Tobacco Products International magazine – Quarter 1, 2020

22ND FESTIVAL DEL HABANOS

22ND FESTIVAL DEL HABANOS

Anniversaries Galore Celebrated:

Anniversaries Galore Celebrated:

• Juan López 150th

• Juan López 150th

• Romeo y Julieta 145th

• Romeo y Julieta 145th

• Montecristo 85th

• Montecristo 85th

• La Casa del Habano 30th

• La Casa del Habano 30th

PLUS: The Return of Puro Sabor, the Nicaraguan Cigar Festival

PLUS: The Return of Puro Sabor, the Nicaraguan Cigar Festival

FEATURES

{ CARIBBEAN }

6 22nd Habanos Festival:

Romeo y Julieta, Montescristo, La Casa Del Habanos Take Center Stage

Romeo y Julieta marks its 145th anniversary this year; Montecristo its 85th; and La Casa de Habanos its 30th. All three were celebrated at this year’s Habanos Festival. » STAFF REPORT

{ CENTRAL AMERICA }

14 Puro Sabor Festival 2020:

Nicaraguan Cigar Festival Returns

Following a hiatus in 2019 due to political and social unrest in Nicaragua, the Puro Sabor Festival returned this year, a bit smaller, but agreeably better than ever. » STAFF REPORT

{ EDITORIAL }

E. EDWARD “TED” HOYT III Editor

ROBERT M. LOCKWOOD

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Production Coordinator

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Accountant

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{Industry News}

New Habanos Specialist Opens in London

LONDON A new Habanos Specialist, called No.6 Cavendish, has opened its doors in the heart of London’s West End. Owners Ajay and Bhavna Patel opened the U.K’s first La Casa Del Habano over 10 years ago, and have over 25 experience in the cigar industry. Their Casa remains open and continues to go from strength to strength, while No.6 Cavendish breaks in a different direction.

“This is a project we have considered for a number of years, but we felt the time was right and we found the perfect location, so we decided to go for it,” says Ajay. ”The new shop is an addition to our existing one, not a replacement for it.”

No.6 Cavendish has two walk-in humidors, private members keeps, a large and very comfortable sampling lounge, a selection of fine spirits available by the glass or by the bottle, a bar and, of course, a comprehensive selection of Habanos including many rare and vintage Havanos. The Habanos are available individually or by the box.

There are plans for a series of Masterclasses to be conducted throughout the coming year and this wonderful shop seems sure to be a huge hit with the cigar smokers of London, as well as those located far further afield.

2020 Cigar Smoking World Championship Qualifiers Begin with New Rocky Patel Cigar

The 11th annual Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) kicked off on February 29 in Riga, Latvia with the first of several dozen qualifying events in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.A. The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a new competition cigar developed and rolled by Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. The new official cigar carries all of the same technical parameters as previous competition cigars (5-1/8 inch x 42 ring gauge petite corona “Mareva”), but has been specially made specifically with the demanding properties needed for a slow-burning competition in mind. Featuring a Honduran and Nicaraguan filler blend, Nicaraguan binder, and San Andres (Mexico) wrapper, cigar is also being offered commercially by Rocky Patel in Petite Corona, Robusto, and Toro vitolas. CSWC was created in 2009 by Marko Bilic, president of the Mareva Cigar Club in Split, Croatia, where the grand finale is held in September.

Premium cigar maker Mombacho Cigars of Grenada, Nicaragua has signed a distribution agreement with La Casa del Tabaco to distribute the firm’s hand made cigars in Spain, which is now the specialty cigar manufacturer’s 15th market. Mombacho Cigars produces only all-Nicaraguan tobacco puros under the direction of Claudio Sgroi, President and Master Blender.

British American Tobacco (BAT) has been recognized as a global leader for engaging with its suppliers on climate change, having been awarded a position on the “Supplier Engagement Leaderboard” compiled by global environmental impact non-profit organisation CDP . BAT was recognized among 4,800 assessed companies for its actions and strategies to reduce emissions and manage climate risks in its supply chain in the past reporting year.

UK Industry to Government: Keep Vaping Shops Open During Coronavirus Crisis

LONDON The UK vaping industry in March urging the UK government to keep vape stores open across the country, rather than forcing them to close as part of any intensification of its coronavirus containment strategy. Closing vapes stores, the industry argues, would be a potentially counterproductive move that could place further strain on the already overstretched National Health Service.

In an open letter to Nadhim Zahawi, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the largest trade body representing the vaping sector in the UK, calls for vape shops in cities, towns and rural areas to stay open and be exempt from any Government lockdown.

