sure, Gustav Bock invented the cigar band and made it the distinctive symbol of BOCK Y CA. cigars.
Heinrich Villiger revives the Bock brand
The brand went into decline after Bock died in 1910 – until Heinrich Villiger discovered the old Cuban brand in 1999 and decided to revive it. VILLIGER acquired the trademark rights through its subsidiary El Mundo De Tabaco, and BOCK Y CA. made its glorious comeback! BOCK Y CA. then moved from Cuba to the Dominican Republic, where it still is today.
In 2008, VILLIGER added the brand to its portfolio and modernized it while always respecting its traditional origins. The boxes received a more sophisticated look, an inlay was designed, and the cigar bands were given the same rich blue color as the inlay.
What makes the BOCK Y CA. cigar so special?
BOCK cigars boast a light taste and mild creaminess – a typical feature of cigars from the Dominican Republic, where they are still produced today. These characteristics make the cigars attractive not only for beginners but also for experienced enthusiasts who enjoy milder varieties. Have you tried them yet? Check out our Bock range.
The tobacco blend has remained unchanged over the years. True to the motto: If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.
Popular special editions
Over the past 25 years, the BOCK Y CA. brand has launched several special editions that have enjoyed great popularity among collectors and enthusiasts alike. One highlight was the BOCK Gigantes launched in 2004. The Cigar Journal (then still known as the European Cigar Journal) described the BOCK Gigantes as follows: “A sophisticated cigar offering a light taste and subtle yet full-bodied aromas, a pleasant smoke.” At 178 mm long and 19 mm in diameter, the Gigantes was literally a gigantic format at the time.
The BOCK Golden Edition, launched in 2006, was also very popular. It featured a rare Ecuador Desflorado wrapper and a golden color.
Like its sister, the BOCK Golden Edition was made in the Dominican Republic. However, its tobacco blend makes for a much stronger cigar. The filler made from Nicaraguan Viso tobaccos and Santo Domingo Piloto has produced a cigar that meets the highest demands.
Each edition tells its own story and adds a new chapter to the brand’s rich history.
The anniversary edition: BOCK Renacimiento 25 años
Today, we are celebrating the BOCK Y CA. brand and launching the limited anniversary edition BOCK Renacimiento 25 años to mark its 25th anniversary – an edition exclusively dedicated to the number 25: 25 cigars for the price of EUR/CHF 25.
To mark this anniversary, we have decided to revisit and reinterpret the story of Gustav Bock Müller. The eagle and Cuban origin are distinctive symbols inextricably linked with this man, the cigars, and his brand.
The boxes of the BOCK Renacimiento 25 años anniversary edition feature a unique design inspired by old Cuban tradition and contain 25 cigars in the Toro Gordo format.
Opening the box is an experience in itself. The spicy, aromatic bouquet that unfolds will instantly conjure up images of the Caribbean. One ingenious detail is that the cigars are not wrapped in cellophane but are protected by a parchment and cedar wood insert. Both the insert and the box tell the impressive story of BOCK.
The red anniversary cigar is adorned with the golden eagle (El Águila de Oro), a prominent feature of the company logo since 1865.
The limited anniversary edition will be available from selected retailers in Germany and Switzerland from September 19, 2024.
Take advantage of the unique opportunity to experience a piece of this rich history with the exquisite flavor of an anniversary cigar!
Spectacular launch at InterTabac
We celebrated the launch of the BOCK Renacimiento 25 años at InterTabac 2024 in Dortmund. We toasted the success of the next 25 years with our partners and loyal customers and celebrated our shared passion for premium cigars.