The Habanos Festival of Cuban Cigars:

 The Habanos Festival of Cuban Cigars is already an event that has become a tradition for the lovers of "The Good One". This time it will take place from the 24 to February 28 the 2003 and on this occasion takes place in a very special way. The "510 Anniversary of the arrival of the Cuban Cigar to the Old World"; as well as the five years of commercial permanency of the mark “Trinidad”.

The Festival of the Cuban Cigar is the ideal moment of exchange among exclusive distributors, managers of Houses of the Cigar from all over the world, executives of the production and of the trade, business men, outstanding personalities of the culture, and of the media related with the tobacco that know that to smoke cigars is an art. Among the activities already traditional of the Program they will be the Welcome´s Night, the Commercial Fair, the Seminar of Fans, the visits to the tobacco plantations (Vegas Robaina), the always Elegant Dinner and the interesting International Competition "Habanosommelier" that will have their second edition.

The Organizing Committee will be presided over by the Corporation Cigars CORP., the Managerial Group of the Tobacco (TABACUBA) and it will have members of noted entities and personalities, invited to collaborate in the organization of the event. For their V Festival, the noted Corporation Cigars CORP. has decided to unite the professionalism in the organization of events of the International Conference Center of Havana, the operability of Cubanacán Viajes and the excellence of the Group

 

Bolivar:


In 1902, nearly a century after the death of Simón Bolívar, a Spanish businessman living in Havana paid tribute to the Hero in using his name for a brand of Habanos which is today one of the marks most in demand, especially in Great Britain. It is not surprising then that said cigars are made of leaves whose character symbolizes the brave personality of the Latin American hero.

 Cuaba:

First introduced in London in 1996, the Cuaba brand was the first new Cuban cigar brand to be introduced into commercial production since 1968. Historicaly, Cuaba is the Taino Indian word for the special cuban bush used to light the “Cohiba” or “Tobacco” on the Island.
All four of the Cuaba vitoles are in the figurado (perfecto) shape: the Exclusivos, the Generosos, the Tradicionales and the Divinos. This shape was popular until the beginning of the 20th century. Habanos S.A. decided to revive the British tradition of smoking figurados; hence the fitting unveiling of the brand in London, England. Habanos, S.A. has since reintroduced other historic brands and shapes.

Partagas:

Don Jaime Partagás, began manufacturing cigars in 1827, but put his own name on his line of cigars in 1845. Partagás cigars also won gold medals in at least three international expositions between 1867 and 1884. There is no doubt about the strong, intense flavour of this line and it is still produced in the Partagás factory. The range is immense and it would be hard for a smoker not to find a Partagas which fits his or her interest in size or shape. Buyer beware: the 8-9-8 selections vary greatly in size and strength; identification is made by whether the box is varnished or not. Partagas Lusitania is a cigar of a double corona delivering full-bodied Havana flavor to the smoker. Heavy loam-like flavors coarse across the palate from this hardcore Cuban cigar.

J. L. Piedra

"Vicente and José Lamadrid Piedra created the José L. Piedra as a commercial brand in 1880. Their cigar factory was at Calle Máximo Gómez No. 5 in Remedios, in the tobacco-growing area of Vuelta Arriba, in what is now Sancti Spíritus Province. After the Cuban Revolution, the brand was launched very successfully as a product popular among demanding Cuban smokers. This brand is known for its simple packaging-in cardboard boxes and cellophane-wrapped bunches. It comes in a medium size, with a pleasant aroma and slightly strong and typically Cuban taste." Similar Flavours to the Montecristo, at half the price. A well made hand rolled cigar, with a medium to full-bodied flavour. Yet made by machines, these cigars succeeded in preserving their Cuban flair.