In the letter the UKVIA cites the experience of Italy, the country in Europe hit hardest by Coronavirus so far and where the Government reversed its decision to close vape stores as part of its containment program.

The letter to the British Minister reads: “We recognise and support the Government’s intensified containment plan for the virus but would urge you and your colleagues to look at the example of Italy.

“Dr Riccardo Polosa, a world renowned scientist and researcher on vaping and tobacco harm reduction and founder of the Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, successfully argued that due to the stress caused by the Coronavirus, with the closure of vape shops vapers were highly likely to go back to smoking cigarettes to maintain their nicotine needs. This could be dangerous from a public health perspective and could heighten the risk of exposure of tobacco smoke to bystanders during the crisis, including families and children. It could also place a further burden on an already overstretched health system.”

The UKVIA goes on to call on the British government to give the sector every support it can so that the industry can maintain its service to three million plus vapers across the country, including those in self isolation and people living in remote areas.

Maya Selva: 25 Years of Tenacity and Cigar Passion

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Maya Selva Cigars, a milestone in the company’s history of providing aficionados worldwide with a refined smoking experience.

The strategic positioning of the Flor de Selva, Villa Zamorano, and Cumpay brands on the cigar market was no accident. At the age of 16, Maya Selva moved from Honduras to France in order to continue her studies. She returned in 1995, eager to gain experience, particularly in the tobacco industry.

For more than a year, she lived in Danlí, where she immersed herself fully in the world of cigar production, from planting seeds in the nursery, to planting the fields, to harvesting leaf by leaf, classifying the tobacco, and learning the techniques of drying, fermentation, processing, blending and hand rolling.

With this solid background, Selva met renowned tobacco producer and cigar maker Nestor Plasencia, and he became her mentor. After trying hundreds of leaves, both separately and blended, Maya Selva debuted on the French market in 1995 with her first box of Flor de Selva cigars, which became a classic among the most demanding smokers.

22nd

Habanos

Festival: Anniversaries Galore at 2020 Habanos Festival

This year, Romeo y Julieta marks its 145th anniversary, Juan Lopéz its 125th, Montecristo its 85th, and La Casa del Habanos its 30th: All were celebrated at the festival. » STAFF REPORT

Havana hosted the 22nd Habanos Festival from 24–28 February, consisting of five activity-packed days of programming drawing Habanos S.A. distributors, retailers, and even consumers from around the world. In addition to witnessing the unveiling of a numerous new upcoming releases, participants immersed themselves in the culture, production, and enjoyment of Habanos through a variety of seminars, tours, and social events. With visitors from more

about 70 countries expected to have participated, and attendance last year reported at 1,300 participants (including more than 200 journalists), the week-long event has earned bragging rights as largest premium cigar gathering in the world.

DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS

The festival began on Monday, 24 February with a press conference for journalists, the preliminary round of the 3rd Habanos World Challenge

(which tests the knowledge of pairs of Habanos enthusiasts), and the opening of the Trade Fair at the Havana Convention Center, where tobacco industry professionals traditionally network and make valuable merchandise and supplier connections among the exhibiting luxury goods makers, craftspeople, artists, manufacturers of smoking accessories and gourmet products, and allied industry suppliers. Habanos S.A. reported there were 84 exhibit stands from 11 countries, up 79 stands last year, and that 54 stands represented Cuban companies. Overall, there were 2,200 visitors to the convention hall.

The week’s first big social event then kicked off with a sprawling wel-

PHOTOS COURTESY HABANOS S.A.

Top right: A Cohiba humidor containing an assortment of 550 different Cohiba cigars including 20 each of the Behike BHK 52, Behike BHK 54, and Cohiba Edición Limitada 1966, was the final, record-breaking item in the annual humidor auction at the festival’s closing gala.

come evening dinner celebration beach-side at Club Habana, paying homage to the Bolívar brand with a slew of music, dance, acrobatic, and other performances. The star of the night, though, was the unveiling of the Bolívar Belicosos Finos Reserva Cosecha 2016—the first Reserva release under this brand.

In selecting the 52 ring gauge x 140mm long Belecos Fina vitola for this Reserva edition, Habanos S.A. chose the most iconic shape in the Bolívar portfolio. All of the tobaccos used to roll this release, set aside from the 2016 Vuelta Abajo harvest in the Pinar del Río region, have been aged for at least three years to earn the Reserva designation. Only 5,000 numbered boxes of 20 habanos will be released, presented in elegant black lacquer-finished cases and featuring the black and chrome secondary Reserva band below the primary traditional Bolívar band.

DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Tuesday, 25 February offered tours of tobacco plantations and leaf curing facilities in the Partido zone of San Antonio de los Baños in the Artemisa province, south of Havana and east of the western-most province of Pinar del Río. This area has historically been a very important cultivation region for the produc-

Habanos S.A.: A $531m Year in 2019

Corporación Habanos, S.A. maintained its global leadership position in premium cigars in 2019, posting its fourth consecutive year of growth.

Corporación Habanos, S.A., which exclusively markets the 27 handmade Habanos brands worldwide, released its financial results for the 2019 fiscal year during the festival, reporting a turnover of $531 million, which the company said represented growth of 2 percent at a constant exchange rate compared to 2018 results.

“The markets are behaving very satisfactorily, maintaining in our position in mature markets and increasing our presence and sales, particularly in emerging markets such as Continental China and Middle East, which are becoming increasingly important for Habanos,” say Inocente Núñez and Luis Sánchez-Harguindey Pardo de Vera, Co-Presidents of Habanos, S.A. “After 25 years, Habanos, S.A. is still operating in more than 140 countries. Exports continue to grow which, in turn, is very important to the country.”

In the ranking by country, the top five markets for Habanos, S.A. in terms of sales volume are Spain, China, France, Germany, and Cuba. By region, Europe remains the main market for Habanos, with 53 percent of sales by volume, followed by the Americas (18 percent), Africa and the Middle East (15 percent), and Asia Pacific (14 percent).

Leopoldo Cintra González, Commercial Vice-President, and José María López Inchaurbe, Vice-President of Development of Habanos, S.A., believe that “2019 has been once again a successful year in terms of commercialization, thanks to the numerous, innovative initiatives we have run, which contribute decisively to our continued position as the undisputed leaders of premium tobacco worldwide. Moreover, the consolidation of Habanos as a premium product and the commitment to quality and craftsmanship in its manufacturing process, offer the possibility of continuing to grow as people increasingly appreciate unique and differential products.”

tion of Habanos. Visitors saw first-hand how the fertile lands of the vegas in this “Protected Appellation of Origin” (P.O.A.) give the tobacco’s their special qualities—both sun grown leaf and aromatic wrapper leaves grown under the shade of cheesecloth.

In all, the Cuban news agency Granma reports that there are 45 companies participating in the tobacco industry in Cuba, 23 of which are involved in the production tobacco, working with 800 farming cooperatives and nearly 17,000 peasant producers cultivating approximately 37,000 hectares of land throughout the country. For the 2019-2020 growing season, Granma reports Habanos S.A. hopes to see a total yield of 30,000 tons of tobacco, or a yield of 1.1 tons per hectare.

DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, 26 February, featured the International Seminar which offered master classes and talks led by renowned experts in the world of Habanos, examining the culture of Habanos, their brands, and the most outstanding products. The keynote speech, “Habanos and their brands,” by Ciro Bianchi, was followed by a master class on the technique of hand rolling long filler tobacco entitled “Creating a parejo,” by Miguel Bárzaga capped by a talk on the new edition of the book El Bello Habano by Reynaldo González.

This year’s special partnership brought Habanos together with a selection of wines from Bodegas Torres from different Appellations of Origin in Catalonia, Spain. The pairing matched

some iconic Habanos with the highest quality red wines from Torres, bringing together their distinctive characteristics: H. Upmann Magnum 54 and Trinidad Vigía with wines produced with Grenache, Cariñena and Syrah: Salmos D.O.Ca Priorat and Purgaroti D.O. Costers del Segre. The sampling was accommpanied by explanations provided by leading experts.

The Festival’s “intermediary evening” on Wednesday marked the halfway point of the festival and featured the second major social dinner, celebrating La Casa del Habano’s three decades of retailing, as well as the 85th anniversary of the Montecristo brand, with a gala dinner hosted at the Laguito Protocol Hall. The launch of the Montecristo Herederos vitola commemorates both of these anniversaries. Herederos, a 47 ring gauge by 162mm long “Cazadores Especiales” is presented in a special case of 20 Habanos, and is exclusively marketed by La Casa del Habano and Habanos Specialists franchise network, designated by the secondary matte gold band below the primary Montecristo ring. The special humidor case, featuring a rich high gloss clear finish to showcase the natural wood grain, includes an internal humidification element and hygrometer.

Left: Bolívar Belicosos Finos Reserva Cosecha 2016, the first-ever Bolívar Reserva. Right: Montecristo Herederos, exclusive to LCDH and Habanos Specialists networks.

International Seminar: Left: Parings with Bodegas Torres wines. Right: “Creating a Parejo” master class.

Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro: Dianas, Hidalgo, Nobles

The Romeo y Juliet brand is celebrating its 145th anniversary this year with the introduction of a new Línea—the brand’s most premium. Romeo y Julieta Línea de Oro consists of three vitolos—two parejos and one figurado, all of them unprecedented in the Romeo y Julieta portfolio, positioning this line as the brand’s most exclusive and elegant. It also for the first time a “medium to full-strength” flavour profile has been introduced within the brand, which to date has been known for its balanced, aromatic blend made with a classic medium-strength flavour.

The Dianas (52 x 145mm “Damas), Hidalgos (57 x 12mm), and Nobles (56 x 135mm “Triangulares”) vitolas were chosen by Habanos, S.A. to form this new line, presented in a high-quality case with exquisite attention to detail and a high gloss lacquer finish on sycamore wood stained the red of the brand. The grain of the wood itself is also used to showcase its beauty.

A distinctive element of the Línea de

DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, 27 February was focused on factory tours, which this year were hosted at La Corona and Partagás, to see stripping, rolling, inspecting, and packaging areas at each facility.

La Corona (Empresa de Tabaco Trocido La Corona) is the current home to one of the largest and more modern factories in the capital, producing brands including Romeo y Julieta, San Cristóbal de La Habana, Por Larrañaga, Saint Luis Rey, and Diplomaticos, among others.

Likewise, the Partagás factory (Fábrica de Tabaco Torcido Partagás), has moved in recent years from its longtime and highly recognized (but

Oro is the inclined front face. It will also show off an elegant curved indentation with a golden touch and a metallic tape that, together with the small plaque embossed with the logo in exquisite detail, make this case unique.

severely aging) former home on Calle Industria in Central Havana to a building in better condition, but one that’s also had a long history rolling cigars. Most recently known as the El Rey Mundo Factory, it provided a more or less seamless move in 2016. In addition to Partagás, the Bolivar, La Gloria Cubana, Quia d’Orsay, and Ramon Allones brands are also produced there.

Factory workers gladly showed visitors their handcrafting tradition that takes us back 200 years. During the tours, it was revealed that daily production ranges from 17,000 to 20,000 habanos, of which 5 percent are typically rejected during quality tests for small defects such as barely visible scratches

These Habanos also have a band and tape designed solely for this launch.

Romeo y Julieta, created as a Habanos brand in 1875, has its roots in the literary tragedy of the same name by the English writer William Shakespeare.

or imperceptible deviations in bunching consistency or overall dimensions. These rejected cigars are distributed among all the factory workers, who receive between three and five habanos daily, without a ring or packaging.

More afternoon seminars followed, first a Special Tasting which presented with three specially rolled cigars featuring only a single type of tobacco, as well as a Montecristo Media Corona. Fernando Fernández, Habanosommelier Master and advisor to Habanos, S.A., said this was the first time that Habanos S.A. has publicly conducted such a tasting exercise. Labeled only with a number, each cigar could be tasted blindly with

La Casa del Habano Celebrates 30 Years of Luxury Retailing

This year’s Habanos Festival commemorated the 30th anniversary of the founding of Habanos S.A.’s La Casa del Habano, the international network of highly specialized retail stores dedicated to the sale, enjoyment, and culture of Habanos. The year-long celebration will be marked with a number of special releases.

The first store opened in 1990 in Cancún, Mexico. In the beginning, La Casa del Habano was created as a store specially dedicated strictly to the sale of Habanos under the company’s 27 different commercial brands. However, over the years the concept evolved and the shops focus not only on the sale of Habanos, but also offer a variety of services and personalized care for anyone interested in finding out about these products, their culture, and their legend—a meeting point for aficionados where staff professionals take pride in offering the best advice and service to each customer.

Today, the LCDH network has 155 stores in 118 cities spread across nearly 60 countries and serves as a platform for launching new products and plays a key role in the develop-

ment of emerging markets. In addition, the franchise’s stores have constantly evolving selection of exclusive products that are marketed only at La Casa del Habana stores.

The latest release exclusive to La Casa del Habano was unveiled at the festival, the Juan López Selección Especial in the relatively new Torre Iznaga vitola (52 ring gauge by 170 mm long double robusto), which celebrates not only the franchise’s 30th anniversary but also the impressive 150th anniversary of the Juan López brand itself. The habanos, which are presented in 25-count white lacquered boxes, are designated with a maroon secondary La Casa del Habana Exclusivo band and special 150th anniversary graphics. Habanos S.A. describes the cigar as having a “very characteristic flavour of fresh, delicate wood, and a smooth, medium-strength blend.”

