Just over two weeks ago, I attended my first InterTabac event, and what an experience it was! From the moment I arrived, I was surrounded by the best folk in the cigar world (minus Habanos S.A., who sadly pulled out earlier in the year). I met great people, smoked amazing cigars, and discovered exciting new ones.
Here’s more about my experience… (its quite a long read so brace yourself!)
Background
InterTabac is the world’s largest trade fair for tobacco products and accessories. It is held annually at Messe Dortmund in Germany (for football fans, that’s right next to Signal Iduna Park, home to the German football team Borussia Dortmund).
This year, the event took place from Thursday, September 19th to Saturday, September 21st, 2024. The event showcased a wide variety of tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and, of course, cigars!
The cigar section of the show is located in two dedicated halls, Hall 4 and Hall 7, attracting cigar brands from around the world.
This platform allows both established and emerging companies to unveil and showcase their latest cigar products and innovations. Cigar distributors are also seeking products to distribute in their respective countries. UK cigar distributors such as Tor Imports and Bright Leaf were present, along with some UK cigar retailers including representatives from Barkers of Harrogate, The Cigar Manor, Buster Cigars and OM Cigars.
In the weeks leading up to the event, cigar websites such as Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Journal, and Half Wheel published articles and press releases about new cigars scheduled to debut at the trade show, helping to build excitement around the event.
It was fascinating to hear Katrin Fischer, the managing director at InterTabac, join one of Light Em Up‘s weekly cigar chats to discuss the event from a cigar-focused perspective.
At this point, it’s worth noting that this event is only for those employed in the cigar industry, and they need to provide proof of their employment. Registering for the event includes an accreditation process. I didn’t realise this at the time 🙈😬. However, in recent years I did find out that they have allowed some bloggers/vloggers to attend, and that’s how I got my accreditation. I was well chuffed when I got accepted as a cigar blogger – it felt like a small victory for us (who are few and far between)! In a way, going to Germany as a ‘Brit abroad’ made me feel like I was repping the UK cigar community 🇬🇧, and, of course, I’m fulfilling my duty in reporting back on everything I found out 🫡. Maybe I took it a bit too seriously, haha. I have to admit, I felt like a total imposter attending an event like this, but I’m so glad I pushed through my initial anxiety and went ahead!
The initial 3-day admission costs around €78.00. Additionally, people can choose to visit for just 1 day.
My experience
I’m familiar with several cigar trade shows, particularly the PCA (Premium Cigar Association) events that take place in Las Vegas and New Orleans. Recently, the UK launched its own trade show called Ignite, although it hasn’t yet gained international recognition.
I first learned about InterTabac while following a younger generation of cigar enthusiasts and industry folk across Europe on social media. Notable figures include Carl Hjelmborn from Stogie Lads in Sweden 🇸🇪, who created an engaging vlog about the event last year; Philipp Kugler of Cigar Kings; and Adrian and Justin Trimborn of Dalay Zigarren in Germany 🇩🇪 . They’ve all attended InterTabac and are making a significant digital impact on Europe’s cigar scene.
I also enjoy following the Cigar Man from Indonesia 🇮🇩, who has been live-streaming the event for the past few years. It’s fantastic how the internet connects us through our shared passion for cigars!
After repeatedly checking the InterTabac website for registration details, I was thrilled when it finally opened, allowing me to apply. Fast-forward a few months — I booked my flights to Düsseldorf, arranged train travel to Dortmund (Düsseldorf Airport > Dortmund Hbf, Dortmund Hbf > Westfalenhallen), and secured an Airbnb for my stay.
Upon arriving at the Westfalenhallen station, conveniently located near Messe Dortmund, I was struck by its size, even larger than London’s similar ExCeL Centre. I made my way directly to the North Entrance for the cigar halls.
I chose to wear a suit, which was a wise choice, as many attendees inside were dressed smartish – but lots of folk were in casual too.
Inside, plenty of cloakrooms were available for storing luggage, helpful if you arrive before checking into your accommodation.
