AWC new’s

The XII Habanons Festival featuring the presentation of Cohiba Behike is on this week in Havana, Cuba.

• The eagerly-awaited launch of the new Cohiba Behike line – the most exclusive Habanos s.a. has ever presented – will take place during the Festival.
• There will be a new habano presented in Romeo y Julieta brand called Wide Churchills, as well as the new Julieta vitola, a cigar dedicated as a special tribute to womankind.
• Opera singer Sarah Brightman, golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Oscar-winning producer Stephen Evans, actress Mia Maestro, 2010 Grammy-winner Chucho Valdés and this year’s Latin Grammy winner Ivan Lins are just some of the celebrities who’ll be attending the Festival.

The twelfth edition of the Habanos Festival will take place from 22 to 26 February in Havana (Cuba). Around a thousand privileged cigar enthusiasts from over 70 countries will have the chance to attend the tobacco world’s most important event, to see and try for themselves Habanos s.a.’s new launches for 2010.

During the XII Festival, Habanos s.a. will present the new Cohiba Behike line, the most exclusive Habanos s.a. has ever launched. They will be available at the Gala dinner – the climax of the Festival on 26 February. Its unique characteristics will be announced during the week.

On Wednesday 24 February, at a dinner specially dedicated to the “Woman in the Habano”, you will finally be able to taste a cigar conceived as a tribute to womankind, the new vitola called Julieta, which will become part of the Romeo y Julieta brand. On Monday 22 February, after an exclusive concert by the maestro Chucho Valdés at the Gran Teatro de La Habana which will follow the launch of the 2010 products, those attending the welcome Gala will finally be able to enjoy the new Wide Churchills, a heavy ring gauge habano which also joins the Romeo y Julieta brand.

All star celebrity meeting point

In recent years the Festival has aroused interest from many celebrities who didn’t want to miss the chance to enjoy the world’s finest tobacco on its home turf: Cuba. This year’s guests will include Opera singer Sarah Brightman, the European and Ryder Cup golf champion – who won the 2010 Dubai Open just a week ago – Miguel Ángel Jiménez, and Oscar-winning producer Stephen Evans, actress Mia Maestro as well as 2010 Grammy-winner Chucho Valdés and this year’s Latin Grammy winner Ivan Lins.

Activities Programme
Over the course of the week there will be the Trade Fair, the International Seminar and the traditional visits to Habanos plantations and factories. This year the factories visited will be El Laguito – the Cohiba factory – and La Corona, the home of Romeo y Julieta.

The Alianza Habanos – Tequila will be celebrated, with tasting of the finest añejo and extra añejo tequilas accompanied by habanos, continuing the traditional association of Habanos with the world’s finest products.

The International Habanosommelier Contest, in its 9th edition, is another of the Festival highlights, with a growing following seeking advice from the sommelier when choosing a habano.

In addition, there will be a special event during Festival week, in the shape of an exclusive viewing of the British film “Cosi”, produced by Oscar winner Stephen Evans, directed by Christophe Menaul, and starring Opera singer Sarah Brightman and actors Richard E. Grant and Mia Maestro.

During the Gala Evening to round off the proceedings of the XII Festival, there will be the awards ceremony for the 2009 Premios Habanos with 3 categories (Production, Business and Communication) and the Grand Auction of Humidors, true works of art made from valuable woods by the most prestigious Cuban craftsmen. The entire proceeds, as usual, will be donated to the Cuban Public Health System. Last year the amount donated was a staggering 980,000 euros.

The Habanos Corporation is world market leader in premium cigars, and sells habanos in both Cuba and the rest of the world. To this end it has an exclusive distribution network, with presence in more than 150 countries across the five continents.

27 brands of habanos are distinguished with the Habanos Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) assigned by Habanos s.a. Among them are Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann, Punch, San Cristóbal de la Habana, Trinidad and Bolívar.

Tags: cigar, Cuba, Habanos Festival, Havana

This entry was posted on Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 11:40 am and is filed under Events 2010. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.