Matos 39

Matos39 is a boutique cigar brand created by Francisco Antonio Matos Mancebo and inspired by the first cigar he truly appreciated.

The story began on October 19, 2005, fourteen days after Matos celebrated his 39th birthday. Several months earlier, a young cigar maker from Villa González had given him a small number of handmade cigars produced at an INTABACO training facility. At the time, Matos did not smoke them.

His relationship with tobacco was unusual. He had not grown up in a tobacco family and had spent much of his early life holding strongly anti-smoking views. His introduction to the cigar industry came through public service, particularly his work at INTABACO combating cigar counterfeiting and piracy.

After previously declining a cigar during a visit to Cuba, Matos eventually decided to light one of the cigars he had received as a gesture of respect toward the person who made it. The aroma, flavor, and character of the Dominican tobacco completely changed his perception of premium cigars.

That experience became the inspiration for Matos39. The name combines his family name with the age at which he consciously discovered and appreciated a premium cigar for the first time.

Developed under Matos Cigar Company and handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, Matos39 is one of the most personal expressions within Francisco Matos’s cigar portfolio. The brand reflects his transition from an anti-smoking background and institutional involvement in tobacco protection to becoming a cigar manufacturer, educator, and advocate for Dominican tobacco culture.

Matos39 is produced through boutique methods using carefully selected tobaccos and traditional cigar-making techniques. The brand seeks to preserve the character of Dominican tobacco while delivering a refined and authentic smoking experience.

More than a commercial name, Matos39 represents a defining moment in Francisco Matos’s life. It symbolizes discovery, transformation, respect for Dominican craftsmanship, and the beginning of his personal journey as a premium cigar enthusiast and producer.