The venue included the main halls with booths, dining area, an outdoor space with food and drink trucks, and plenty of restrooms. I was pleasantly surprised to find that sampling cigars indoors was allowed too, which was fantastic! 💨
I brought a gimbal to capture smooth video footage from the event, though I struggled a bit using it and probably looked a right plank walking around with the device 😄. Despite that, the video quality was much better than what my phone alone could produce normally, making it worth it.
I realised I would probably meet quite a few people, so I prepared and printed business cards that included links to my website and email address.
The venue itself was impressively vast and somewhat overwhelming. Before arriving, I studied the floor plan to determine who I wanted to connect with and kept up with the latest press releases to learn about new cigars and recommendations.
I had the opportunity to attend several masterclasses one on cigar pairing with Don Emmanuel (Dominican Republic) and the art of blending with Claudio Sgroi, which can be booked on the InterTabac website in the weeks leading up to the event (be quick as they sell out fast). These classes offered valuable insights from industry experts. However, they also require a significant time commitment during your day.
As I strolled through the halls and visited various cigar booths, I noticed that the popular cigar brands were usually occupied with scheduled meetings and didn’t have much time for casual conversations.
These pre-arranged meetings are important for networking and making business deals, and it seemed like major brands such as AJ Fernandez, Arturo Fuente, Drew Estate, Joya De Nicaragua, Padrón, Perdomo and Plasencia have already established their presence and don’t need to focus much on showcasing their products. I had a few specific brands in mind that I had been keeping up with online and was excited to meet. Additionally, I had received several direct messages from people suggesting places to visit.
Some cigar booths definitely stand out more than others, and attention to detail is key at this event.
One of the most unexpected but interesting booths I heard about was from the Vandermarliere Cigar Family, the parent company of Oliva. They were offering wet shaves right in their booth, and I even heard there might be a connection between their accessories and some shavers used by Al Pacino! If anyone knows more about that, I’d love to hear.
Source: Halfwheel
There was a random dance off too… think work Christmas party vibes 😬😁😂 This place is bonkers – I love it!!!
The most unique cigar brand I came across was Rojas Street Tacos cigars—I was really impressed by their packaging!
I also spotted some stylish chess board cigar holders, which added a fun touch to the event.
Cigar brands/booths
In the remainder of this blog post, I will share videos, photos, and links to various brands some well known, other not so well known, that I came across at the event.
[Note: This is a super long blog post, as there was so much to see, so I have added some links so you can jump to certain brands you’re interested in!]
Aganorsa Leaf
Arturo Fuente
Besuki Raya Cigar
Casa 1910
Cigar Kings
Charantan
Drew Estate
El Septimo
Great Wall Cigars
Gurkha
Karen Berger
Oscar Valladares
Plasencia
Raching Humidors
Wonnerbar
VSB London
Aganorsa Leaf
Origin: Nicaragua 🇳🇮
Website: Aganorsa Leaf
Background:
In 1998, Eduardo Fernandez dreamed of growing the finest tobacco, inspired by classic Cuban cigars. He traveled to Cuba to recruit top agronomists (an expert in the science of soil management and crop production) from Cubatobaco, bringing their expertise to Nicaragua.
These experts, who had produced tobacco during Cuba’s golden era, aimed to recreate the distinct Cuban style and aroma using traditional methods with Nicaraguan resources. This led to the creation of Aganorsa Leaf.
Over 20 years later, Aganorsa Leaf is celebrated for its unique flavor, combining Nicaraguan terroir with classic Cuban characteristics. As a vertically integrated company, Aganorsa oversees every step of production, ensuring consistent quality. Every cigar is crafted with premium Aganorsa Leaf under the guidance of Eduardo, his son Max, and their skilled team.
Aganorsa Leaf now wants to expand into the international market 🚀 after its success in the US.
