Since the late 20th century, Hunters & Frankau has carefully set aside noteworthy Havana cigars to age in perfect conditions for their House Reserve collection. Starting in 2019, small quantities have been released in Britain, presented either under the House Reserve Aged & Rare label or in specially commissioned humidors as part of the House Reserve Series 1790.
On 15 October 2025, Hunters & Frankau welcomed leading members of the UK cigar trade to Coq d’Argent in London for the unveiling of their latest House Reserve releases.
To commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Montecristo, Hunters & Frankau introduced a special Aged & Rare House Reserve selection — a fitting tribute to the world’s most iconic cigar brand. The release comprises 135 numbered boxes of each size, representing four of the five original vitolas that launched Montecristo in 1935: No.2, No.3, No.4 and No.5 — a total of 540 boxes, each aged for ten years within Hunters & Frankau’s reserve. In addition, 100 numbered boxes of the highly regarded 2012 Habanos Limited Edition Montecristo 520 have also been made available, each cigar carrying the distinctive Aged & Rare foot band and housed within boxes wrapped in a commemorative band created especially for the occasion.
Alongside this, Hunters & Frankau revealed the House Reserve Series 1790: Collection No.3, honouring Por Larrañaga — the oldest Cuban cigar brand still in production. Just fifty numbered humidors have been commissioned from Italian humidor specialists DeART S.r.l., each containing fifty cigars representing the four Por Larrañaga vitolas previously selected as UK Habanos Regional Editions: Magníficos (2007), Regalias de Londres (2010), Sobresalientes (2014), and the Larrañaga 47 (2023).
To complement the release, Hunters & Frankau partnered with Parisian luxury house S.T. Dupont to create a bespoke cigar cutter and Ligne 2 lighter set. Each piece is engraved with the Series 1790 emblem and individually numbered to correspond with its humidor — the cutter ingeniously folding into a cigar rest, and the lighter featuring the brand’s signature “cling” and double flame designed for cigars of generous ring gauge.
Speaking at the event, Jemma Freeman, Executive Chairman of Hunters & Frankau, said:
“The House Reserve is a testament to our commitment to preserving the finest Havana cigars and presenting them at their peak maturity. With the Montecristo 90th Anniversary release and the Series 1790 Collection No.3, we are proud to offer aficionados something truly exceptional and unique to the UK market.”
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