PRO CIGAR FESTIVAL 2010 OPENS, by Gary J. Arzt

Santiago, DR…17 February…With the “Opening Ceremony” of Pro Cigar Festival 2010 scheduled for the evening gala, our day began with the tours each attendee had selected for himself. 

I had chosen to visit La Aurora, where were greeted by; what else but…cigars and Joe Blanco! Of course, my good friend Jose Manuel Victoria – recently back from Paris and London with Michael Herklots – was also on hand. We spent the next hour plus being regaled by Jose with what might be called Blending 101. And, believe me, it is an education. I have smoked and steeped myself in the art of tobacco growing and cigar making for fifty-two years now, and I have attended Jose’s tasting seminars more times than I can remember, yet I always come away with some piece of knowledge I had not possessed at the start of the seminar. For the average cigar smoker it is a tremendously interesting and informative session. 

After the presentation, and its requisite Q & A, we proceeded on a tour of the La Aurora facility; and it is a huge, modern cigar making entity. What is amazing to most that come to see a cigar factory for the first time, it is largely devoid of heavy– save for forklifts. This art form is a hand operation.

Two hundred and forty-seven (give or take) hand steps from seed to cellophane! And the end results are consistent – excellent cigars. I say that about the products of La Aurora and all the members of ProCigar; as well as about the premium cigar makers of Nicaragua and Honduras, the other principal sources of fine handmade cigars.

From La Aurora we proceeded to El Rancho, a famed Santiago steakhouse, for a convivial lunch with all the participants attending ProCigar. This is the essence of what ProCigar is about! Aside from the tours and the exposure to the complete process of growing, curing, fermenting and aging tobacco. In addition to the cigar making itself that we are shown. To say nothing of the seminars and educational aspects…the essence of ProCigar is the opportunity to sit around with the likes of Guillermo Leon, Manuel Quesada and Henke Kelner and talk about cigars!

Not even an in store event at your favourite tobacconists offers this.

The “Opening Gala,” as it is known, and called in the programme, took place at 8:00 PM at the estate of the late, Don Fernando Leon. It was a very apt choice, as Guillermo’s father was the foremost tobacco exponent in the Dominican Republic and the guardian of La Aurora’s 106 year history, until his death last year.

It was a beautiful setting, with the grounds tented and lights sparkling. As we entered, off to the left, fires glowed and you could discern a rack of roasted and roasting pigs, just waiting to be devoured by the now hungry throng of cigar aficionados.

The opening greetings of Henke Kelner, President of ProCigar, Manuel Quesada, Vice President, Dan Carr of General Cigar and Jean Clement (Juan of Juan Clemente cigars) were brief, gracious and extended the hospitality of the group. Absent, thus far, is Jose Seijas, the Master Blender and manager of Tabacalera de Garcia (Altadis). I have been assured he will be with us this evening and henceforth, until Friday night’s “Closing Gala.”

The gala was great fun, including the standard Meringue contest, in which, this year, Arthur Zaretsky of Famous Smoke Shop, was eliminated early on. Michael Herklots acquitted himself very well, but the prize was ultimately taken by Thaddeus Buggs of Chicago. Congratulations, Thaddeus. His prize was an all expenses paid trip to ProCigar Festival 2011.

I was delighted to observe Jonathan Drew, Pete Johnson, Berta Bravo, Janny Garcia, David Savona, Greg Mottola, Barry Abrams, Steve Saka, Armoury Abreu and many, many other friends all having a great time. Many of them went off to Camp David for an ‘after party’. At midnight I went back to the hotel to get the sleep I, by now, desperately needed. But not before I wrote this brief report.

Tomorrow, I am scheduled to do two video interviews which will both be brief, and different from conventional interviews with cigar makers. I hope you’ll enjoy them when they are posted.