Cigars:
At the InterTabac show, they introduced two new sizes from their Supreme Leaf series exclusively for international distribution: the Euro Toro (6 inches x 50 ring gauge) and the Inter Robusto (5 1/4 x 54). Both will be sold in 10-count boxes. The blend for these new sizes is similar to the core line but features updated packaging.
I had the opportunity to see these cigars up close and personal.
A fun thing also happened… one of my international followers on X (formerly Twitter), Leif Lunatic, who is a huge fan of Aganorsa and their Lunatic cigar, actually knows Terence Reilly, the VP of Sales & Marketing at Aganorsa Leaf. With Leif’s help, we managed to arrange a face-to-face meeting, and we even recorded a video doing a shout out to Leif acknowledging it!
Availability in UK: Unfortunately, as of now, Aganorsa Leaf cigars are not available in the UK.
Arturo Fuente
Origin: Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
Website: Arturo Fuente
Background:
Arturo Fuente is a legendary name in the cigar industry, founded in 1912 by Arturo Fuente in the heart of Tampa, Florida.
The company is now led by Carlos “Carlito” P. Fuente, Jr., a third-generation cigar maker. Under his guidance, Fuente transformed the brand into a global leader in premium cigars, pioneering the use of Dominican tobacco and creating the acclaimed Fuente Fuente OpusX, the first Dominican puro cigar.
I hold a deep appreciation for Arturo Fuente. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of smoking the Opus X and Eye of the Shark as part of my A-Z cigar challenge. I was also lucky enough to meet Carlito a couple of years ago at a Fuente book launc. This guy is a cigar legend and understandably busy catching up with industry friends.
Notably, the Arturo Fuente booth bore a sign stating “not opening new accounts,” reflecting their continued high demand.
Cigars:
I spotted the new Fuente Opus X Society cigar, a collaboration with designer Manny Iriarte, which was initially teased at the PCA trade show last year.
It will premiere in Miami later this month, marking an exciting addition to the Fuente portfolio.
Availability in UK: Arturo Fuente cigars are already available in the UK and have been for quite a few years. Cigar Journal recently reported that C.Gars Ltd has secured an exclusive distribution deal for several premium brands. Lewis Seymour of Rare Cigars UK now manages the distribution of key brands, including Arturo Fuente. It will be interesting to see what he brings to the UK market – and whether the Fuente Opus X Society cigar will make it over to our shores.
Besuki Raya Cigar
Origin: Indonesia 🇮🇩
Website: Besuki Raya
Background:
Besuki Raya Cigar is an Indonesian company founded in 1996 in Jember, East Java, with the aim of producing premium cigars using local tobacco. Initially focused on hand-rolled cigars, the company has since expanded its production capabilities and refined its processes, gaining international recognition for its quality.
Besuki Raya Cigars have developed a diverse range of products that cater to global cigar enthusiasts, contributing positively to the local economy by providing jobs and supporting tobacco farmers. Today, the company is celebrated for its craftsmanship and unique flavors, highlighting Indonesia’s potential in the premium cigar market.
Cigars:
I got the opportunity to sample one of these Petit Robusto Rojo Blanco cigars with Javano tobaccos, the details below:
Ring Gauge: 50
Length : 100 mm
Strength : Medium
The snob in me was hesitant about trying an Indonesian cigar, but I was pleasantly surprised. Learning about the history of cigar communities and culture was fascinating. Especially having a browse through this super cool book called ‘Indonesian Cigar For The World’ – thanks to my fellow cigar buddy and Instagram mate, Cigar Man. It was great hanging out!
Availability in UK: I don’t think these cigars are currently available in the UK. But if you’re curious you can view their catalogue of cigars here.
Casa 1910
Origin: Mexico 🇲🇽
Website: Casa 1910
Background:
Casa 1910 was launched in 2021 and stands out for its deep connection to Mexican heritage, in particular the Mexican Revolution of 1910. The brands long term goal is to elevate Mexican cigars on the global stage by showcasing the rich tobacco traditions of Mexico, especially through the use of San Andres Negro tobacco, which is well known for its incredible quality.