One of the best-selling brands at the time of the Cuban revolution, Juan López, owes its name to its creator, a Spanish man of the same name, who founded it in the 1870s. Its relatively small circle of fans are extremely loyal to the brand.

three different spirits from Bodegas Torres: Brandy Torres 10, Brandy Torres 20, and Pisco Gobernador (made from Rosé Moscatel and Moscatel de Alejandría grape varieties). After the tasting exercise, it was revealed that the three cigars were rolled from volado, seco, and ligero respectively.

Next, Habanos Moments featured tasting experts led parings of emblematic habano vitolas with renowned spirits. Cuba Ron presented the Santiago Extra Seco Rum and the Cubay Extra Añejo Remedios 500, paired with the spicy, fullstrength Montecristo Línea 1935 Maltes, a 53 ring gauge by 155mm long robusto extra format. In addition, Havana Club presented its most recent product, Tributo 2020 Rum, with the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de San Juan, lighter-bodied 54 ring gauge by 150mm long vitola.

DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, 28 February ushered in the final competitions in the 3rd Annual Habanos World Challenge Contest, a competition in which habanos enthusiasts prove their knowledge habanos. Tarek Gamaye and Fabi Hammad from the United Arab Emirates outlasted their competitors to take the title as the winning couple. The competition was followed by a Habanos Sommelier Master Class at the Habanos S.A. stand at the Trade Fair.

Also at the Trade Fair, attendees could view the latest collaboration between Habanos S.A. and Zenith with the unveiling of the Elite Moonphase Romeo y Julieta Collection of watches, which consists of two pieces in stainless steel cases. Romeo is a men’s watch in a 40.5mm case featuring a blue face, while Julieta is a women’s watch in a 36mm case adorned with 75 diamonds set into the bezel. These special Elite models are paired with alligator leather straps in colors matching the dial, and are presented as a boxed set featuring both watches, limited to 145 sets commemorating the 145th anniversary of the Romeo y Julieta brand.

The festival drew to a close at the Gala Evening with 1,200 guests celebrating at the Pabexpo Exhibition Complex. The evening was dedicated to the Romeo y Julieta brand, and attendees had the opportunity to sample many of the latest cigars unveiled during the festival.

Habanos S.A. Co-Presidents Inocente Núñez and Luís Sánchez Harguindey presented trophies to the winners of this year’s Habanos Awards. Habanos Man of the Year prizes were awarded to Servilio Jesús Córdova from Cuba for Production; Jean-Claude Reichling from Luxembourg for Business; and Alexandre de Lucidio Avellar from Brazil for Communications.

Five humidors from some of the most prestigious Habanos brands were auctioned, together with a special humidor donated by the family of the late Simon Chase to Habanos. Chase, the former Marketing Director for British distributor Hunters & Frankau, passed away in March 2019. A former recipient of the Habanos Man of the Year Award in Communications, served as the longtime master of ceremonies and auctioneer for the humidor auction. The lot consisted of a box of vintage Ramón Allones Petit Coronas and a Ramón Allones 225 Aniversario Humidor. Both items were from Simon’s personal collection.

Left: Juan López Selección Especial commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Juan López brand. In honor of 30th Anniversary of La Casa del Habanos, it is being released as a LCDH Exclusivo. Right: Zenith Elite Moonphase Romeo (left) and Julieta (right) watches, the latest collaboration between Habanos S.A. and Zenith.

Ushering in a new era, Dalia Padilla and Maria Eugenia Alvarez, both experienced auctioneers of fine art from Christie’s Auction House in London, served as auctioneers during the festival this year.

Another humidor broke the all-time auction record for a sale at the festival auction: a winning bid of €2.4million by Li Thet from China for a five foot Cohiba cabinet humidor filled with 550 rare Cohiba cigars, including Cohiba Behike, Esplendidos, Majestuosos, Talisman, Sublimes Extra, Piramides, Gran Coronas, Robusto Especiales, Robusto Supremos, and 1966.

In all, the auction raised the historic amount of €4.27million with all proceeds going entirely to the Cuban Public Health System. America singer Gloria Gaynor, whose 60-year musical career has spanned from rhythm & blues to soul, jazz, and disco, performed during the final evening concert, marking a glittering end to the XXII Habanos Festival.

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The Partagás Tropicales Humidor

The Partagás Tropicales Humidor is destined to become a collector’s item among demanding Habanos aficionados, celebrates the Partagás brand’s 175th anniversary. It is being presented as a “global specialty,” in a single series of 450 numbered humidors, each containing 50 Habanos in the 52 x 177mm Tropicales vitola, an elegant parejo offering a long smoking time. Partagás Habanos are characterised by their intense flavour. The humidor was developed by the Decuba Group, Arte en Madera—a group of artists who are passionate about the Habanos culture, and who found inspiration in the brand’s details. Its painstakingly crafted woodworking and marquetry stand out, part of a completely handcrafted artisan process with solid cedar or okoume for the interior, and bubinga for the exterior.

