Importadora y Exportadora de Puros y Tabacos (Distribuidor Exclusivo de Habanos en México)

Home > News

Mexico Won the 11th International Habanosommelier Contes

Well established as one of the Habano Festival’s major events, the last stretch of the contest featured a painstaking end for the jury due to the skills and knowledge on Habanos showed by those who made it to the grand finale.

The best evaluation was for Mexico’s Luis Garcia, followed by Chile’s Andres Arteaga y Cuban rookie competitor Daniel Reyes.

The International Habanosommelier Contest, that’s become one of the most effective tools to spread the art and tradition of Habano all around the world, has held eleven edition that have gathered contestants from nearly two dozen nations. The end results have had a major impact as a way to get in touch with this product and the Cuban culture.

The winner of the XI Habanosommelier International Contest is Luis García from Mexico for his preliminary pairing of Tequila Centinela Extra Añejo 3 años with Wide Churchills of Romeo y Julieta and he has won the final with Petit Robusto of Hoyo de Monterrey and Edmundo of Montecristo This 23-years-old Habanosommelier works at Vinoteca in Guadalajara (Jalisco, Mexico) and he advices at the best restaurants of Guadalajara city such as I Latina, La Grelha and Anita Li. This is one of the most awaited announcements of the Habanos Festival, because of the the growing interest in expert advice for the best Habano to taste.

Tasting Report Cigar Aficionado

Our Regional Edition, Edmundo Dantes Conde 54, has been scored by Cigar Aficionado with 93 Points

From 100 Point Scale
95-100 Classic
90-94 Outstanding
80-89 Very good excellent
70-79 Average to good commercial quality
Below 70 Don´t waste your money

Casa Cházaro Grand Opening

The opening of Casa Chazaro was cause for celebration on last February __, an event that brought together different personalities from politics, business, and gourmets, a place that encourages the great pleasures, with its large smoking lounge, enjoy the walk-in humidor with its wide variety of brands and vitolas and worthy of so nice atmosphere bar. During this great night our host offered drinks, appetizers and vitola Petit Coronas of the brand Partagas, a combination that invites to return either to close a business or simply to enjoy a good cigar in the company of a Whiskey.

Mezcal & Habanos

A very traditional and intense night of new aromas lived special guests in the mariage of Mezcal Bru-Xo and La Casa del Habano in the liquor store Limantour in Colonia Roma the past Wednesday December 14th. For the first time worldwide we joined the strong flavors of Mexican drink and our most strong Cuban brand. With a very interesting presentation by mezcalier Daniel Abdelmassih, the guests learned the origins of this magic drink and its creation process. Later on, Daniel approached each person to show the body of Mezcal and invite them to try it.

Alejandro Bandínez, marketing and operations director of La Casa del Habano, gave a brief explanation about the history of this old Cuban brand Partagas that was represented on one of the most important vitolas, Serie D No. 4. Joining Alejandro in this marriage, mezcalier Daniel Abdelmassih introduce us Mezcal Bru-Xo 1,2 and 4 creating and exceptional combination of new flavors.

At the end of the presentation Limantour restaurant prepared exquisite appetizers for all the guests and finally concluding with another magical night.

Habanos & Cogñac

The Happening and La Casa del Habano carried out an elegant tasting-mariage on Wednesday night November 16 with an exquisite taste of the cognac Hennessy. Having as headquarters the sophisticated restaurant Frank's in "Polanquito". They prepared a beautiful table especially for this event where the guests began to arrive one by one and were received with a aromatic cocktail with cognac Hennessy mixed with cranberry juice.

At eight o clock pm, Cesar Parra, brand director of Hennessy, gave a perfect explanation about the origins of this elegant drink and its various ingredients to ensure that guests will join the flavors and smells of the same.

Afterwards, Alejandro Bandinez, marketing and operations director of La Casa del Habano, offered the distinguished cigar "Esplendido" of the recognized Cuban brand Cohiba and step by step our guests discovered the flavor and history of this fine tobacco. To conclude this magical night, our host Frank’s restaurant prepared exquisite appetizers for this important event, many of the guests remained in the place until late night.

Noche de Whisky y Habanos

The Happening y la Casa del Habano organizaron una exquisita cata maridaje para degustar el sabor del habano Open de Montecristo, acompañado del whisky Glenmorangie y vivir una experiencia plena de sabores.

