First ever “Habanos Day At Home” held in Mexico City in October 2020

Cuban cigar distributor for Mexico, Importadora y Exportadora de Puros y Tabacos S.A. de C.V or IEPT, adapted to the new way of living due to Covid-19 and successfully held its first “Habanos Day at Home 2020”. The original in person event was planned for 25 March 2020, but IEPT opted for a new, safe and innovative way to hold the yearly gathering: A virtual “Habanos Day”. The event was held on 22, 23 and 24 October 2020 when hundreds of cigar passionados from Mexico and all over the world virtually gathered to partake in the event planned festivities. Typical of most Habanos days, presentations, seminars, tastings and contests were held over the course of the three days with participation from Habanos Specialists and the famous La Casa del Habano Mexico as hosts.

On 22 October, the event highlighted pairings of classic Scottish whiskeys with great Habanos. Mexican Habanos Master Manolo Santiago and Alex Millan, Brand Ambassador for the spirits house, paired the Chivas Regal 18 with a Ramon Allones Specially Selected and The Glenlivet 15 with a Punch 48 to close off the day.

On 23 October, other spirits and liqueurs were paired with selected Habanos for the enjoyment of the virtual crowd, including the innovative Mexican liquor “Corajito”. José Espinosa, Brand Ambassador for Martel Cognac and G.H. Mumm Champagne held a session focused on the enjoyment of Champagne. The pairings were hosted by IEPT’s Habanos expert David Castellanos and included G.H. Mumm Champagne with a San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe and a Martell Cognac Blue Swift with a Cuaba Divinos.

To close the event, on 24 October the group established a live connection with Cuba where the guests were treated to conferences by El Laguito’s cigar roller Ana Isel Mederos, Habanos Woman and beloved professor Zoe Nocedo Primo who spoke about tobacco’s history and Master Fernando Fernandez, who spoke about the art of pairing cigars and spirits. The sessions were followed by a Havana Club Rum mixology seminar presented by brand ambassador for Mexico, Jorge “Coco” Ojeda, whch included a tasting of Havana Club 15 paired with a Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2, presented by Manolo Santiago. Havana Club international Ambassador Alfredo Guerra also joined the event from Cuba to present the Annual Tributo 2020 paired with a Montecristo Añejados. To add some fun to the event, a long ash contest was also held virtually with over 20 participants fighting over an H. Upmann Magnum 50.

The closing ceremony brought together Habanos S.A.’s Commercial Vice President Leopoldo Cintra Gonzalez and Development Vice President Jose Maria Lopez, as well as Pablo Velasco, General Manager of IEPT S.A. de C.V, who hosted a session of Cuban music and informal dialogue with the guest to bring the three-day event to a close.

For more information on the event as well as future events in Mexico, please contact: Manolo Santiago – Marketing Manager for IEPT S.A. de C.V. Email: jsantiago@iept.com.mx, Web: www.habanos.com.mx.