Quai d’Orsay is a brand established in 1973 and has been commercially available since 1974. The impetus for the brand came from the French Economy and Finance minister (and later President) Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who proposed a cigar with a light flavor to pair with French products like champagne and foie gras. This eventually led to the French tobacco monopoly (SEITA) approaching Cubatabaco with the concept. The brand gets its name from the street (and quay) in Paris, where SEITA's headquarters is located.

Generally
For most of its existence, the brand was the quintessential example of a “local” marque, focused almost entirely on the French market. This changed somewhat in 2005 when production volumes and worldwide availability were increased.

2017, the brand underwent a refresh, with new band and box designs and new cigars added to the line. When the brand classification system was changed in 2019, Quai d’Orsay was initially classified in Habanos S.A.’s Other category of portfolio brands, however it was elevated to Value later that year.

The Quai d’Orsay range comprises light-strength cigars using tobacco from the premium Vuelta Abajo region.