London was the hottest place to be just over a week ago for any Cuban cigar lover. The biggest cigar smokers from across the globe gathered in town, for the 3-day Habanos World Days event, which took place on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June, 2024. All to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Trinidad cigar.
The excitement leading up to the event
There was considerable speculation about the ticket prices for this prestigious occasion: £550 for the cocktail party, £350 for the seminar, and £1,250 for the gala dinner. The initially high prices (for some) sparked controversy, creating an aura of exclusivity around the event. This fueled extensive discussion across various online cigar forums and groups on platforms like Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). However, it was later announced that guests would receive gifts, such as cigars matching the value of their tickets, ensuring they would get their money’s worth!
Amid these discussions, there were also rising concerns about the substantial price increase affecting several Cuban cigars, notably Trinidad. The launch of the Trinidad Cabildos cigar further intensifies this concern, as Habanos aims to elevate Trinidad’s global status as a luxury brand.
To cater to the average cigar enthusiast, it was also announced that 55 venues across the UK would host what would appear as more ‘affordable’ events. After doing some online research, I found that the cheapest event was hosted by Mitchell’s Wines in Sheffield for £35, while the most expensive was No. 6 Cavendish’s event for £185. The latter included a rooftop party at Soho Sky Terrace at the Courthouse Hotel in Great Marlborough Street, London.
Cigar enthusiasts both online and offline also shared content about the event –
Habanos News previewed the upcoming Habanos World Days in London, June 2024, exploring what attendees could expect for their investment.
Cigar Inspector offered an exclusive first look at the new Limited Edition 2024 Trinidad Cabildos cigar.
Nick Foulkes contributed an article in the Financial Times, adding depth to the event’s background and significance: FT Article.
Hunters and Frankau commissioned Kirby Allison to create a documentary series about Trinidad, building excitement with insights into the brand:
The documentary has received praise for its high production quality, but it has also faced skepticism from the online cigar community. Critics question the accuracy of its content, especially in light of examples such as Fidel Castro’s 1994 interview with Marvin Shenken in Cigar Aficionado magazine. In that interview, Castro clearly indicated a preference for Cohiba Coronas Especiales over Trinidad cigars, which has raised doubts about the historical significance of Trinidad cigars as portrayed by the Cuban Cigar industry, suggesting possible exaggeration for marketing purposes.
For individuals who may not have read that part of the interview, the quote is as follows:
Shanken: Trinidad. We understand that it is a brand of cigar that is your own personal brand, which you give to diplomats and friends as presents.
Castro: No. I principally give Cohibas for presents.
Shanken: You don’t give Trinidads?
Castro: No. I don’t give Trinidads. I give Cohibas.
Shanken: The El Laguito factory has a brand called Trinidad, which they say is for you to give as personal gifts. It has become a legend.
Castro: I am not fully aware of that brand, but I assume it is like the Lancero in size from Cohiba.
Shanken: It is the same size, but with a little darker wrapper. Are you going to allow Cubatabaco to sell it?
Castro: I don’t know about that cigar.
(Source: Cigar Aficionado, “A Conversation with Fidel,” 1994)
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After much anticipation, people from around the world began traveling to the UK for what was set to be a prestigious event.
The Cocktail Party – Thursday 20th June 2024
Dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the Trinidad brand, the three-day celebration opened with a welcome cocktail party at Belgrave Square in the heart of London. Fittingly, the first vitola served to guests was the Trinidad Fundadores, the cigar that officially introduced the brand to the world in 1998. A further treat lay in store as the Trinidad Robusto Extra, having been discontinued in 2012, made a return to the portfolio. A worthy second act.
One of our readers had the opportunity to attend the event and recorded video footage of Jemma Freeman’s opening speech (Thanks Steve! 🙏). Jemma Freeman serves as the Chairman of Hunters & Frankau, responsible for importing and distributing the finest Cuban cigars to the UK.
At the cocktail party, one of the stars of the night was Juanita Ramos Guerra, a cigar roller from El Laguito. In 1973, she was responsible for rolling the original Trinidad Diplomáticos and Trinidad Fundadores. She was at the event demonstrating cigar rolling for the guests.
Mansoor of OM Cigars, London took some great footage of Juanita doing her thing👇 If you’ve never seen a cigar being rolled before – this is fascinating!
No 6 Cavendish have also published this video from the Cocktail Party so you can have a bit of an insight as to what it was like being there.
While reporting on the event from home, using the updates I could see from my social media feeds, I received questions about the Protocol Lounge, which was off-limits to guests. People couldn’t understand why or who it was for. After doing some digging, it seems to be a VIP area reserved for ‘friends of the suppliers.’ I came across footage of the lounge posted on social media during the evening.
The British weather pleasantly surprised everyone, especially after a month of possibly the worst conditions. The sun shone brightly for the event – and it looks like all guests had a fantastic evening.
The Seminar & Exhibition – AM – Friday 21st June 2024
The very next day at the same venue, guests were invited to a seminar titled “Trinidad: Past, Present and Future” led by acclaimed writer Nick Foulkes, 2007 Habano Hombre del Año. International industry experts joined him to discuss the brand’s history, current status, and future directions.
