The tour was overall very interesting and worth the visit, I would definitely recommend this when being in Havana (at least any of the cigar factories) as I see it as part of the Cuban culture despite being a non-smoker by myself. The workers are getting informed in the morning what they have to produce and collect the leaves accordingly then. An interesting learning was that the factory produces not just one brand of cigars but all brands - Cohiba, Montechristo, H. Mellow and refined, these Churchills delivered lots of tobacco flavor and a hint of spice on the finish.
Officially it is not allowed to take pictures inside. Another aged cigar with a gorgeous, silky, medium-brown wrapper and a slightly silvery sheen to it. We saw how they are rolled, how quality control takes place, etc. The factory extends over several floors with insights into production of cigars from beginning to end. However, they were happily waiting in the bus as they did not like the strong smell for tobacco and fume inside. Important information in advance: when you are travelling with children, these are NOT allowed on the tour, our guide wasn't aware of this as he never had kids below 12 on his tours before. Wrapping the final cigars before they get ready to be packaged.įriend of EGM and Hombre Habano in Communication 2023 award winner, Jasim Ahmed, at La Corona.We have been there on an organized tour during a Cuba round trip. Historical images of the factory are well-preserved at La Corona. It's quite surreal standing in the room with the rollers, watching history being created in front of our very eyes. The factory also produces cigars for the aforementioned brands, as well as Cuaba, San Cristobal and one of my personal favourites, Por Larrañaga.
Whilst the processes and stages we saw were very similar, as was the energy, it was no less a brilliant trip and certainly a must-visit. The largest factory in Havana, and with over 700 people employed, it truly is a remarkable place-particularly the central cigar rolling room. There was a sense of heightened excitement as we pulled up to La Corona, and for good reason. Again, considering how narrow the streets were, and how long the coach was, the flawless navigation continued to impress us all. It turned out, we had still managed to leave a solo traveller behind (who also lingered at the factory), so the journey took an unexpected detour, reverting to Partagás. Alas, we were finally moving again before our guide received a call. We headed back out having lost half of our group, and ended up standing outside the factory in 30 degree heat for around twenty minutes, before realising that a small contingent had stayed back in order to ask more questions and enquire about purchasing cigars. To witness the skill and dexterity of the torcedores, the playful manner and energy in which they work, the incredible attention to detail when it comes to sorting and banding, and the finished product boxed? Wow.īands being added to the Ramon Allones Noellas cigars Bolivar Libertador LCDH cigars being boxed and the Quai d'Orsay No. We were ushered through various rooms to see the step-by-step process of cigar making: from de-stemming to rolling and wrapping, colour grading and sorting, to banding and packaging. Having seen how the tobacco leaves were grown and cultivated in Pinar del Río, this trip took us on a journey of how the cigars are made. It’s understandable to think that this factory would exclusive facilitate the making of Partagás cigars, but the tour guide quickly informed us that in addition to the brand, this factory also creates cigars for the likes of Romeo y Julieta, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo, Quai d’Orsay and more. The building used to be a warehouse for tobacco, and owned by Pollack y Compania prior to the Revolution. We stepped off the coach, and right in front of us was a beautiful facade, enveloped by prominent pillars, with engraved insignia which read ‘1902 POLLACK 1925’. Having to navigate the narrow and pothole-laden roads of Havana proper, it was by the finest of margins that we managed to get to the first factory, Partagás, completely unscathed.Īrriving at the Partagás factory in Havana.
#LA CORONA CIGAR DRIVER#
The drive, unlike the straight shot for a couple hours to Vuelta Abajo, was more of a workout for the driver this time out. A slightly relaxed start time in comparison, we gathered outside the Hotel Nacional on a beautiful morning, waiting to be picked up by our guide. Fresh off the back of the incredible visit to Pinar del Río, it was time to explore some local heritage courtesy of the 23rd iteration of the Habanos Festival.
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