The world of cigars

After two years of lockdown, Beirut’s Los Cedros club has finally resumed its monthly cigar events. Our resilience vis-à-vis Covid 19 and the serious economic and social problems of the country, encouraged us to restart our monthly cigar evenings (every first Friday of the month). In this month of April 2022 and after a very snowy winter, our senses are

Summary Portrait: Oris Erhuero Distinguished British actor Oris Erhuero, who has worked with renowned filmmakers such as Tsui Hark and Raoul Peck, has a consuming passion for cigars Marino Murillo: the new big boss in Cuban tobacco A protégé of Raúl Castro, this technocrat has been appointed head of Tabacuba, the state company that manages the entire tobacco sector. A

While Davidoff and STG have taken the radical decision to suspend their business in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, the other players of the industry are waiting, even wallowing in silence. “Oettinger Davidoff AG condemns the invasion and the use of violence in Ukraine and we support the sanctions adopted by the US, the European Union as well as

After Davidoff, Scandinavian Tobacco Group “suspends all trade with Russia from March 1”. Asked by L’Amateur, Scandinavian Tobacco Group (Macanudo, CAO, Don Tomas…) sent us the following statement: “We strongly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We believe we as a company have the responsibility – together with other international companies – to exert pressure on the Russian regime and

The Swiss group “condemns the invasion and the use of violence in Ukraine”. Davidoff is the first major player in the cigar industry to announce the suspension of its activities in Russia. Asked by L’Amateur, the Swiss group sent us the following statement: “We condemn the invasion and the use of violence in Ukraine and we support the sanctions adopted

No cigars have been made from Cuban tobacco in the United States for nearly 60 years. One American entrepreneur hopes to change all that.   Guillaume Renouard, our correspondent in the USA   The story goes that on February 5, 1962, a few hours before signing the embargo making it illegal to import all Cuban products into the United States,

Following our article on the fire that occurred on Sunday in a tobacco warehouse in San Antonio de Los Baños, the Tabacuba group provides us with the following details. 1.47 tons of tobacco were lost, explains the Cuban state company to L’Amateur and not 1.8 tons as initially announced. These are filler leaves which were not intended to be used

A large-scale fire hit the tobacco storage facility in San Antonio de los Baños on Sunday morning, reports the Cuban daily Granma. According to a local newspaper, 1.8 tons of tobacco were lost, as well as crates used to store tobacco. The structure of the entire building and the furniture were also damaged, details Granma, even if the intervention of

The creator of the Dominican Davidoff will leave the presidency of the association of producers of the Dominican Republic.   According to our sources, Henke Kelner informed his relatives that the Procigar festival organized from February 22 to 25 would be his last as president of the Procigar association which brings together the main producers of Dominican cigars. Creator of

The son of Mao’s official interpreter, Wang Zheng introduced the Chinese to Cuban puros. A cigar lover with a remarkable story.   Domitille Piron, correspondent in Cuba   “I remember that I was about three, and my mother would return from her travels with beautiful boxes decorated with animals drawing carriages. I was fascinated by these colorful objects, which were

He may not be the most high-profile Dominican producer, but Jochy Blanco, who runs Tabacalera Palma, is certainly one of the most well-respected.   By Daniela Cruz Gil, our correspondent in Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic)   “I come from a tobacco family. My great-grandfather was an immigrant who traded small-scale goods: coffee, cocoa and tobacco. My grandfather, a

Jorge Luís Fernández Maique will become director of Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza. As we announced in L’ADC n°148 (currently available in French newsstands and on our online store), Jorge Maique, 57, takes over the management of Ernesto Pérez’s Tabacalera La Alianza (TLA), located in one the free zones of Santiago de Los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. The news

Did you know that African Americans are the second largest consumers of cigars in the USA? The legacy of segregation, however, appears to live on even in smoking lounges, where different ethnic communities rarely mix. We report from two of the key venues of the Black cigar community in Los Angeles.   Armelle Vincent, our correspondent in L.A.   It

“The event can no longer be organized” due to new anti-Covid measures taken by the Belgian government. Cubacigar, exclusive importer of Cuban cigars in the Benelux, announces the cancellation of the evening scheduled for Saturday 4 December in Brussels for the worldwide launch of the Juan Lopez Seleccion Especial. “Yesterday (November 26, 2021) the Belgian government announced new restrictions as

The official announcement should be made in the next few days. According to our sources in Cuba, Habanos S.A. has just decided to cancel the Festival del Habano which was to be held in the Cuban capital at the end of February 2022. The information is not yet official, but it seems that the health crisis, and in particular its

The date is set and preparations continue. But the organizers are waiting for the green light from the Cuban government. Preparations for the 23rd Festival del Habano are well underway. As we announced on October 27, the dates (February 21-25, 2022) have already been decided and Habanos SA continues to make every effort to ensure that the event can take

New Jersey cigar brand Hiram & Solomon was founded by two Freemasons. Its products feature the symbols of Freemasonry and proceeds from sales go to Lodge charities.  Guillaume Renouard, our correspondent in the USA You cannot tell that someone is a Freemason at first glance – the order is known for its discretion and emphasis on secrecy. Or at least,

In 2020, China became the world’s biggest market for Cuban cigars, with a spectacular 15% rise in sales on the mainland. In this report, we take a look at a market with complex, not always transparent rules that feed rumors and misinformation.   Philippe Dova, our correspondent in Hong Kong   So, here we are. China’s irresistible rise to the