Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr. officially launched La Gloria Cubana in the United States in 1972 and established El Credito Cigar Factory in Miami's Little Havana. For nearly two decades the cigars remained a local secret. After his father's death, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. continued the family work and in 1990 introduced the bolder blend that became today's La Gloria Cubana Classic.

A 90-point review in the first issue of Cigar Aficionado in 1992 sent demand soaring and made La Gloria Cubana one of America's defining boutique-cigar success stories. Production expanded to Santiago, Dominican Republic, and the house continued to push established formats with releases such as Serie R. Today's blends preserve that Perez-Carrillo foundation while pairing old-world craft with a willingness to explore new tobaccos and shapes.