Casa 1910 has quickly gained recognition for both its quality and its cultural significance, becoming a key player in the revival of Mexican cigars on the international scene.
Cigars:
I first discovered the 1910 cigar brand at City of London Cigars earlier this year when I noticed it tucked away in the corner of their walk-in humidor. I have to admit that my initial experience with the Cuchillo Parado cigar didn’t leave a strong first impression – but I did just smoke a Ramon Allones No 3 just before it.
However, after sampling different vitolas at InterTabac from their portfolio, I was genuinely impressed by what I tried – especially the Lucero cigar – which had a nice sweet woody flavour with a nutty earthy aroma.
I had the pleasure of meeting João Maierhofer in person. I first got in touch with him when I saw his comprehensive online catalog of Davidoff cigars at https://zinopedia.com/ while he was working for Davidoff. Now, he has transitioned to Casa 1910 and is doing an outstanding job there.
Hear him talk about Casa 1910 below:
Availability in UK: Thanks to Rare Cigars UK, you can pick up Casa 1910 cigars from CGars, City Of London Cigars, James J Fox and GQ Tobaccos.
Cigar Kings
Origin: Nicaragua 🇩🇪 🇳🇮
Website: Cigar Kings
Background:
Cigar Kings, a German company, produces hand-rolled cigars in Nicaragua using premium Nicaraguan tobacco.
Cigars:
Their cigars are crafted using the traditional “entubado” method (A rolling method that originated in Cuba. The roller rolls each filler leaf into a straw or tube shape, creating tubes with great air flow. Its said this method allows for a greater number of filler leaves to be put in a cigar while maintaining the draw.), this ensures a smooth draw and rich flavour.
I had been hoping to meet CEO Phillip Kugler in person after interviewing him remotely a couple of years ago for my blog when I first started out. It was really inspiring to see someone from a younger generation launching his own cigar brand in Germany and expanding across Europe. I’m a fan of the Cigar Kings cigar band designs; they look really cool! But I’ve never tried one of their cigars – well, until now, I hope, as I managed to pick one up to sample!
I also met Alex Stipcic, aka Alex Cigar Dandy.
Availability in UK: Currently, Cigar Kings cigars are not available in the UK.
Charantan
Origin: Nicaragua 🇬🇧 🇳🇮
Website: Charatan
Background:
Charatan began in 1863 when Frederick Charatan opened a tobacco shop in London. The brand evolved through family involvement until 1960, and in the 1990s, Dunhill Tobacco made Charatan the top Nicaraguan cigar brand in the UK.
In 2017, Tor Imports Ltd acquired Charatan, aiming to revitalise it. Production moved to Joya De Nicaragua, ensuring high-quality, affordable handmade cigars. Now, Charatan has undergone a rebrand, merging its British heritage with Nicaraguan craftsmanship. The new design features a dancing unicorn, symbolising individuality, while maintaining the popular cigar blend tailored for British connoisseurs.
Cigars:
I hold a deep appreciation for the Tor Imports family. On my way to the airport in the morning of day one at InterTabac, I was writing a post about their new cigar line to coincide with their cigar launch.
The launch was great – they were the only cigar company to bring a giant unicorn to Germany, specifically shipped over for the event. 🙌
I have one of the new cigars that I will sample soon and post about 🦄.
Availability in UK: This new line from Charatan is due to be released in Spring 2025.
Drew Estate
Origin: Nicaragua 🇳🇮
Website: Drew Estate
Background:
Founded in 1996, Drew Estate is known for its innovative blends and unique Acid line of infused cigars. With a factory in Nicaragua, they’ve gained recognition for their Liga Privada series.
I was really hoping to meet Jonathan Drew, the founder of Drew Estate. I did see him in a car park after the first day, but I felt it would be inappropriate to approach him there. I’m a huge fan of Drew Estate cigars, especially the Liga Privada No. 9. Those who have been following my adventures on this blog will know that I rated that cigar very highly during my A-Z of cigars.
