A business administrator by profession, Mario Córdova, Cigarros Córdova, inherited a faint tobacco tradition from a great-uncle who worked as a cigar roller during Puerto Rico’s golden era of tobacco. This period began during the Spanish colonial era, when the island served as the world’s largest tobacco exporter, combining local production with leaves from Cuba and La Española (modern-day Dominican Republic) on their way to Europe.
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Today, the brands that emerged after the decline of this industry are largely boutique, but they stem from a history where companies like the Puerto Rico Tobacco Company and the Electric Power Tobacco Company led the prosperity of nearly 40 cigar brands crafted on the Island of Enchantment.
The grandson of a cigar enthusiast, Mario turned to premium cigars during a divorce in 2020, when the calming effects of good cigars helped him manage stress and symptoms of depression during a challenging time.
Mario had been smoking cigars since he was 18 and was passionate about the craftsmanship they represent. He decided to delve into the industry to understand the process behind these objects of pleasure and, along the way, save money by producing his own.
Through the pages of El Vocero de Puerto Rico, a local newspaper, he came across an image of Gaby Cruz and thought, “This is someone who could surely teach me.”
“I reached out to him through social media, and he invited me to learn. I remember I had bought a DVD with so-called cigar-rolling lessons, and he told me, ‘Throw it away. I’ll teach you the right way to make a cigar.’ And that’s how we started.”
For Mario, it marked the beginning of a new life and a clear sign that the world had not ended. Today, he continues working as a business administrator, but instead of doing it from a call center, he now devotes his time to building his brand and supporting local artisans through the Mother Earth Cigar Lounge in San Juan.
“I saw the business as an art –something Gaby instilled in me– but also as a niche market and an opportunity to help Puerto Rico’s cigar industry regain its former glory.”
Cigarros Córdova
To honor his family legacy, Mario Córdova chose his surname as the brand’s name and his family crest to adorn each handcrafted cigar. The brand currently offers five vitolas: Gordo, Torpedo, Robusto, Rothschild, and Toro.
Among them is Esteban, a 5-inch, 54-ring gauge Robusto created in honor of his grandfather. This Cuban sandwich cigar features Puerto Rican leaves cultivated before Hurricane Maria, aged for seven years, and further cured in wooden boxes with cane liquor and table scraps from other tobaccos that enhance the blend.
Another standout is Doris, a small 4.5-inch, 52-ring gauge Belicoso with a sweet tip—a technique Gaby taught him. The cigar pays homage to his grandmother, a sweet woman with a strong side, symbolized by the Kentucky fire-cured leaves in its blend.
Finally, the Drengr is a robust and strong cigar available in 5-inch, 60-ring gauge and 65-ring gauge vitolas, designed for those who enjoy long, indulgent smokes.
Additionally, Mario is collaborating with a local entrepreneur and close friend to create a new line of cigars dedicated to Puerto Rico’s national heroes. The first in the series is Betances, named after Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán, considered the Father of the Nation. Its blend features a San Andrés Mexican wrapper, Cameroon binder, and Nicaraguan Estelí and Dominican Piloto filler.
A New Opportunity
According to Mario Córdova, Puerto Rico is experiencing a new opportunity to reclaim its place in the international market, starting with the United States, one of the largest markets in the world.
“We have the foundation of the tobacco industry and the heart to move forward, but we all need to do our part, collaborate, and share –just as Gaby always wanted.”
He believes that in a few years, the island could produce its first master blenders, supported by consumer interest in artisan cigar-making and various projects aimed at growing and harvesting tobacco locally, paving the way for 100% Puerto Rican cigars.
Cigars Are Meant to Be Shared
One of El Chan’s greatest lessons was that cigars represent a lifestyle for everyone, from the humblest to the wealthiest, and that cigars are meant to be shared –they don’t exclude. In keeping with this philosophy, Mother Earth Cigars offers a safe space for enjoying quality cigars, allowing people to “shake off the stress of the week.”
In Puerto Rico, there are more lounges opening every day, along with opportunities in the local market. Young people are showing interest in learning how to enjoy a good cigar and simply need guidance.
Hijos de La Hoja del Chan
Lino, Sandra, Jonathan, Polanco, Barreto, Mario, and San Pedrito form the first group of Los Hijos de La Hoja del Chan. They’ve become a family mentored by José Gabriel Cruz Ayala, El Chan, working together to revive Puerto Rico’s cigar tradition.
“We might not always meet regularly due to our individual responsibilities, but when we cross paths at a trade fair, I sell their products alongside mine. It’s all about unity, and we help each other grow.”
Mario emphasizes that through this group and everyone Gaby inspired, his legacy lives on. “He left us suddenly, but he knew this heritage would be protected by his family and all of us. I’m doing my part to honor his name through my journey, working to prove that Puerto Rico is on the tobacco map. For now, Cigarros Córdova is a one-man operation, but with a clear vision for the future.”
