Culture

The book, that possesses attractive design and nice format so that people who love the habano can read it fast, recreates such classics as Matisse, Gauguin and indirectly Da Vinci and Monet. It was recently launched in France by its authors, French David Kessel and Cyril Pelletier.

No one has been able to answer for certain how long a Habano can live. Too little has been spoken about aged Habanos.

With over 500 images packed in 350 pages and put out by Spain’s Epicur Publishing House, the volume provides readers with all the details on the history of habano making

This outstanding guitarist was one of the guest musicians summoned by maestro Leo Brouwer to perform at the 13^th Habano Festival’s opening concert

A smoker who prefers the excellence of Cohiba, he owns up that these habanos were his faithful companions during the rehearsals prior to the 13^th Habano Festival’s opening concert

Some 166 years later, Partagas continues making history. Its broad vitola stock, classic lineage and intense taste have turned it one of the most prestigious habano brands. Now Partagas is surprisingly making two new launches that could be exclusively puffed on during the 13^th Habano Festival: the new Series E No. 2, ring gauge 54, with its new vitola called Series No. 2 and the new and Series D No. 5 which is joining the larger-than-life Series D.

The XIII Habanos Festival will begin on February 21 with a Welcoming Evening, which will be celebrated at the Gran Teatro de la Habana with an exclusive concert held by the Cuban maestro Leo Brouwer, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Córdoba and winner of a Latin Grammy 2010, who will present a show entitled “Leo Brouwer Essential” with music directed and written by this made famous Cuban composer and musician, in the which he will evoke with his music the magic of the Habano and of Cuba.

The first drawings on pieces of paper intended to wrap cigars were printed in 1831 at the La Lealtad workshop. Chromolithography -imported since 1859- was then used in the industry of cigarette making long before it landed in the habano industry. It took nearly 20 years for chromolithography to highlight the decoration of habano boxes and cases.

A great Cuban musician with longstanding faithfulness toward habanos, the artist took part in some of the Festival’s events without going unnoticed.

The preview of British film Cosiduring the 12^th Habano Festival, attended by the movie’s director Christopher Menaul, producer Stephen Evans and actress Mia Maestro, has been just another of the event’s artistic highlights.