The Coronas Gordas format returns under a familiar name, carrying with it the memory of the old Serie A and the promise of something meaningful in the present.
Hello, dear reader,
There are definitely a lot of questions, emotions, and mixed feelings surrounding this year’s Festival del Habano and, more broadly, Havana itself. Between the difficult situation on the island, the constant pressure from the United States, and a world that feels more complicated and unpredictable by the month, it sometimes feels as if even our small rituals are surrounded by too much noise.
And that is precisely why I find comfort in moments like this.
In the middle of all this uncertainty, Habanos, S.A. has announced something simple, clear, and reassuring: the first Regional Edition of 2026. A cigar. A name from the past. A familiar format. The San Luis Rey The A, created exclusively for the Asia Pacifico region.
It may seem like a small thing. But in a world that feels increasingly unstable, a new cigar release, especially one so rooted in history, feels like a much welcomed signal of continuity. A reminder that some things still move according to a slower, more human rhythm.
The A: A Classic Format for a Classic Name
The San Luis Rey The A is presented in the vitola de galera Coronas Gordas, measuring 46 × 143 mm. For many of us, this format needs no introduction. It is the same size as the Cohiba Siglo IV, and also the same format as the long-discontinued Davidoff 5000 from the 1970s.
In other words, this is one of the great classic sizes of the cigar world.
It is a format that sits perfectly in the hand, that allows blends to express themselves without excess, and that has proven, over decades, to be a balanced canvas for beloved Cuban tobacco. The fact that this vitola was chosen for San Luis Rey is not accidental, and I like these comeback stories a lot.
Even more important: this is not a new idea.
San Luis Rey once had a cigar called Serie A in exactly this format. It was a pre-revolution release, and later remained part of the portfolio until it was discontinued in 2014. This new cigar, The A, is not just inspired by that history, it is clearly conceived as a homage, and perhaps as close to a true continuation as one can reasonably expect..
Strength, Character, and Expectations
We already know that The A is positioned as a full-strength cigar based on the brands strength profile. That alone makes it stand out in a portfolio that, historically, has often leaned more toward balance than power. But we like our Bolivars and Ramon Allones, don’t we?
This opens the door to a lot of interesting speculation.
What will “full strength” mean in the context of San Luis Rey the A? Will it be muscular and direct, or deep and structured? Will it lean toward earth, spice, and dark tobacco, or will it try to balance that power with some of the brand’s traditional refinement?
The Coronas Gordas format is particularly well suited to answering these questions, because it does not hide anything. It is wide enough to show depth, but slim enough to keep the blend honest. If there is balance, it will show. If there is excess, it will also show.
And that’s exactly what makes this release interesting.
San Luis Rey is not a new name. The brand was founded in 1940, and for a long time it occupied a very particular place in the Habanos universe: respected, understated, and appreciated by those who paid attention.
Today, in regular production, only one cigar remains: the San Luis Rey Regios. A wonderful cigar, and in many ways a reminder of what the brand once was, and could be again.
But San Luis Rey has never disappeared completely.
In recent years, it has lived mostly through Regional Editions, often in limited and highly desirable releases. One of the most striking examples is the San Luis Rey Adamastor, the Portugal Regional Edition of 2025. A Lancero in Laguito Especial vitola, it immediately captured the attention of collectors and enthusiasts and became one of those cigars that people suddenly started looking for everywhere.
That release reminded many of us that San Luis Rey still favored by distributors and that it can still create real excitement when handled with care.
The Meaning of “The A”
Seen in this context, The A, to me, feels like a Regional Edition with a nice story and that sometimes is the magic formula.
It feels like a deliberate attempt to reconnect the brand with one of its own historical pillars. To bring back a format, a name, and an idea that already existed, and to reinterpret it for today.
Whether it will be the same cigar in spirit as the old Serie A remains to be seen. But the intention is clear: this is not a random size, and it is not a random name.
Asia Pacifico and the Reality of Regionals
As with all Regional Editions, The A will be limited to the Asia Pacifico distribution network. Which means, very simply, that it will not be easy to find elsewhere.
That is part of the charm, and part of the frustration too.
Regionals are, by definition, local. And that locality is what gives them their personality. But it also means that many of us will be relying on friends, travels, and a bit of luck.
I sincerely hope that some of my friends in Vietnam are reading this and think of me when their first boxes arrive. Ok, Daria?
The official launch party will take place on February 4th, in Bali, at La Casa del Habano Legian.
That alone says something about how seriously this release is being treated.
Bali, Asia Pacifico, San Luis Rey, and a historic vitola coming back to life, it feels like one of those quiet but meaningful moments in the Habanos calendar. This event almost went under the radar but I couldn’t let it pass without making sure you know about it.
Looking Toward the Festival
And, of course, all of this happens just before the Festival del Habano, which gives this release an even more interesting place in the broader rhythm of the year.
On one hand, I hope this cigar becomes a symbol of continuity, proof that even in complicated times, tradition and craftsmanship still move forward.
On the other hand, I hope it becomes something even more specific: a true return of San Luis Rey to a place of quiet relevance, not just as a name for Regionals, but as a brand with a voice and a future.
And if, in the process, it manages to honor the old Serie A in both spirit and performance, then this release will have done something genuinely meaningful.
Sometimes, the most reassuring news is simply this:
someone, in a factory in Havana, with beautiful leaves from Pinar del Rio is still making a damn good cigar.
Wishing you rich flavors and good company, until we meet again