The Rafael González brand was established in the 1930s. One particular size from this brand was especially famous: the Lonsdale. Measuring 165 mm in length and 16.67 mm in circumference (ring gauge 42), it is actually a Cervante in terms of format, but is much better known by its trade name, Lonsdale.
It was the first to be called Lonsdale, after Lord Lonsdale, the sporting Earl from England, a famous cigar lover of the time. Nowadays, several other Habanos brands also use this format name.
On the lid of every box there is a distinctive English inscription stating that the cigars should be smoked within a month of dispatch from Havana. Otherwise, they should be allowed to mature carefully for a period of one year.
Rafael Gonzalez cigars consist of a mild-tasting tobacco blend made from filler and wrapper leaves from the Vuelta Abajo tobacco-growing region. All formats are produced using the ‘totalmente a mano, tripa larga’ technique and are entirely hand-rolled long-fillers. Only the Panetela Extra format is totalmente a mano, tripa corta – a completely hand-rolled short filler, made from tobaccos from the Semi Vuelta region.