The annual Cigar Trophy Awards ceremony, organised by Cigar Journal and held during InterTabac in Dortmund, has recognised cigar brands, products and individuals from across the international cigar industry.

Among the individual awards was the Ambassador Award, presented to Jemma Freeman, executive chairman of Hunters & Frankau, one of the UK’s leading specialist cigar businesses and the country’s exclusive distributor of Cuban cigars.

Freeman has worked in the cigar industry for more than two decades and has become a prominent voice on issues affecting the premium cigar sector in the UK. Her work has included engagement with politicians, diplomats and others involved in tobacco legislation and regulation.

In presenting the award, Freeman was recognised for her contribution to cigar culture, her knowledge of the industry and her work bringing people together around issues affecting the sector.

Freeman addresses UK tobacco legislation

After accepting the award, Freeman used her speech to focus on tobacco legislation and the changing regulatory environment in the UK.

She paid tribute to Simon Chase, whom she described as an important mentor, and recalled that she had been working on tobacco legislation since joining Hunters & Frankau almost 24 years ago.

A central part of her remarks concerned proposals that she said could affect handmade cigars, including the prospect of plain packaging (as spoken about in a recent article for The Times).

Freeman also highlighted the importance of packaging to premium cigars, including its connection with provenance, history and presentation.

She referred to Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which sets out principles concerning interactions between governments and the tobacco industry.

Her speech reflected her concerns about the potential impact of further regulation on the premium cigar sector in Britain.

Cuba’s missing cigar category

One unusual feature of the awards was the absence of a winner for Best Cigar Cuba.

The category did not receive enough responses to determine a winner, despite Cuba’s longstanding association with premium cigars.

The reason for the lack of sufficient responses was not established during the ceremony. It therefore remains unclear whether the result was simply a consequence of the awards process or whether it reflects some of the wider circumstances surrounding the Cuban cigar industry.

Cuban cigars were nevertheless represented elsewhere in the results, with Partagás Serie D receiving the award for Best Brand Cuba.

A message of support for Cuba

Cuba was also mentioned during remarks from a representative associated with Nicaragua’s Flor de Oliva.

Acknowledging the difficulties facing Cuba and the Cuban cigar industry, he noted that many people attending the ceremony had Cuban roots.

He expressed hope that the Cuban people would “survive” and “stand up”, and that the country’s cigars and tobacco-growing regions could have a future worthy of their heritage.

Full list of winners

Special and individual awards

• Lifetime Achievement: Jorge Padrón
• Sustainability: DH. Signature
• Ambassador: Jemma Freeman
• Charity & Community: Procigar
• Outstanding Art: Celina Turrent Cabada

Cigars by country

• Best Cigar Nicaragua: Drew Estate, Blackened M81 Maduro
• Best Cigar Honduras: Plasencia, Cosecha 149 Toro
• Best Cigar Dominican Republic: La Aurora, Family Creed Fuerte Sol
• Best Cigar Other Countries: VegaFina & Great Wall, Fusion Edition

Best Value by country

• Best Value Honduras: Villa Zamorano, Danlí
• Best Value Dominican Republic: Chateau Diadem, Conviction
• Best Value Nicaragua: Flor de Oliva, Maduro

Best Brand by country

• Best Brand USA: The American
• Best Brand Nicaragua: Perdomo, Legacy Shade Grown
• Best Brand Honduras: Leaf by Oscar Valladares, Maduro
• Best Brand Dominican Republic: Arturo Fuente, Chateau Fuente
• Best Brand Cuba: Partagás, Serie D

Best Boutique Brand by country

• Best Boutique Brand Nicaragua: Karen Berger, Ixtelli
• Best Boutique Brand Honduras: Raíces Cubanas, Clásico
• Best Boutique Brand Dominican Republic: Platinum Nova, Classic

Lounges by region

• Best Lounge South America: The Cigar Humidor, Bogotá, Colombia
• Best Lounge North America: Davidoff Madison, New York City, USA
• Best Lounge North America: Cigar Country, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Best Lounge Asia: Vintage Cigar Lounge, Dubai, UAE
• Best Lounge Europe: The House of Grauer, Geneva, Switzerland

Accessories

• Best Cigar Tool: Les Fines Lames, Punch Bracelet
• Best Humidor: Boveda, Humidor
• Best Electronic Humidor: Raching, RR Series
• Best Cutter: S.T. Dupont, Double Blade Cigar Cutter
• Best Cigar Case: NRNH, Galaxy Travel Humidor
• Best Ashtray: Colibri, Heritage Cube

The evening concludes

The 2026 Cigar Trophy Awards brought together figures from across the international cigar industry, with awards spanning manufacturers, brands, lounges and accessories.

Freeman’s Ambassador Award provided one of the evening’s highlights for us here in the UK, while her speech put the spotlight on the regulatory challenges facing the UK premium cigar sector.

The full Cigar Trophy Awards 2026 ceremony can be watched here: