OUR STORY
Where Tradition and Determination Converge
Named in honor of the place where Columbus first encountered the sacred smoke of the Taino people, Bariay 1492 pays homage to the island where the cigar was born. Every cigar we craft by hand is part of that lineage. It’s not only a ritual but a reconnection to this lost art.
From Havana, With Fire
Our story begins with César Ramirez, a master blender born in Havana with fire in his blood. In the cigar industry, he is world famous. Known as the "Crazy Cuban", he is respected and loved by all.
Most faces behind cigar brands have never actually made a cigar. César has. He lives and breathes them.
César had always wanted to create a cigar different from all the others out there - a smooth, clean draw with no harsh aftertaste or finish. He was always told it wasn't possible, but through his 30 years of creating and testing his recipe, Bariay 1492 is here.
As a boy, he watched his grandfather work in the tobacco barns of Cuba, absorbing the aromas and rituals of the craft. His early cigar career began in the factory of Romeo y Julieta where he learned the craft of becoming a master roller and blender. Labeled as a non-conformist early in his life, in 1994 at just 32, he escaped Castro’s Cuba on a raft with little more than a dream and a memory of how old Cuban cigars used to be made—pure, aromatic, and with spirit.
That memory became his compass.
César’s journey led him from Cuba to Las Vegas and on to the fertile valleys of Nicaragua. After decades of experimenting to create his blends, fermentation, and rolling techniques and pushing against the industry norms, he met Wilfredo Ponce—a kindred spirit born on a tobacco farm with dirt under his nails and pride in his craft. Wilfredo recognized the spark in César’s unique method—the daring third fermentation, the rolling traditions of old Havana—and together, they began to roll not just cigars, but a legacy.
A Dream Finds Its Match
And then came Alan Kirchhoff, a cigar lover residing in Texas with a love for tradition and a heart tuned to legacy. Alan had long dreamed of building something that honored not just the craft of cigars, but the people and heritage behind them. His journey wasn’t one of tobacco barns or fermentation rooms—but of vision, stewardship, and a deep-rooted respect for storytelling.
Alan grew up with a reverence for the past and a passion for craftsmanship. When he met César, something clicked. Here was a man who had lived the very traditions Alan admired—someone who didn’t just talk about authenticity but lived it. It wasn’t just about starting a business. It was about restoring the lost art.
Together, Alan and César began to shape what would become Bariay 1492: a brand forged from two paths that were always meant to intersect. Alan brings the structure, the strategy, and the soul of a believer. He’s the kind of partner who sees the magic in the process and the purpose in the mission. And with Wilfredo’s partnership on the ground in Nicaragua, the circle was complete.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Today, Bariay 1492 stands out as the only fully integrated, handcrafted cigar brand, from farm to smoke — rooted in Cuban heritage, rolled in Nicaragua, and headquartered in the heart of Texas. We’re one of a kind, small by design, committed to clean tobacco, no chemicals, and using the forgotten processes that give our cigars their smooth draw
and signature smoke.
Every cigar we roll carries the soul of its makers: César’s generational and inventive wisdom, Wilfredo’s farm-born mastery, and Alan’s vision for something lasting. We’ve launched with two blends, a loyal community, and a calling to bring people together through tradition, story, and quality cigars.
WHERE WE'RE HEADED
Our dream is to grow steadily and start a legacy —
a name passed from hand to hand like a fine cigar.
As we expand across the U.S. and beyond, we remain anchored in what matters: honoring our roots, uplifting our partners, and never compromising the integrity
of our craft.
We envision a future where our cigars are shared at everyday gatherings, enjoyed in lounges, and remembered for the conversations they've sparked. But more than that, we hope Bariay becomes a reminder—that good things take time, that old ways still have power, and that somewhere between Havana and Texas, something sacred was born again.
