Inaugural Habanos World Days
Last month, Cuba grabbed attention with the first edition of the digital Habanos World Days.
Despite the problem caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the export of cigars from Cuba continues, using shipping companies instead of air freight.
Held from May 4 to 6, the virtual event dedicated to the 55 years since the Cohiba brand was created overcame the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Cigar lovers from all over the world enjoyed virtual tours of plantations and La Casa del Habano franchises, videos presenting pairings by some of the world’s leading cigar sommeliers and a contest to test fans’ knowledge of the Cohiba brand.
A virtual fair showcased companies that make products to enhance the smoking experience, such as ST Dupont lighters and cutters, and DeArt luxury humidors.
The fair also gave visitors the first glimpse of a new cigar watch created by Swiss horology experts Zenith. Limited to only 55 numbered pieces, the Zenith Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition is branded with the livery of Cohiba.
Even in these challenging times, the world of cigars continues to move forward, and the new releases cigar aficionados look forward to each year still see their arrivals heralded.
Limited Edition releases
Habanos is releasing three new versions of the Cohiba.
The Limited 55 Anniversary Edition will feature 10 cigars in a specially designed case.
The second release is the Cohiba Ambar.
The third release is the Cohiba Ideales, of which just 3,000 will be available.
The Cohiba Ideales Book Humidor will be perhaps the most collectable of the series so far.
Completing the line-up is the Hoyo de Monterrey Monterreyes No. 4 and the Bolivar Regentes – two new vitolas for two of the most revered marcas. Each is sure to become immediately collectable when they arrive in the market.
Cigar enthusiasts will also be treated to a new Gran Reserva – the Partagas Serie E No. 2 Cosecha 2015 – and the Montecristo Wide Edmundo. The latter will be regular production joining the three other Edmundo vitolas in the Montecristo offering and introducing a new second band bearing the name of the vitola. This is a new tradition to be rolled out across the entire Montecristo house.
China the largest country for sales of Habanos for the first time
At the press conference following the unveiling of these new cigars, the co-Presidents of Habanos SA proudly announced that, despite the downturn in spending across the world during 2020 as well as the halt to tourism and the duty-free cigar market, sales of Cuban cigars reached $507million. This was in part due to a large increase in Chinese consumption, with China the largest individual country for sales of Habanos for the first time. No doubt this is to some degree thanks to the beginning of a series of Limited Edition Habanos to commemorate each Lunar New Year. It was revealed there will be surprises of other novelties for the region in the near future.
Habanos SA Vice-President in Charge of Commerce Leopoldo Cintra González (left) and Habanos SA Vice President of Development José Maria López Inchaurbe host the digital event.
While the now-traditional festival will be reinstated as soon as is possible, the co-Presidents have decided that Habanos World Days will continue in the future, employing technology and innovation to reach many more of their loyal supporters around the world.
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