QUAI D’ORSAY MARKS THE MID-POINT OF THE XIX HABANO FESTIVAL

• The Quai D’Orsay brand takes centre stage, marking a new and promising phase starting with an image redesign and the release of two new vitolas
• This year the Alianza Habanos brought together two denominations: Habanos and Brandy de Jerez.
• The International Habanosommelier Contest’s grand final will be held on March 3rd.

Havana, March 2nd 2017 - The Habano Festival has passed the mid-point of its XIX edition and continues its celebrations in a friendly and exclusive atmosphere with the Habano as the common theme.

Yesterday, Laguito was the venue for the Tribute Evening dedicated to Quai D’Orsay, the brand that was created in 1973 by Cubatabaco exclusively for the French market. Quai D’Orsay embarks on a new and promising adventure with the release of its new design, the presentation of two new vitolas and its international distribution network to major Habanos S.A. markets.

Visitors at the evening event were able to enjoy the brand’s three vitolas: Coronas Claro, and the new No. 50 and No. 54, and also enjoy a vitola from its classic portfolio, Quai D’Orsay Imperiales, reedited exclusively for this dinner. The evening featured an outstanding international Cuban musical line-up and choreographies of Maestro Santiago Alfonso’s company.

Visitors attending the XIX Habano Festival were also able to enjoy the traditional Alianza Habanos that brought together two legendary denominations: Habanos and the prestigious Brandy de Jerez, from Spain. Bodegas González Byass, Bodega Sánchez Romate Hnos., Bodegas Fundador, and Bodegas Osborne paired their exclusive brandies with two of the most appreciated Habanos: Trinidad Vigía and Partagás Serie D No.4.

Among the most important activities at this Festival, we find the XVI Edition of the International Habanosommelier Contest. The finalists are the following: Andrea Balzani (Italy), Slavomir Marek Bielicki (UK) and Felipe Rojas (Chile). In the preliminary phase participants demonstrated their knowledge of Habanos with the presentation of a pairing of their own creation that had to be different and innovative and a blind tasting of Habanos and spirits. In the grand finale participants will face a practical Habano cutting and lighting test and a descriptive tasting and pairing session with different spirits, as follow up of the staging of the last extraordinary edition.

The Festival will finalise Friday March 3rd, with the Gala Evening dedicated to the exclusive Línea 1935 from the Montecristo brand. The evening will witness the Habanos Awards ceremony and the traditional Humidor Auction, whose proceeds are donated to the Cuban Public Health System.