Cigars:
At the event, I was excited to see the new Undercrown 10 Flying Pig being introduced to the international market. Like all other Flying Pig cigars, it measures 3 15/16 x 60 and has a coiled cap.
I later also bumped into the brilliant Pedro Gomez Rodriguez, the brand spokesman and global brand ambassador for Drew Estate.
Availability in UK: I’ve not heard any reports on this cigar coming to the UK – let’s hope so 🤞
El Septimo
Origin: Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Website: El Septimo
Background:
El Septimo aims to revolutionise the cigar industry, offering a premium, luxurious smoking experience. Under the leadership of CEO Zaya Younan, the brand uses high-quality, pesticide-free tobacco from Costa Rica to create cigars known for their complexity and sophistication.
Cigars:
I was lucky enough to sample a cigar from the Emperor cigar collection. I had the Yao Connecticut which honours the legacy of Emperor Yao. This cigar a 6 1/2 inch Torpedo, is wrapped in a smooth Connecticut leaf, which has a creamy, nutty, and oaky profile. Its a medium body cigar that offers a gentle aroma that offers a balanced smoking experience.
The collection also includes Vartan The Dragon.
Zaya Younan created this limited-edition cigar inspired by two individuals named Vartan. The first is the ancient Armenian General Vartan Mamikonian, known for his strength and wisdom. The second is Vartan Seferian, a modern-day icon in the cigar industry and owner of Ambassador Fine Cigar Lounges. (He is akin to the US version of Edward Sahakian of Davidoff of London).
I was fortunate to meet Vartan in person, and it was an absolute privilege. I am looking forward to trying this exceptional cigar, made with the finest tobaccos from the world’s premier regions. Each leaf is aged for an extraordinary 15 years, allowing for a complexity and depth of flavor that is unrivaled.
A big shoutout to Tony Basham also known as Viking Cigars, for enthusiastically talking about his favorite cigar brand El Septino across social media in the UK.
Availability in UK: Havana House have a selection of El Septimo cigars. We need the Vartan to be unleashed here 🇬🇧
Great Wall Cigars
Origin: China 🇨🇳
Background:
Great Wall is a well-known cigar brand in China and was the first cigar producer in the country, starting in 1918.
The company gained prominence in the 1960s by producing cigars for Chairman Mao, with the handmade 1323 cigar becoming particularly successful due to his endorsement.
The modern Great Wall facility, completed in 2007, has improved production through partnerships with Altadis and Agio. The nearby tobacco fields, enhanced by the region’s climate and artisan mountain water, are comparable to those in Cuba and Nicaragua.
I was really intrigued by this particular cigar brand. They had a wonderful selection of cigars, and their packaging somehow resembled Cuban cigars. I’m looking forward to trying one of their cigars in the future.
Availability in UK: Not heard any reports about this so far.
Gurkha
Origin: Dominican Republic 🇩🇴, Nicaragua 🇳🇮, Honduras 🇭🇳
Website: Gurkha
Background:
Gurkha Cigars is a premium brand founded in 1989 by Kaizad Hansotia, known for its high-quality, hand-rolled cigars made from fine tobacco sourced from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
The brand has a luxury image, featuring exclusive limited editions and a wide variety of blends, such as the Gurkha Centurian and Gurkha Ghost. They are marketed creatively, often in collaboration with celebrities. They also offer the world’s most expensive cigar – The Gurkha Royal Courtesan, costing approximately 1 million pounds 😳.
Forget about that million quid cigar; I was more interested in seeing the Mike Tyson cigar – up close.
Tyson has visited InterTabac in previous years, but unfortunately, he didnt make an appearance this year.
However, he did promote his Tyson cigar at PCA earlier this year. I know they’re novelty cigars, but they feel very unique, and I’d love to sample one of those.
Availability in UK: Sadly, I don’t think the Tyson cigar will be available or distributed in the UK.