Video footage from the seminar has surfaced online, giving everyone the chance to watch it. Thanks to cigar.land for sharing!
Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to visit the Trinidad Exhibition, which showcased iconic cigars, humidors (including one signed by Fidel Castro), and other items related to the Trinidad brand sourced globally and displayed together for the first time.
Guests also enjoyed several Trinidad cigars throughout the day, including the Trinidad Reyes and Media Luna.
Antonis Giannousakis and Robert Tomko, both Masters of Havana Cigars at Birley Cigars, showcased their winning combination from the Trinidad Perfect Pairing competition: the Trinidad Topes paired with a Canchanchara, a non-alcoholic mix known as Canchancharita, accompanied by almond chocolate bars specially crafted for the event by Vincent Zanardi, Maître Pâtissier at Birley Bakery.
Trinidad Tasting Time – PM – Friday 21st June 2024
As part of the celebrations, 55 tasting events were scheduled across the United Kingdom at Havana Cigar Specialists, shops, clubs, restaurants, and hotels. These events showcased a variety of Trinidad cigars paired with drinks, marking a national celebration of the brand and offering an opportunity to enjoy cigars at local cigar locations.
Belfast, Bedford, and Bristol. Cambridge and Cardiff. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Manchester were among many across the United Kingdom wishing Trinidad a Happy birthday from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
The Gala Dinner – Saturday 22nd June 2024
The Habanos World Days concluded on the evening of Saturday June 22nd with a lavish Gala Dinner at the Victoria & Albert Museum, a stunning setting for the event.
The cigar and champagne reception
Guests enjoyed Trinidad Vigia cigars and Krug champagne in the John Madejski Garden.
The dinner
Afterward, approximately 400 guests were welcomed into Raphael Court, where they were surrounded by seven large-scale tapestry designs painted by Raphael. These renowned works, cherished as among the greatest treasures of the Renaissance, provided an unforgettable backdrop for the event.
As guests entered the museum, some international attendees were taken aback by instructions not to bring cigars inside, citing unfamiliarity with UK smoking laws. These laws have banned smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces (with exceptions) since July 1, 2007. Some guests rushed to finish their Trinidad cigars before entering, while others were forced to discard theirs. Images from the event swiftly circulated on social media.
After guests had comfortably settled into their seats and tables, they were formally introduced to the event, followed by a lavish dinner.
Attendees relished a delightful three-course meal, yet only a handful of snapshots from the dinner made their way onto the internet.
The auction
After dinner, the Humidor Auction began, where unique pieces were created as a tribute to the Trinidad brand. This included some from one of the best cigar humidor makers in the world Massimo of Deart.
Deart shared some snaps of the humidors on display at the event.
The Trinidad Aniversario Fundadores Vintage 10 is a horizontal trunk from S.T. Dupont that holds 55 Trinidad Fundadores cigars, each aged for 10 years. It is part of Habanos’ new Vintage program, and this vibrant trunk fetched the highest price, selling for 2.5 million euros (approximately £2.1 million).
Habanos reported that the auction raised 5.2 million euros, equivalent to approximately £4 million.
According to Habanos, the proceeds will benefit the Cuban Health Charity.
The launch of the Trinidad Cabildos
The highlight of the night was the introduction of the 2024 Edición Limitada, Trinidad Cabildos, available exclusively in the UK in 10,000 numbered packs of five cigars each. A global release in 12-cigar boxes is expected in six months.
The Trinidad Cabildos, sized 6 3/8” x 46, features a medium-bodied blend with a hint of sweetness from its dark wrapper, a unique addition to the Habanos portfolio.
The cigars were delivered in a spectacular military fashion.
However, during distribution, despite the visually stunning display, a few overly eager guests managed to take more than their fair share, leaving some attendees without cigars that night. However, H&F are addressing this issue, as I’ve been informed by people who contacted me after the event.
Here is a sneaky peak of the goody bag, that guests took home after the Gala Dinner (Thanks to Nicholas DiNunzio!)
Footage from the event has been uploaded on YouTube. You can check out these videos from Habanos and cigar enthusiast KD Leaf Diaries, who vlogged about the event.
Final thoughts
Sadly, I couldn’t attend this extravagant event, it was a bit out of my price range, but I did catch glimpses from afar through social media footage online. It looked like an incredible event—I would have loved to be there!
It’s clear that Hunters & Frankau and Habanos SA pulled out all the stops to ensure London had an exceptionally memorable three days. For those fortunate enough to attend, this experience will be remembered for years to come.
Organising a massive event like this isn’t simple, but it seems Jemma Freeman and her team pulled it off brilliantly. Here’s hoping for more significant cigar events across the UK in the future! Habanos have confirmed plans to host more events in different locations, although no specific dates or venues have been announced yet.
Listen to The Sahakians’ of Davidoff of London concluding their thoughts from event.
Meanwhile, Trinidad Cabildos are now available for purchase at most UK cigar retailers.
Source: ©Habanos SA for the photography.
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