Ampliar

José Carlos de Santiago

Once again, lovers of the world’s finest cigars are back in Havana to huddle on Feb. 23-27, 2015 and enjoy a passion that far beyond preferences and tastings, has turned out to be a genuine opportunity to splurge on a centennial culture that’s deeply rooted in the innermost fabrics of the Cuban nation.
The habano is not just a product. It’s actually a tradition in itself. It’s a cultural development that turns heads, bringing every February enthusiasts to Havana, eager not only to let themselves slide into this peculiar universe, but also to revel in the unveiling of new products, the launch of Limited Editions, lectures, workshops and master lessons, pairings and must-see visits to Vuelta Abajo in Pinar del Rio and the larger-than-life cigar factories where habanos are hand-rolled.
Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta are the two brands this 17th Habano Festival will be dedicated to. Both came into being out of the cigar rollers’ passion for factory readings –declared National Heritage- that eventually inspired them to whip into shape, with their own hands, the emotions they felt while listening to those classics of universal literature.
The event will also pay tribute to Havana –a wonder city of the world- that within the framework of this festival will also be hosting the alliance between habanos and Italy’s Chianti wines (DOCG), another edition of the International Habano Sommelier Contest, a look at aged habanos and many other surprises for attendees and guests, whose numbers have accrued year after year, hailing from all around the globe and even from those places where habanos have been banned for years.
So, make no mistakes about it; this Habano Festival will be an event edition for many reasons. It’s no doubt habanos showtime.