18th Edition of the Habano Festival Now Under Way in Havana

The 18th edition of the Habano Festival officially opened Monday with a press conference staged by Leopoldo Cintras and Javier Terrez, deputy presidents for Marketing and Human Development with Habanos S.A., respectively. Both execs presented the top launches of the year, the info on the event, the program and the nominees for the Habano Awards.

 

The Reserva Cosecha 2012 from the Hoyo de Monterrey brand, in its famous Epicure No. 2 vitola, the new Magnum 54 from H. Upmann –it joins the regular portfolio within the successful Magnum Line- Cuaba 20 Aniversario the special commemorative edition and the Cohiba Medio Siglo are some of the new products getting their big break in 2016.

 

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cohiba brand, Habanos is rolling out two outstanding special editions. On the one hand, a vintage-style humidor with a limited launch of 1,966 numbered boxes, and the exclusive Cohiba Majestuosos 1966 vitola in an unseen size (ring gauge 58 x 150 mm long).

 

But the main prize goes no doubt to the Cohiba 50 Aniversario cabinet-humidor, a masterpiece and a one-and-only collectible item unveiled for this occasion by Habanos S.A. co-presidents Inocente Núñez Blanco and Luis Sanchez-Harguindey Pardo De Vera.

 

The humidor is indeed a token of genuine innovation from a decorative, crafty, design and technical development standpoint. It’s covered with legit Cuban tobacco leaves plated in 24-karat gold. It’s a series of just 50 customized and numbered units that feature the name of the owners. Each humidor contains 50 habanos from the like-name vitola, the first of its kind within the Habanos stock that reaches a 60 ring gauge (178 mm long).

 

For its part, Habanos S.A. Deputy President for Development, Javier Terres, referred to the importance of the U.S. market for the company. “We’ll be delighted to compete in the American market as soon as legal conditions let us do so,” he said. He also told guests that attendees from 160 countries and roughly 59 exhibitors have come for this year’s edition, the largest turnout in recent trade shows.

 

The bestselling brands in 2015 were Partagás Series D No. 4 and Montecristo No. 2, though Cohiba, Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta continue to be the most sought-after brands in the history of Habanos S.A. “The company’s strength is clearly shown in its $428 million worth of revenues last year, up a solid 4 percent growth, and in the 140 Casas del Habano stores scattered all around the world,” he concluded.

 

With the keynote speech delivered to attendees of the 18th Habano Festival by Habanos S.A. co-presidents Luis Sánchez-Harguindey and Inocente Núñez Blanco, the event’s opening night teed off, specially dedicated to the celebrated Epicure No. 2 vitola. A night of glamour, music, cocktails and Cuban cuisine welcomed over 1,500 guests and delegates hailing from 70 countries.

 

In the course of the weeklong event, they will be puffing on Habanos S.A.’s launches, including the 2016 Limited Editions for the Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta and Trinidad brands, let alone two new rollouts that recently joined the Habanos Añejados line: Partagas Coronas Gordas Añejados and Hoyo de Monterrey Hermosos No. 4 Añejados.

 

A special moment is saved for the Cohiba brand in its fiftieth anniversary, with such newcomers as the Cohiba Medio Siglo –a vitola that joins the Linea 1492 as a tribute to the Cohiba brand’s 50th birthday. In addition to this launch in the regular portfolio, Cohiba will be unveiling two more outstanding special editions. On the one hand, a vintage-style humidor with a limited launch of 1,966 numbered boxes, featuring the exclusive Cohiba Majestuosos 1966 vitola in its unseen size (ring gauge 58 x 150 mm).

 

The program of the 18th Habano Festival is once again this year clinging to its traditional bevy of activities for the week stretching from Feb. 29 to March 4. That includes visits to tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Rio) and to the larger-than-life El Laguito cigar factory, home to the Cohiba brand.

 

The Trade Show, the International Seminar, tasting and pairing sessions with a number of exclusive products will also be highlights during the festival. This time around, the International Habanosommelier Contest is holding its 15th edition, coupled with the third round of a competition to get the longest burning ash, the Opening Night, the Cigar Roller Tribute Night and the closing Gala Night.

 

 

Source: www.caribbeannewsdigital.com