Delighted by their success in London, Davidoff is now planning Ladies’ Masterclasses in Paris, Vienna and Madrid. Exploring London’s Cigar Rooms, aficionadas are not only defying the smoking ban and the British weather, they are also infiltrating one of the last remaining male bastions and, armed with their new-found Masterclass know-how, they’re doing it with great confidence and style.
Keep Smiling, No Matter What!
Simon Chase is not sure about it – for one reason or another it has fallen to him to conduct the auction of humidors at the Gala Dinner on the last night of the Festival del Habano in Havana for 13 out of the last 14 years. If all goes well, by the time you read this article it will be 14 out of the last 15 years.
La Flor Dominicana holds the only Cigar Patent
Litto Gomez and his wife Ines Lorenzo Gomez made the bold move into the cigar business in 1994 – without any experience. Today La Flor Dominicana is one of the most highly regarded brands.
Charity & Cigars – The Generous Passion
Cigar lovers and makers provide jobs, relief and charity on a massive scale. This group has a tremendous impact on the living standards of poor regions and is sending more poor kids from the regions to college than have ever gone before.
Estelí – The Cigar City
A thriving tobacco industry transformed the former Nicaraguan farming town of Estelí into a Mecca for cigar smokers.
Tabacalera Incorporada – The Filipino Tabacalera
With the recent launch of the Gran Reserva and a new USA distribution deal, the Philippines’ oldest cigar manufacturer, Tabacalera Incorporada, is intent on returning to global prominence.
Boutique Cigars: Pete Johnson’s first Decade with Tatuaje
From musician to cigar sommelier to cigar maker: there’s never a dull moment in the life of Pete Johnson. It has been a fairly wild ride as he approaches his 10th year as a cigar manufacturer.
Nestor Plasencia Sr. Honored for Lifetime Achievement
Nestor Plasencia Sr. is one of the best known tobacco growers and cigar-makers in the cigar industry. When his Lifetime achievement Trophy was announced in Orlando, the entire room rose to their feet with applause.
Fake Cigars and Fake Wines
Don’t you hate it? The guys next to you are smoking fake Cohibas and it’s so obvious. Yet, some people smoke them. A large part of them knows damned well they are smoking fakes, but it’s the same thing with fake wines: they don’t want to pay the price for the real deal.
Leading Women of the Cigar World
Looking at cigars from more than one angle is important to us. We want to fully explore this industry, its changes, and how it is changing the world. Since the creation of cigars, women and men have worked in tobacco side by side. In this article we are featuring stories of some of the women leading the cigar industry today.
La Palina – Woman-Made Cigar
La Palina’s band proudly showcases the portrait of Goldie Paley. Bill Paley who resurrected the La Palina brand relies on a number of women to make the brand world-class and to protect the legacy of Goldie.
The Perdomo Experience: From Seed to Smoke
Nick Perdomo has come a long way in 20 years. His deep appreciation of his customers, whether they be retailers or consumers, led him to offer tours where visitors are immersed into his fully vertically integrated operation. Sometimes the owner of the company no less is playing tour guide – cigar retailers and enthusiasts must put this trip on their bucket list!


