The 15th Habano Festival, held last year in Havana, wrapped up a cycle in which boldface names and figures linked to the realm of habanos –in such fields as production, marketing and communication- were extolled.
The event was dedicated to a couple of prestigious habano brands: Montecristo and Partagás, with the latter featured as the star of the much-anticipated gala night. That function was the perfect setting to present Hollywood star Danny Glover with a Special Award. Mr. Glover has long been a great habano aficionado with strong ties to the outspread of centuries-old culture of Cuban tobacco.
Tennis player Boris Becker also stole the limelight during the Festival, especially during the Habano Awards ceremony at the Gala Dinner. Since 1995, these awards have recognized people who have contributed to the improvement, distribution and knowledge of the product.
Italian tenor Dario Balzanelli –the continuator of Luciano Pavarotti who sang famous tune La Comparsa- and Cuban musical diva Omara Portuondo also attended.
Visits to tobacco plantations, meetings with tobacco planters, tours around cigar factories, seminars on habano culture and traditions, master lessons on cigar hand-rolling, sommelier contests, pairings with different drinks, tastings sessions and a whole lot more came out together with presentations of New Products and Limited Editions launched by Habanos S.A. during the yearly festival in Havana.
The event was also home to the Tradeshow, always devoted to one of Habanos S.A.’s top brands. The main event is no doubt the gala dinner and its traditional humidor auction that serves as a fundraiser for the island nation’s public healthcare system.
Many world-class personalities from the arts, culture, sports and business have honored the festival with their attendance, lured by the enthralling world of habanos and the glamour of these events. Whether you’re a smoker or not, it’s nearly impossible to escape the magic that surrounds the captivating realm of habanos.
The habano festivals are organized by Habanos S.A., the world’s leading company in the sale of premium cigars. Its sales are both in Cuba and overseas, and with that view in mind the company has an exclusive distribution network scattered in more than 150 countries around the planet.
Today, there are 27 habano brands under Protected Denomination of Origin* (D.O.P.) and all are rolled by hand –this process is currently used in Cuba and was adopted for the first time roughly three centuries ago on the island nation. Some of the most outstanding brands are Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann, Punch, Trinidad, Bolívar and others.
This time around for the 16th edition of the Habano Festival, Cuba will once again open its arms to embrace lovers of habanos and those eager to get big-time surprises.