The Blanco Cigar Company was founded in the U.S.A. in 1998, however the family’s history and roots in the tobacco industry can be traced back to Cuba’s western-most province of Piñar del Rio and their cousins of 80 years, the Plasencia family. The Plasencias’, whose roots are also found in Piñar del Rio, are today one of the preeminent tobacco families in the industry. The Plasencias’ run all farming and manufacturing operations in both Danlí, Honduras and Estelí, Nicaragua.

The Blanco Cigar Company corporate offices and North America distribution center are located in Clearwater, FL. The Blanco family believes in a strong family-oriented business and as a result much of the family is involved in one aspect of the business or another.

Our Factory

Together, the Blanco & Plasencia families manufacture Blanco Cigars at one of Plasencia’s five factories located in Estelí, Nicaragua. This factory is one of the most opulent and beautiful factories in all of Central America and is commonly referred to as “The Cathedral” due to its large stained glass windows and exposed wood beam ceilings.

At the center of the factory is a beautiful courtyard with sharply manicured grass, rose bushes and a refreshing fountain.

The efficiency with which the factory operates is second to none. When walking through its halls, “an almost harmonious sense of tranquility comes over you”. These are some of the many feelings and emotions that have been described by visitors to the family factory. The reasons for these feelings are simple. QUALITY, TRADITION and VALUE. These are the three principles the family lives by and when you have been doing something as long as the Blanco and Plasencia families have, you have what it takes to grow exceptional QUALITY tobacco, manufacture great cigars using the time honored TRADITION and offer them to market at a great VALUE.

Our Family

Descendants of Spaniards from the province of Asturias in northern Spain, the family’s history and roots in the tobacco industry can be traced back to Cuba’s western-most province of Piñar del Rio. The story of the Blanco brothers, Cesar & Francisco, is similar to that of many other Cubans. Forced at a relatively young age, together with their parents Cesar Sergio and Clara Delia, to flee from political persecution and seek asylum in the United States. After seeking and obtaining a formal education and serving in the U.S. military, the brothers, along with Cesar’s son David, decided to return to their ancestral roots and establish Blanco Cigar Company in the U.S.A. in the late ’90s. After an untimely absence from the industry but with much pride, it is their pleasure to introduce Blanco Cigars and Primos Premium Cigars as the first two brands to come from Blanco Cigar Company.

David A. Blanco

David A. Blanco, who was born in Chicago, IL, holds a Baccalaureate in Arts and is part of the first generation of Blancos’ in the United States. Before entering the family’s business he was a Deputy Sheriff in the Chicago area and later became a Fire/Paramedic for the Chicago Fire Department. In addition, David has served in the United States Army in many capacities both active duty and reserve including 18 months in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) that involved an extended deployment to Afghanistan, while his father was serving in Iraq. Currently, David is the company’s Executive Vice President and also remains an active member, as a Commissioned Officer, of the United States Army Reserve.

Cesar A. Blanco

Cesar holds a Baccalaureate and a Masters in Public and Business Administration. Following the death of Cesar Sergio Blanco, his father and mentor and after nearly 30 years in the public sector, Cesar assumed the presidency of the Blanco Cigar Company. After arriving in the United States as a teenager, he completed his education in and around Chicago, where the family was relocated from Miami, FL in the winter of 1963, following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. He has been active in the private sector, as a successful entrepreneur and in the public sector as a ranking public safety and law enforcement officer. He also remained a member of the United States Army, with over 27 yeas active and reserve federal service and was deployed for 26 months, in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) before retiring in 2008 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4).