Karen Berger
Origin: Nicaragua 🇳🇮
Website: Karen Berger Cigars
Background:
Karen Berger, often referred to as “the Cigar Queen,” is the driving force behind Don Kiki Cigars (Estelí Cigar Factory SA). Founded by her late husband, Don Kiki Berger, a Cuban rolling master, the company specialises in manufacturing cigars and oversees every step of the tobacco process, from cultivation to retail.
Karen has carried on Don Kiki’s legacy by developing her own line of Nicaraguan cigars under her name, ensuring quality and craftsmanship remain at the forefront.
I heard a lot about Karen Berger cigars when I visited The Humidor in Croatia earlier this year.
I had a great chat with them at the show, hear more from her and Bruce Busch of Karen Berger cigars below:
Availability in UK: Karen Berger cigars are available in the UK sold at Havana House, CGars Ltd, GQ Tobaccos, Smoke King, Cigar Nights and James Barber Tobacconist.
Oscar Valladares
Origin: Honduras 🇭🇳
Website: Oscar Valladares Tobacco
Background:
Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co. is located in Danli, Honduras, and began operations in 2012. The factory was established by Oscar Valladares, Hector Valladares, and Bayron Duarte, who all bring a wealth of experience from the tobacco industry.
Having spent over nine years with Rocky Patel, Oscar sought to channel his expertise and passion for cigars into his own venture. His journey into the cigar world seemed almost fated; he initially worked at a travel agency, where he organized tours for Rocky Patel’s groups. This experience ultimately led Rocky to invite him to join his team, where he honed his skills for nearly a decade.
Cigars:
For InterTabac Oscar Valladeres has two releases including Kinich, a new regular production line exclusive to Europe, and the Santiago Valladares 2024 Europe Edition.
Kinich is crafted with a Honduran wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a Honduran filler sourced from Copán. It will be offered in three sizes:
- Kinich Robusto (6 x 50) (Box of 20)
- Kinich Toro (6 x 52) (Box of 20)
- Kinich Sixty (6 x 60) (Box of 20)
The Santiago Valladares 2024 Europe Edition features an Ecuadorian habano wrapper over a Honduran binder and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua. This cigar comes in a 6 x 52 toro vitola as singles or in a box of 10.
I also had the opportunity to sample the Leaf for the first time and was truly impressed by the cigar’s exceptional quality.
Availability in the UK: There is currently no information regarding availability of these two particular cigars in the UK – but his other brands are available at all good cigar merchants across the UK.
Plasencia
Origin: Nicaragua 🇳🇮
Website: Plasencia
Background:
The Plasencia family has a long history in the tobacco industry, and their cigars are celebrated for their craftsmanship and quality. Although I didn’t see any new releases at the event, I have enjoyed many of their cigars in the past, so I wanted to visit their booth.
I saw the father and son, but they seemed busy.
Their booth was literally on fire 😁
Availability in UK: Of course you can get these cigars in most places across the UK
Raching Humidors
Website: rachinghumidor.com
Alongside all of the cigar brands at InterTabac, I got to meet the team behind Raching dubbed ‘China’s Leader in Cigar storage solutons’.
Shenzhen Raching Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2004, specialises in providing storage and display solutions for cigars. Their product line includes constant temperature and humidity cigar cabinets and humidors designed to preserve the quality and flavor of cigars.
They offer a variety of products, including smart thermostatic cigar cabinets and dedicated cigar moisturising cabinets. With over 20 series and hundreds of products, they are the largest manufacturer of constant temperature and humidity cigar storage solutions in China.
They even had a humidor with ammonia removal!
This was their MON5800A model humidor. More details at: https://rachinghumidor.com/products/raching-mon5800a-cigar-humidor
Wonnerbar
Origin: Paraguay & Dominican Republic
Website: Wonnerbar
Background:
Wonnerbar, a new brand under the Acon Tobacco umbrella, offers an exquisite selection of premium cigars. Their hand-rolled cigars are meticulously crafted by blending the finest tobaccos from around the globe, ensuring unparalleled quality that exceeds traditional standards. Manufactured in Paraguay and the Dominican Republic.
