The XIV edition of the Encuentro Amigos de Partagás in Italy took place from July 3rd to 6th, an event that this year also did not fail to catalyze the attention of all lovers of habanana in the world.
As every year, the festival has unfolded on an exciting crescendo, like the influx of participants, coming from all over the world in an ever increasing number. This edition, among other things, has taken on particular importance as it hosted the world premiere of the new 2019 Montecristo Limited Edition, the Supremos, presented by Diadema SpA in collaboration with Habanos SA.
Sparkling start of the event on Wednesday, with a dinner with Italian-Cuban flavors accompanied by the Concierto di bienvenida and the gentle suavity of the Romeo y Julieta brand, with the RyJ Club and the Romeo y Julieta No. 2
On Thursday 4, the festival came alive with a very high level tasting featuring two authentic masterpieces of Cuban tabacalera art: the mythical Huevo created by José Castelar Cairo (Cueto) and La Flor de Leopoldina, by Leopoldina Gutierrez Espinosa (La China). To lead this „Clash of the Titans“ two prominent personalities like Valerio Cornale (Hombre Habanos 2016) and Paul De Sury, lecturer, writer and refined connoisseur of the Habano world
The evening ended with the traditional Campesina dinner at the Agriturismo Da Foschetta, where guests were delighted with live Cuban music and the smoked of an elegant Pearl by Rafael Gonzalez and Partagás Serie D No. 4.
The afternoon instead saw numerous enthusiasts try their hand at creating an artifact under the expert guidance of three of the greatest Cuban torcedores, Cueto, La China and Juanita, while a new type of 360-degree tasting experience called “took place” Extrasensory tasting ”based on a virtual journey through the streets of Havana combined with a blind smoke and the tasting of two splendid Cuban Ron.
In the evening unmissable appointment with the dinner „La Gozadera“, held in the always splendid setting of Piazza Mattei, where Haila Monpié and her musical group have delighted guests with the most beautiful and fascinating Cuban sounds; the mix of elegance and charm was naturally enriched by the smoking of two classics of Cuban production: a Vega Robaina Famosos, and a Montecristo No. 2.
Dense appointments for the final day, starting from the „Fiesta a la Piscina“, in the relaxing park of Borgo Lanciano with tastings and entertainment always linked to the world of slow smoking.
Saturday opened with the usual welcome visit from the authorities of the City of Matelica to the many Cuban personalities who attended this edition of the Festival, including the Co-President of Habanos S.A. Inocent Núñez Blanco.
In the afternoon there was a much awaited technical tasting, in which the Partagás Serie D No. 4 was the protagonist in two exclusive editions, that of the X and the XX Aniversario Encuentro Casa Partagás, together with Ron Cubay 10 and 18 aňos. The tasting, conducted by Valerio Cornale, Giuseppe Elefante and Julio Ryal, one of the eight Cuban roneri masters, took place using the method of simultaneously using the artifacts; this allowed us to highlight the extraordinary qualities of improvement over time offered by the Cuban black tabaco.
