Tobacco and Cigars in Cuba By Jack Carty Oct 27, 1492 Christopher Columbus travels to Cuba 1830 Demand for Cuban Cigars increase and Cuban cigars become renowned as the worlds best cigars 1845 Cuba's first cigar factory,The Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagás, is opened Dec 31, 1958 Fidel Castro takes power and begins to lead Cuba 1962 Demand and sales for Cuban Cigars slowly decline due to trade embargo that led the decline to last through 1962-1992 Feb 7, 1962 JFK bans Cuban imports, including Cuban Cigars, from entering the U.S.