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This annual meeting for fans of the world's best tobacco reached a milestone in its history, as the 20th Habano Festival gathered more than 2,000 participants from over 50 countries who have been able to get a first sight into the most significant Habanos announcements.
The auction raised 1.7 million US dollars (1.4 million euros) in the traditional "Humidors Auction" which will be donated to public health services in Cuba.
• Darius Namdar from Great Britain won the XVII Edition of the International Habanosommelier Contest
• During the evening the new Línea Maduro of Partagás was presented
• Orishas provided the music to an evening that gave the final touch to the 20th Anniversary of the Habanos Festival
• The actor Demián Bichir, with an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, was one of the guests
The Habanos Festival has come to an end with the Gala Evening -in tribute to a very special edition, that of its 20th Anniversary- for the world's best tobacco lovers from more than 70 countries.
The new Línea Maduro of Partagás was presented, incorporating two new vitolas characterized by their maduro wrappers.
Attendees tasted the new Maduro No 2 (55 x 120mm) and Maduro No 3 (50 x 145mm) vitolas and, also, the Maduro No 1 (52 x 130mm), presented for the first time in 2015 for La Casa del Habano and Habanos Specialists, that now joins the regular portfolio creating this new line. Their maduro wrappers, as a result of an extra period of fermentation, enhances their full-strength blend in line with Partagás traditional and intense flavour.
These Habanos are made Totalmente a Mano con Tripa Larga - Totally by Hand with Long Filler - with specially selected leaves from Pinar del Río*, Cuba*.
The Gala Evening featured performances by artists as Elain Morales, Yaser Manzano, Carlos Varela and Edesio Alejandro, Laritza Bacallao, Waldo Mendoza and Irene Rodríguez and Habana Compas.
Orishas, the Cuban group who are highly regarded internationally, delighted all the attendees with their unmistakable rhythm and musical quality.
The Habanos Festival concluded with the traditional Humidors Auction with 7 humidors auctioned, raising 1,485,000€ for the Cuban Public Health System.
The 2017 Habanos Awards prizes were given to: Franchesco Minetti, Communication Category, Ercan Hazar, Business category, for developing the Habano cigar market in Austria; Virginio Morales, Production category.
Darius Namdar from Great Britain won the XVII Edition of the International Habanosommelier Contest. Finalists were faced with a practical Habano cutting and lighting test and a descriptive tasting and pairing session with different beverages.
The aficionados winning couple of the I Habanos World Challenge were Alexis Tsielepis and Raffi Der Gara Betian from Cyprus.
This special 20th Anniversary edition of the Habanos Festival has brought together over 2,200 participants from more than 70 different countries.
00:00 20th Anniversary Party at Teatro Martí in Havana
00:45 20th Anniversary Party at Gran Teatro La Habana, Havana
00:50 Perfomance of Descemer Bueno and Spanish singer Tamara
01:06 Perfomance of Descemer Bueno and Spanish singer La Dama
01:22 Habanos and Brandy Torres marriage
01:56 Master class on torcido (Rolling technique)
02:21 Visit to La Corona habanos factory
03:04 17th Habanosommelier International Contest finals
03:45 1st Habano World Challenge finals
04:35 Presentation of the 1st Habano World Challenge award
04:46 Presentation of the 17th Habanosommelier International Contest award
05:00 Gala Night of the 20th Habano Festival
05:13 Mexican actor Demián Bichir at the Gala Night of the 20th Habano Festival
05:25 Arrival of guests to the Gala Night
05:46 Cuban performers on stage
06:30 Cuban band Orishas performs at the Gala Night
06:59 Humidors auction
2 March 2018
