Nick Hammond gladly swaps the leaden skies of London to witness the 5th Cigar Smoking World Championship in Split. Under a sunsplashed Dalmatian sky, cigar smokers from across the planet gather as one. They came for the competition and they are here to celebrate the brotherhood surrounding the hand-rolled cigar.
Cigar Smoking World Championship 2014
Founded by Marco Bilič, president of the international Cigar Club Mareva, the championship will celebrate its fifth anniversary this summer.
Germany’s 4th Habanos Day
With the impressive Castle Hotel Weyberhöfe near Aschaffenburg as backdrop, hundreds of passionados attended the fourth Habanos Day in Germany.
Festival del Puro Mexicano: Debut in San Andrés
Last fall, Mexico’s premium cigar makers, in cooperation with CigarMex, hosted the first Festival del Puro Mexicano in Veracruz and San Andrés. In addition to Puros Santa Clara’s presentation of the Capa Flor brand, A. Turrent introduced a full seven new cigar lines.
Refurbished: Dunhill Flagship Store, 1A St James’s Street, London
At the recent launch party, cocktails created by a drinks mixologist and four different cigars, New World and Cuban, welcomed guests at London’s newest cigar lounge: 1A St James’s – Dunhill’s newly-refurbished flagship store and lounge.
Qualification Tournaments for the 5th Cigar Smoking World Championship
In the run-up to the fifth international Cigar Smoking World Championship, the official competition for the long smoking of a Montecristo No. 4, qualification tournaments for the championship will be held in many countries. Initiator, Marko Bilič, will personally preside over compliance with the rules at the events.
Magical Power of Attraction: The 15th Festival del Habano
Even after 15 Habanos festivals the well proven recipe of success continues to work – a combination of magic and marketing. During the day, seminars and presentations inform about Cuban cigars and at the evening events visitors learn about the latest cigar trends of the coming year. Over 1,500 participants from 70 countries don’t miss out on this spectacle.
Infiltrating a Male Bastion – Davidoff Ladies’ Masterclass
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.
