H. Upmann was founded in Havana, Cuba, in 1844 by German banker Hermann Dietrich Upmann, making it one of the oldest pre-revolution cigar brands still in existence and the first Cuban cigar brand named after a non-Cuban using his own name. In the 19th century, it won 7 gold medals at international exhibitions, and its packaging boxes still bear the medal patterns and Hermann's signature. In 2005, it was listed by Habanos S.A. as one of the "Global Six Major Cuban Cigar Brands."