Rafael Gonzalez:

Here is a success story from the roaring 20's. Nowadays each cover box displays the legend These Cigars have been manufactured from a secret blend of Pure VUELTA ABAJO tobaccos selected by The Marquez Rafael Gonzalez Grandee of Spain. Dating from approximately 1928, this brand was initially developed as La Flor de Marquez, with trademark registration in 1936 by the Sociedad El Rey del Mundo. Trademark records show that the current name dates from 1945. Considered medium in body, this brand is also reputed to have introduced the Lonsdale size, named in honour of Hugh Cecil Lowther, the Fifth Earl of Lonsdale.

Romeo y Julieta:

Named for the lovers in William Shakespeare's tragedy (1596) of the same name. The brand also is traditionally credited with the introduction of the "Churchill" shape in honour of the British leader Winston Churchill. Developed in 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Mannín García, this habanos brand immediately showed its quality by winning gold medals in four universal expositions between 1885 and 1900. But it really took off after its acquisition in 1903 by José Rodríguez Fernández, known as "Pepín", who introduce his cigars between the aristocracy and statesmen, making exclusive cigar band for his customers. 

Statos de Luxe

Los Statos de Luxe was created by Martinez y Cia. and offers a full-flavored smoke in a machine-made or machine/hand-made range only. There are available four different machine-bunched/hand-finished cigar shapes of tobaccos from Sancti Spíritus, province, south-central Cuba, bounded by, the Caribbean Sea to the south, Villa Santa Clara and Cienfuegos to the west. 

Vegueros

Vegueros is a cigar totally made in Vuelta Abajo, the land of the best tobacco of the world. The solid building where this high-quality trade mark is manufactured was built in 1868.
At the beginning this building had the function of a hospital of the Spanish colony, since 1870 as a prison and later in 1959 the School of Arts was established there. In 1961 it became into the Cigarettes Factory "Francisco Donatien". Today, history and a good taste offer a new jewel to the most demanding and experts persons. Vegueros, from the very Pinar del Rio.

Cabañas

It is the Spaniard Francisco Cabañas who should take the credit of history for having registered in Cuba one of the oldest Habano marks heard of, and also when the Tobacco Monopoly was still in force. Thus, he registered in 1810 the Cabañas brand, and in 1895 he joined others manufacturers to develop a new trademark: Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal y Cía.
In today's version, marked for trade to Eastern Europe, this brand exhibits full flavored in all-machine-made or machine-bunched with a hand-finished style.

Hoyo de Monterrey:

Hoyo de Monterrey is a little valley place in the Vuelta Abajo, the supreme fertile site for growing tobacco. This island cigar brand was established by Jose Gener in 1867, so this tobacco factory is one of the oldest cigar brands of Cuba. The brand offers a lighter flavour and a wide range of sizes, the largest of which are much celebrated. The Hoyo Coronas presents a stronger flavour. 

La Gloria Cubana:

A very old brand that dates from 1885, "the Glory of Cuba" presents a wide variety of sizes in a small, but beautifully made range. The strength is medium; note that this is one of the few brands which is only handmade. Developed by Jose Rocha and Rafael Garcia, the brand got off to a good start thanks to tireless promotion by Pepin Fernandez, owner of the Romeo y Julieta brand, who helped his friends introduce the La Gloria Cubana and El Crepusculo brands.

Punch Cigars:

Named for the English illustrated periodical published from 1841 to 1992, famous for its satiric humour and caricatures and cartoons. Today's lithographed boxes still show the hooknose marionette, Punch, enjoying a cigar while his faithful pet Toby stands by. These cigars are quite popular and we offer a selection of hand made only. Punch Punch is a corona gorda (extra) consummate representative of the Havana flavor, it offers an excellent blend of earth, wood, and spice with a nice bit of Cuban tobacco bite. Buyers beware: there are Punch hand made and Punch machine made with the same size and strength.  

Ramon Allones:

There actually was a Ramon Allones, who developed this brand way back in 1837. Originally from Spain, Allones (owner of the La Eminencia factory) was reportedly the first to employ bright, lithographed labels on his boxes, to help set his brand apart. Prior to nationalization, this lighter-bodied brand was owned by Cifuentes, Pego y Cia., also the owners of Partagas.