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H. Upmann Super Magnum is the featured Habano in this year’s Colección Habanos, continuing this Special Serie Colección of individually numbered cases of 20 units each, presented in impressive cedar boxes crafted to resemble hard cover books. The Super Magnum (56 ring gauge by 180mm length) is the parejo vitola with the heaviest ring gauge under the brand’s standard portfolio, and had previously only been used for the 2015 H. Upmann Magnum 56 Limited Edition. Línea Magnum is characterized by its elegant, nuanced blend with smooth to medium strength flavour. Only 3,000 cases will be produced, available at the international network of stores under La Casa del Habano franchise. For the first time, Habanos, S.A. incorporates an exclusive identifying second ring at the bottom for the collections.

Gloria Gaynor

Puro Sabor Festival 2020:

Nicaraguan Cigar Festival Returns

Puro Sabor, the Nicaraguan cigar festival organized by the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco, returned January 21–24 after a oneyear hiatus while political protests and social unrest raised safety concerns in the otherwise peaceful country.

Participation at Puro Sabor Festival 2020 was smaller than previous events, with 120 registered attendees from over 30 countries enjoying the festivities this year compared to 200 attendees

in 2018, but the mood was buoyant and the smaller crowd may have even helped facilitate what everyone present universally agreed: this eighth edition was by far the smoothest run and most logistically precise festival to date, a fact that only added to the celebratory mood. The number of events was trimmed down, the tours more intimate, and scheduling better fine tuned.

The previous two festivals had added a stay-over night in the colonial

city of Granada to the itinerary, but for 2020 the format resembled earlier festival iterations, with the first night spent in the capitol city of Managua before moving to nation’s cigar making nexus, the northern city of Estelí.

However, a day tour was offered from Managua to Granada on Tuesday, Jan. 21 to visit Casa Favilla, the colonial mansion that houses the Mombacho cigar factory. Company President and Master Roller Claudio Sgroi escorted guests through the facility, explaining the cigar making process and leading a blending workshop, followed by lunch at the factory’s new rooftop lounge. The rest of the day was spent soaking in some of the area’s natural resources, first touring the Isletas, a group of

Following a hiatus in 2019 due to political and social unrest in Nicaragua, the Puro Sabor Festival returned this year, a bit smaller, but agreeably better than ever.

» STAFF REPORT

PHOTO: JOYA DE NICARAGUA

Clockwise from top left: Master Blender Claudio Sgroi of Mombacho Cigars conducts a rolling demonstration at the company’s Casa Favillo factory in Grenada; Hostesses greet festival attendees with cigars at the closing evening gala dinner; Juan Ignacio Martinez, President, Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua, S.A., with a factory tour.

PHOTO: MODELOS BCA

PHOTO: MOMBACHO CIGARS

islands in nearby Lake Nicaragua, as well as a visit to the active Masaya volcano, complete with flowing lava and smoldering smoke.

The following morning, Wednesday Jan. 22, the entire group traveled by bus to Estelí, home to most of the country’s cigar factories and part of the greater tobacco farming region. On the way, there was a tour of cigar maker Victor Calvo’s farm before the splitting apart in Estelí to start 2-1/2 days of tours of various participating companies. Attendees were divided into eight different tour groups, with each group visiting a total of five different facilities—a combination of cigar factories, leaf operations, or other allied functions such a box factories or a cigar band printing factory. Other current NCT members include AJ Fernandez, Drew Estate, Joya de Nicaragua, My Father Cigars, Nacsa, Padron Cigars,

Oliva Cigars, Pensa, Tabacalera Perdomo, Aganorsa Leaf, Plasencia Cigars, STG, Oliva, Omar Ortez, and Tavicusa.

Evenings were celebrated my enjoying local cuisines, spirits, and entertainment, including the traditional “White Party” on Thursday, Jan. 23, held at J.C. Newman’s PENSA factory, and the gala

closing dinner on Friday, Jan. 24 at the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. There, Claudio Sgroi was named the new president of the Chamber of Tobacco, taking over from Anielka Ortez. Sgrio immediately announced that an overnight stay in Granada would once again be included in next year’s Puro Sabor itinerary. TPI

Left: A cigar roller from Joya de Nicaragua. Right: Claudio Sgroi, President and Master Blender of Mombacho Cigars (with wife Laura), was announced as the new President of the Nicaraguan Tobacco Chamber.

