Registration for Habanos Festival Opened

Cuba will host again the biggest international event that honors the best cigar in the world and the 27 Habanos premium brands, entirely hand-manufactured. The 16 th Cuban Cigars Habanos Festival will begin on Monday February 24, a single week in which thousands of people from more than 80 countries around the world share their passion for Habanos in presence of more than 250 accredited international journalists. Until Friday February 28, the event will feature its traditional activities accompanied by novelties and exclusive nights. All those wishing to travel to the origins and know the secrets of a unique tradition accumulated over centuries in Cuba, may get registered from next January 14 on Habanos official website.

Hoyo de Monterrey, Partagas, Trinidad and H. Upmann are the brands that will star the Festival’s next edition. Attendees will be able to exclusively taste Habanos S.A. major launches for 2014, in which there is always the presence of Cohiba and Montecristo brands, as well as enjoying a full program of activities. A novelty in this edition will be the Alliance of Habanos with some of the best and most exclusive beers in the world, which will be led by Ben Vinken, a Belgian beers sommelier. The first competition of the longest ash will also be held, as well as interesting keynote lectures talking about Habanos in the cinema, Habanos Vintage, the origins of H. Upmann brand and elements that influence on the combustibility of Habanos.

Guests can also enjoy the traditional and expected activities of each Festival: visits to Vuelta Abajo tobacco plantations , in Pinar del Rio and historic Habanos factories, the master class ¨Totally-by-hand rolling¨, the recognized Habanosommelier International Competition, which this year celebrates its thirteenth edition and the 3rd International Contest Habanos in Images .

The Welcoming Night will be held on Monday February 24 at Club Habana , a unique place to enjoy an unforgettable evening that will honor Hoyo de Monterrey and Partagas brands. Haute cuisine and Habanos get linked again in this event through the participation of renowned Dutch chef Ron Blaauw, who has two Michelin stars, along with the famous sommelier Cuno Van’t Hoff. They b oth will delight the audience with a special dinner in honor to Trinidad brand, on Wednesday February 26th.

The closing ceremony will be on Friday, February 28th with the expected Gala Dinner. Guests could taste the first H. Upmann Reserve, enjoying exclusive performances and attend the Traditional Humidor Auction for the benefit of Cuban Public Health System. The Habanos 2013 Awards in their different categories: Production, Communication and Business will also be granted.

As usual, international personalities of multiple fields, whose point in common is their passion for Habanos, will attend the event.