Cigars:
At the event, I had the pleasure of sampling one of their impressive Signature cigars with an 80-ring gauge. It was quite large and reminiscent of a ‘nub’ in length—a true beast of a cigar!
Their team made me feel incredibly welcome!
Availability in the UK: They may have a UK distributor in the pipeline, so watch this space!
VSB London
Origin: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Website: VSB London
VSB London specialise in luxury cigar accessories, including finely crafted leather cigar cases for the modern gentleman. The company is run by two brothers, Sanjeev Lal and Vejay Lal. While I had heard of the brand before, I never knew much about the team behind it, so it was nice to meet them face to face.
It was wonderful to see their Swarovski Crystal Union Jack Cigar Case shining in all its glory at the event. Their website has better photos of it and where you can purchase one yourself 😍.
Availability in UK: You can find their accessories at Harrods, Selfridges, James J Fox, Sautters, and many other cigar shops throughout the country.
My final thoughts…
Looking back, my experience at InterTabac was absolutely spectacular and definitely one of the highlights of my year. I feel so honoured to have been accredited at the event as a blogger 🙏.
It’s amazing to think that years ago I used to blog from my balcony while smoking cigars (I still do!), but now I’m also blogging from cigar trade shows across Europe. It’s mind-blowing to me 🤯.
I also gotta say (and hope its not too cringy) but I travel alone quite often and feel dead anxious at the thought of attending these cigar events solo (even still), but when I arrive at these places, and just push through my anxiety I always end up having the most amazing experience.
It was so nice to bump into many familiar faces internationally —people I’ve been speaking to online but hadn’t met in person too, as well as familiar faces from the UK cigar scene – honestly you lot made my trip!
One of my favourite moments at InterTabac was meeting up with Tony Basham aka Viking Bash, and learning all about El Septimo.
Hanging out with Tony, Zaya Younan, and Varten was a lot of fun. They are amazing people, and their cigars are great.
I love this video – haha! 👇
I’m still a big fan of Cuban cigars, though! 😅 But we really need Zaya in the UK at some cigar events 🇬🇧🙏
Another highlight were the Masterclasses, particularly the one with Claudio and his ‘Art of Blending.’ We learned about the distinctions between aroma (smell) and taste. Many cigar reviewers often write about aroma based on memory, including myself, rather than educating about taste.
We also learned about the various ingredients used in the filler of a cigar and how to appreciate achieving the right consistency of seco, viso, and ligero for the perfect cigars. The taste test with three cigars was a great way to put this knowledge to the test.
Sadly I didn’t get into the Cigar Trophy Awards – I tried to blag my way in there but this time it didn’t work out. So close but yet so far!
Would I go next year? I think once you’ve done InterTabac, it’s probably pretty similar each and every year afterwards. There are also so many other places that I also want to check out. I’d love to attend the American version of this at PCA, New Orleans next year.
Also, some of you might be asking if I came home with tons of cigars. Interestingly, you can’t buy any cigars at this event because it is a tradeshow. Fortunately, I did get a few cigars to sample, which I can’t wait to try out.
I’m not the only one who wrote up about the event, check out this cool site too – https://www.zigarren.zone/en/?s=Intertabac&trp-form-language=en
Before heading back to the UK, I stopped off at one of my favorite cigar lounges, CigarWorld, in Dusseldorf. If you go in future years, be aware that CigarWorld doesn’t open on Sundays, so make sure you plan your InterTabac trip around that. Check out my blog post from a couple of years back when I went there for the first time. This time around I was lucky enough to hang out with the CSWC (Cigar Smoking World Championship) family and the owners of the lounge – it was a very special experience. 🙏
And that’s a wrap! If you got this far thank you for reading 🙏 Let me know your thoughts about this blog post in the comments.
If you’re interested in attending next years InterTabac visit: intertabac.de/en-gb
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