This year, the Cuban master roller, master blender and owner of the brand My Father Cigars, José “Pepin” García, was honored for his life’s work with the Cigar Trophy Award Lifetime Achievement 2015.
Rick Rodriguez: From Cigar Salesman to Master Blender
The ambassador of General Cigar for CAO and a cigar master was not born in a tobacco field. His relationship with cigars started late, and he had to train for many years to become what he is today. We met him in Dortmund.
Xikar: The American Dream from the Garage
Who is the best partner for a cigar smoker? There are several: The cutter, the auger and the lighter. They should be practical; good design is preferable, and the cutter should cut like a knife through butter. Xikar offers all this to perfection, while behind the name there is a typical American entrepreneur story.
Alberto Turrent Honored for Lifetime Achievement
Alberto Turrent, tobacco farmer and founder of the emblematic brand Te-Amo, was honored for his impressive life’s work.
Sport in Front of the Lense … Smoke behind it
Photographer Peter Heeger lights his Montecristo No. 5 and is delighted with the spectacular images that he has captured with his lens once again in his hometown.
Rafael Nodal: From Asylum Seeker to Master of Boutique Blends
Boutique Blends Cigars is not only the company name under which Rafael Nodal manufactures his cigars. The name is a concept: Small batches – that’s their philosophy.
One Day in the Life of Cuban Tobacco Farmer Estanislao Sanchez Acosta
A free market is not Estanislao Sanchez Acosta’s cup of tea. After 63 years working the tobacco fields of west Cuba he’s simply content not to have to sell his product to different clients.
Insider Tip for Pampered Palates: Royal Danish Cigars
There are probably hundreds of “boutique” cigar manufacturers all over the world, and, generally, we associate this term with both the size of the company as well as the volume of production. But for no brand is it more appropriate than for the new, still unknown label Royal Danish Cigars by Jan Vistisen.
Magical Fragrances with Tobacco Notes by Christian Bousidan
Following his career as a commercial director for top fashion names such as Dior, Gotex and Golden Lady, the one-time textile engineer decided to follow his second passion, the world of fragrances.
Humidores Habana: A Fine Piece of Cuba
His humidors are auctioned for hundreds of thousands of Euros at the Festival del Habano. José Ernesto Aguilera’s company Humidores Habana is a Cuban success story. Fourteen years ago, when Aguilera built his first humidor, he never would have dared dream such a thing.
Drew Estate: From Kiosk to Global Cigar Company
In 1996, Brooklyn native Jonathan Drew opened a cigar kiosk in New York’s World Trade Center. That kiosk dramatically changed the course of Drew’s life – and that of many others. Today, Drew Estate, as it is now known, operates the second-largest premium cigar factory in the world.
Roman Szymonowicz and the Fine Art of Bluffing
On his finger, a massive poker ring; in his hand a Habano – ready for the next delightful draw. What is the real art of emerging as the winner of a poker tournament? Roman Symonowicz, a former manager in the automobile industry, uses the poker game to rise above himself: it’s a discipline that he has perfectly mastered.
