Rolando Reyes, Sr.

Don Rolando Reyes Sr. was a well-known Honduran cigar maker of Cuban origin formerly residing in Danlí, Honduras. He was a master blender, roller and is the creator of Cuba Aliados, Puros Indios and other cigar brands.

Early life Rolando Reyes was born in 1924 into a large family of fourteen (seven boys and seven girls), in Zulueta, Las Villas Province, Cuba (now in Villa Clara Province). His father owned a trucking business, but unlike his siblings, he wished to become a tabacalero, a tobacconist. He went to school at 8 in the morning until noon, and then worked in the factory from 1 (1300 hrs) in the afternoon until 9 at night (2100 hrs). After two years at Tabacalera Pequeña, he left there to work in the Aquilar factory in nearby Remedios. which took over the production and distribution of the Puros Indios brand. The dispute and lawsuit also resulted in a permanent rift between father and son, Rolando Reyes Jr., who departed and went his own way due to ongoing disputes with older sister Oneida. Oneida wanted to keep the company and all of the family inheritance to herself.

Honduras A visit to Honduras convinced Reyes Sr. to move most of his operations to Danlí, Honduras, the move was completed in 1989. This factory was in use for fourteen years. It eventually became too small, until a new, fully modern factory was built on the outskirts of Danlĺ, which opened in 2002.