PHOTOS: JOYA DE NICARAGUA, MOMBACHO CIGARS

Villiger 1492 Unveils New Packaging

Villiger 1492, a brand of long filler cigars from Villiger Sons hand made in the Dominican Republic, now boasts a new, contemporary look, featuring modern white lacquered wooden boxes each containing 20 cigars. The new presentation replaces the traditional boite-natural slide-top cabinet-style boxes the brand previously used. The premium snow white design features classy gold details and a simplified, matching ring design. In addition, two of the formats— Short Perfecto and Robusto—come in a new magnetic three-pack.

The Villiger 1492 line combines a delicate filler blend of fine Dominican Republic tobaccos with an Indonesian binder and a bright Connecticut wrapper from Ecuador. Balanced with aromas of wood, nut, and toast—slightly sweet and well balanced—Villiger 1492 provides the characteristic subtle flavor of Dominican cigars while at the same time delivering an intense aroma.

While the blend is identical for all of the Villiger 1492 formats, each vitola delivers its own unique taste. Six vitolas are offered: Corona, Minuto, Perla, Robusto, Short Perfecto, and the new Churchill, offering a ring gauge of 19.1 mm and a length of 178 mm. This format promises an extended smoking time of about 90 minutes paired with compelling aromatic intensity.

The Short Perfecto meanwhile is a rarity on the cigar market. Since it tapers at both ends, the format is comparatively challenging to roll and demands the dexterity of the most experienced torcedores. Its taste changes repeatedly as the smoke travels through the different diameters of the burning cigar, delivering a particularly impressive smoking experience. Connoisseurs planning to taste all the different Villiger 1492 formats should choose the Short Perfecto as the contrasting finale.

Taste develops quite differently with the Robusto format. The large diameter allows the full-bodied flavors to reach the palate with the first few puffs. They then intensify as the cigar burns down.

Villiger Sons Ltd., Pfeffikon, Switzerland, Web: villiger.ch.

G.4 Fizzy, All-White Snus from Swedish Match

G.4 Fizzy is an all white snus product from Swedish Match with a fruity flavor that delivers a “bubbly” sensation when placed under the lip. The seventh product under the G.4 brand is a cocktail of lemon, peach and grapefruit that offers a fruity flavor coupled with a bubbly sensation when placed under the lip. G.4 Fizzy comes in the slim, all-white format for an optimum fit under the lip while delivering the same nicotine experience as traditional snus. Like the other All White products, it stays white before, during and after use.

Swedish Match, Stockholm, Sweden, Tel: +46 10 13 93 000, Email: contactus@swedishmatch.com.

Villa Zamorano Reserva Sampler in Smart Package

Maya Selva Cigars has introduced a new sampler pack for the Villa Zamorano Reserva collection. Designed to look like a beer or soda can, the sampler contains five cigars: Expreso, Robusto, El Gordo, N°15, and the new Soberano. The handy container can also be used as a travel humidor, fits perfectly in the mug holder of the car and its cap turns into an ashtray. Last year, aficionados from around the word gave the VZ Reserva Collection Cigar Journal magazine’s Best Value Award 2019.

Maya Selva Cigares, Paris, France, Web: mayaselvacigars.com.

Tweaking a Flip: Navetta Inverso Boxer

In 2018, Fratello Cigars literally “inversed” the tobaccos used in its Navetta blend to create Navetta Inverso, with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, an Habano Ecuador Oscuro binder, and Habano Nicaraguan wrapper. Now, the new Navetta Inverso Boxer, a 6 1/4 x 52 box press torpedo, offers a modified, stronger filler blend for the box press vitola.

Fratello Cigars, Springfield, Va., USA, Web: fratellocigars.com.

VegaFina Year of the Rat Released to Celebrate 2020 Chinese Zodiac

Last year, Tabacalera S.A. released its second special edition VegaFina cigar celebrating the Chinese zodiac calendar with the VegaFina Year of the Pig, and for 2020 the company continues this tradition with the debut of the VegaFina Year of the Rat, the third size in this ongoing series. The double-banded Toro vitola measures 52 x 150mm and features a pigtail cap. The cigars are presented in 16-count red lacquer boxes with polished gold quadrant hinges and gold graphics. The smooth but complex blend remains unchanged, featuring Dominican and Nicaraguan filler, a Nicaraguan binder, and a Habana 2000 Nicaraguan wrapper, delivering a medium- to full-bodied cigar. Only 4,100 boxes of this special edition are being released worldwide.

Tabacalera SL.U., Madrid, Spain, Tel: +34 91 360 9000.

Vype ePod from BAT Wins UK Product of the Year Award for E-Cigarettes

The Vype ePod has won in the e-cigarette category at this year’s UK Product of the Year awards, the UK’s largest consumer survey of product innovation. The award follows Vype ePen 3’s award in the same category in 2019.

