Sandy Cobas’ ascent to managing America’s most prized boutique cigar operation traces back to an unlikely beginning—adding hand-rolled cigars to gift baskets in her Miami liquor store during the mid-’90s. This serendipitous entry into the industry led to the founding of El Titan de Bronze in 1995, a tiny-but-mighty operation in Miami’s Little Havana that would go on to lead boutique manufacturing in the US. The factory’s success stems from Cobas’ unwavering standards, employing Category 9 torcedores (primarily Cuban-trained women) and focusing on Cuban techniques such as entubado bunching and triple-cap craftsmanship. This approach has attracted partnerships with craft manufacturers and major companies alike, culminating in 2024’s reimagining of the factory’s Redemption line (Cigar Dojo’s No. 16 Cigar of the Year for 2024) through Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s nationwide distribution network. But perhaps most telling is Cobas’ philosophy on running her business, where she maintains creative control over all projects and views her team as family—including her 96-year-old mother, who still visits the factory on a regular basis. While El Titan de Bronze has long been celebrated for manufacturing cigars for other brands, 2024 marks Cobas’ evolution from boutique manufacturer to nationwide brand runner, bringing her signature style and exacting standards to a broader audience than ever before.
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