From Geneva to the World — The Davidoff Story

Davidoff cigars originated from the life story of Zino Davidoff — the “King of Cigars” — from a small tobacco shop in Geneva, developing into a global luxury brand thanks to the charismatic visionary Dr. Ernst Schneider.

The Château Series — 1946

In 1946, Zino Davidoff launched the legendary Château series, named after the great Bordeaux wineries — Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion. Davidoff became synonymous with luxury, perfection and a culture of enjoyment. Zino also invented the humidor to store cigars optimally.

The Cuba Years — 1967 to 1990

In 1967, Zino Davidoff partnered with the Cuban state-owned company Cubatabaco to produce his own line in Cuba under the brand name DAVIDOFF. The premium cigars were produced in the legendary El Laguito — the same manufactory that produced Cohiba for Fidel Castro. The Davidoff formats (No. 1, No. 2, Ambassadrice) were first launched in 1968 and became one of the most sought-after Havana lines worldwide.

In the late 1980s, quality conflicts arose between Davidoff and Cubatabaco. Davidoff ended the collaboration and publicly destroyed the remaining Havana stock. Production moved to the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Ernst Schneider & the Dominican Republic

Dr. Ernst Schneider — CEO of Oettinger AG Switzerland and a visionary luxury goods entrepreneur — took over the Davidoff brand and relocated production to the Dominican Republic. The partnership with master blender Hendrik Kelner and his family became the key to the brand’s global success. The cigars produced there achieved a quality superior to many Cuban products.

The partnership with the Kelner family remains the backbone of the brand to this day. Hendrik Kelner Jr. continues the legacy of his father at the Dominican production headquarters.