San Cristobal de la Habana:

The latest and probably the last of the new series of Havana brands launced since 1996 has been given the original name of the city of Havana when it was founded by settlers back in 1519 - San Cristóbal (St. Christopher) de La Habana. The brand boasts four sizes, each of which is named after one of the fronts that defended the city in its heyday, as the hub of the Spanish empire in Latin America. Two of the sizes, La Fuerza and El Morro, are entirely new and are unique to the San Cristóbal brand.

Trinidad:

Named after the colonial city, one of Cuba's most beautiful cities, this line features one size, Fundadores, which means Founders. Trinidad is produced only in the El Laguito factory, and packaged in an 'unusual' quantity of 24 cigars. Since 1980, the Trinidad Fundadores has been produced exclusively for Fidel Castro. The only boxes that left Cuba were gifts to foreign diplomats. In 1994, 164 people smoked a Trinidad in Paris, at the end of "The Century Dinner" organised by Marvin Shanken, editor chief of Cigar Aficionado. From 1998 this exclusive cigar is available in Spain.  

Cohiba Cigars:

Cohiba Cigars were introduced only in 1968, and quickly became the flagship brand of the Cuban cigars industry. Developed initially as a medium bodied protocol cigar for presentation only by officials of the Cuban government, Cohiba cigars were marketed widely  beginning in 1982. The initial sizes were the Cohiba Lancero, the Corona  Especial and the Panetela, with the Esplendido, Robusto and  Exquisito added in 1989. In 1992, Siglo series salute the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the Caribbean. 

Fonseca:

The image of Francisco Fonseca, who developed this brand in 1906, still adorns the box today. The brand features five, hand rolled sizes. Only in limited distribution, these cigars are always available in Spain. Fonseca brand is considered to exhibit a rich but mild flavour. Highly recommend for beginners, Fonseca No 1 probably is the softest habanos Lonsdales. A white paper covers each cigar, according its delicate taste.  

Quintero:

Quintero and his brothers got their start in tobacco industry in a little factory (chinchal) of Cienfuegos, in the former Las Villas province of Cuba in the 1920's. In 1940, their reputation moves them to La Havana, where they introduce this line manufactured exclusively with Vuelta Abajo leaf tobacco. They created this full-flavored brand that continues today, primarily in machine-bunched/hand-finished and all machine-made sizes. Quintero Breva cigar concentrates strong flavors, and it is not recommendable for beginners.

El Rey del Mundo:

"The King of the World" brand was developed in 1848 and under the direction of Antonio Allones, it was celebrated as one of the great Havana brands. Well known for its dark and oily wrappers, it was one of the most expensive Havanas available in the middle of the 20th century. Its cigars are considered light in strength. The El Rey del Mundo factory also produces many others under the name Tabacos Lazaro Peña (as Partagas Lusitanias).

Sancho Panza:

Named for the rustic squire to Don Quixote in Miguel de Cervantes' (1605) This old brand was originated by Emilio Ahmsted in 1852, and it is much admired for the larger sizes in its range, including the enormous Sanchos and the shaped-head Belicosos. Sancho Panza cigars are medium to full bodied and are all handmade

Vegas Robaina:

This brand was officially launched in Spain, in June 6 of 1997, and will be made available to the world market in the fall. The brand features five, hand rolled sizes. Vegas Robaina is named honouring a 78 year old Cuban veguero named Alejandro Robaina, who is considered the best tobacco grower in the world. His grand-father established there last century, being an excellent grower, and his father, Maruto Robaina, was the best in the country. Don Alejandro, is famed for growing the finest wrapper in the Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Río), region of Cuba. The Robainas are made from the best tobacco in Cuba,and they are described as a medium-strong blend, characterized by an excellent aroma, wonderful presentation, and a fine burn.