“This second successive win for a Vype product highlights the strength of BAT’s new category product pipeline, the expertise of our UK-based Research and Development team and demonstrates how innovation has remained a driving force behind our business,” said BAT in a statement.

Product of the Year entries undergo a rigorous assessment process before more than 10,000 shoppers vote to name the winning products. The Vype ePod was commended by Product of the Year for “seamlessly blending style and satisfaction.” The device uses ceramic heating technology and its features include slot-in, slot-out magnetic cartridge and charging mechanisms.

“Since launching our first e-cigarette in the UK in 2013, we have made impressive progress, now offering a range of innovative, exciting products in more than 40 countries around the world. Over that period BAT has invested over $4bn in the development, manufacture and commercialization of these products,” said BAT in a statement.

Maya Selva Adds Villa Zamorano Reserva Soberano

After the successful debut of the classic Villa Zamorano Soberano at Intertabac last year, Maya Selva decided to add the increasingly popular 6 inch by 60 ring gauge size to the Reserva Collection with the release of VZ Reserva Soberano, hand-rolled with premium tobacco that stays true to its blend collection.

Aficionados will enjoy the bold yet creamy taste of this Soberano, which encompasses earthy and cedar aromas with hints of coffee. This Reserva collection blend features a Jamastrán wrapper from Maya Selva Cigars’ own farm, Santa Eulalia. The binder and fillers are blended from a selection of the best tobaccos of Honduras.

Maya Selva Cigares, Paris, France, Tel: +33 40 15 0565, Web: mayaselvacigars.com.

> Two new cigarillo varieties from Villiger, Corrida Brazil Club and Corrida Nicaragua Club, offer an exceptionally delicate and balanced filler finished with a hand-rolled wrapper from the respective country of origin, further promoting the development of aromas. Presented in 10-count tins.

Quasar Cut Double-Guillotine Cigar Cutter with Open Surface Blades

Colibri’s double guillotine cigar cutter with unique 440 stainless steel skeleton blades features a 62 ring gauge aperture for large cigars, and spring-loaded release for quick action. The Quasar pattern handles and release button continue the design theme of the entire line of Quasar accessories, while the ergonomic design delivers a sure grip. The Quasar Cut also features an innovative open-surface blade, allowing only the cutting edge to slice through the cigar. Eight different styles are offered: Metallic Black, Metallic Charcoal, Metallic Silver, Black + Chrome, Black + Rose, Matte Red, Matte Blue, and Matte Green. Gift box is included, and each product is backed by a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. Colibri, New York, N.Y., U.S.A., Email: sales@colibri.com. Web: colibri.com.

OCB Rolling Papers Offers Datamatrix Authenticity Verification Technology

Consumers can now verify the authenticity of OCB rolling paper booklets thanks to a new technology used by the brand’s manufacturer: Datamatrix. Under This technology, each booklet is assigned a unique code that identifies whether it is authentic or not, ensuring that customers have purchased an original product that meets the highest quality standards and is not counterfeit.

More Styles for Le Grand ST Dupont Dual Flame Lighters

The three original designs of Le Grand ST Dupont twin flame lighter range—patterned palladium; yellow gold with sunburst brown lacquer, and palladium with black natural lacquer—have grown since the range’s introduction in 2018.

The series is currently available in several additional finishes: natural lacquer with a blue sunburst finish; Cigar Club (solid brass with precious yellow gold finish and black natural lacquer); brushed palladium; and Croco Dandy (natural lacquer sun burst with croco print pattern.

Consumers need only download an application on their mobile device to read the Datamatrix code, such as i-nigma for IOS or Android. Simply scan the code by placing the smart device about 10 or 15 centimeters from the booklet and the application will automatically detect the code. If the booklet is an original OCB, a green screen will appear on the device. If it is not an original OCB, then a red screen will be displayed, in which case consumers should contact consumerservice@ocb.net.

Republic Technologies Intl., Perpignan, France, Web: ocb.net.

Designed specifically for cigar lovers with a double flame system, Le Grand ST Dupont is a bit larger than the Ligne 2 lighter yet still fits perfectly in the pocket and features the same iconic “cling” when opening the flip-top lid. Most importantly, the soft yellow flame gently toasts cigars while the blue torch flame helps to light them in a perfect circle. Switching between soft and torch flame is achieved in a simple and easy gesture by pushing the roller up.

S.T. Dupont, Paris, France, Tel: +(33) 1 53 91 30 00, Email: info@st-dupont.com, Web: st-dupont.com.