Press Release: XIV Habanos Festival Begins After an Excellent Year of Habanos Sales in the World

February 27, 2012 (Havana, Cuba) — Today begins the Habanos Festival, an event that in its fourteenth edition brings together more than 1,500 enthusiasts of the best tobacco in the world, arriving in Havana (Cuba) from 70 countries. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the major launchings that Habanos, S.A. presents for 2012 and the many activities taking place at the Festival until Friday 2nd of March.

On Monday 27th of February, during the Welcoming Night, Phil Manzanera, Roxy Music guitarist and renowned music producer, and Jack Bruce, Cream member, the group who also joined Eric Clapton and Ginger Bake, will perform with the Cuban singer Augusto Enriquez in a show called “ECLECTIC-US”.

Among those who may attend the concert will be the American actor and musician Jim Belushi, Blues Brothers member and a great Habanos enthusiast, who will be all week enjoying the many cultural events offered by the Habanos Festival.

Subsequently, the attendees could enjoy Cohiba Pirámides Extra, a unique and exclusive vitola which expands the reach of this premier Habanos brand. This Habano, made with the “selection of the selection” of the best tobaccos of San Juan y Martinez* (D.O.P.) and San Luis* (D.O.P.), also includes a new ring and aluminum tube with innovative design and safety elements making identification easy for Habanos enthusiasts and enhancing the exclusivity of the Cohiba brand.

On Wednesday 29th of February will be held the Evening 520 Year Anniversary of the Discovery of Tobacco at the Museo de Bellas Artes. Special guest, Chef Sergio Torres, from Dos Cielos restaurant of Barcelona, recently awarded a Michelin star, has designed one of the dishes to be tasted during the night, based on gastronomic exchange that occurs with the discovery of the New World made ​​in 1492. The marriage of the best gastronomy and the best Habanos always occurs at the Habanos Festival and this time it is one of the highlighted moments of the event.

Romeo y Julieta Churchills Reserva 2008 is the launch which will star the Habanos Festival Gala Evening. It is the first Reserve of the brand, founded in 1875 and produced in its most historic vitola, Churchills.

With a limited production of 5,000 boxes, this new Reserva plumbs the depths of the unique character of Habanos* (D.O.P) Protected Denomination of Origin status and it could be tasted exclusively on Friday, 2nd of March, climax of the Habanos Festival.

During this night it will be also presented Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchills, a new vitola with a format containing the characteristic Romeo y Julieta aromatic and balanced flavor to be enjoyed on any occasion.

The Festival will conclude with the traditional Humidors Auction in aid of Cuban Health System.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.