Los invitados se dieron cita la noche de ayer en la terraza del restaurante Varela, ubicado en el Centro Comercial Antara, para disfrutar de la cata dirigida por Horacio Quintana, quien guió a los invitados a través del mundo del whisky Glenmorangie, sus orígenes, sabores y procesos.

Más tarde, Alejandro Bandínez, director de Marketing y operativo de la Casa del Habano, deleitó a los asistentes con una presentación sobre la creación del fino tabaco y mostró cómo maridarlo con el whisky Glenmorangie.

Al término de ambas exposiciones, los invitados disfrutaron de deliciosos bocadillos hechos por Varela.

Puntos importantes del evento:

Anfitrión: The Happening y la Casa del Habano.

Dónde: Restaurante Varela.

Edmundo Dantes Conde 54 Realease Event

The best restaurant in the best hotel in México City and Conde 54, the best regional edition in Habanos S.A catalog.
The Palm Restaurant, located inside the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental, offered in conjunction with La Casa del Habano a distinguished tasting to celebrate the release of the Habano Edmundo Dantes Conde 54 in a great atmosphere.
The event was attended by many special guests, the renowned sommelier and wine and habanos expert James Suckling, led by the hand to present the world of cigars with an excellent explanation. Furthermore, it was attended with the distinguished ambassadors of Cyprus, Vasilis Philippou, and the Ambassador of Cuba, Manuel Aguilera.
On the night dedicated to satisfying the senses, the new wine is tasted One World, One Wine, while enjoying the documentary "Cigars, The Heart and Soul of Cuba", presented

Tequila & Habanos Night

WARNING, FAKE HABANOS

Unfortunately, as with any Premium product, fake and illegal copies are available all over our country.
We have taken some examples of fake products that prevail in the market. This type of products are dangerous for consumption by not having the minimum health requirements and the authorization given by the Mexican health institution for its free trade.
Do not help criminals. Please take into account that if you buy fake Habanos, you are not only harming national business and honest workers; you are also affecting all the people that love this noble product, which has such a long lineage and long-lived tradition

IEPT´S NEW SECURTY STAMP

To follow the constant struggle against counterfeiters and fake products in our market, and to support all our customers, IEPT has implemented the new stamp of exclusive distributor with 6 different security mechanisms that guarantee the provenance and legality of our products.

"I would like to be remembered as a humble farmer"

Alejandro Robaina never lacked a good cigar twisted hand nor a Yarey hat to Crown the face as sliced as its own vega. The blades of barbecue in the flat vuelta bajeros of the municipality of San Luis, in the province of Pinar del Río, learned the habit and the art of harvest exclusivísimas layers for Cuban, famosos habanos clothing in the tradition of his father and Grandfather Canarian imposed since 1845.

“Veguero was born", said, while balancing on one home armchairs and aims of the second day tobacco smoke. Take a few seconds to enjoy the aroma, and begins to tacked strokes of his life. Commented that children always had a gift for the care of the land and the animals.

Never named his horses, but responded to the whistle. They say that when he walked in the garden of the House, the hens pursued it magnet, like an old dog accompanying by every corner of their 16 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of tobacco, and in which occur annually layers to cover eight to ten million cigars among the 100-160 million the country manufactured per year.

In recognition of his work, was the only Cuban veguero in life he had been named one of the brands of Premium cigars Cuban exports to more than 120 countries. The six their Robainas Vegas vitolas are so recognized as of Cohíba, Partagás or H. Upmann. As Habanos Ambassador, title that also recognized you, in the last 20 years of his life has visited the pyramids of Egypt, the Eiffel Tower, the Puerta de Alcalá, the ruins of the Roman circus, Petronas towers between multiple locations far has come to claim the authenticity of cigars of the island. Various publications of Cuba and the world have interviewed him, but always clarified that fame not makes case. In Spain he shared a home with Julio Iglesias. One of the most recent editions of gentleman you were dedicated several pages of the magazine, with similar highlight that Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Alejandro Robaina, the only live Cuban which had the privilege of having a cigar with its name has passed away at age on the island that saw him birth, grow, and enjoy his plantation after a painful disease reported newspaper El Mundo 91. Born in Alquízar (Cuba) of tobacco and gentle hands of the tobacco on 20 March 1919 between plants program. He inherited his plantation, located in the area of Pinar del Rey (200 kilometres from Havana) of his father, he inherited from his grandfather, a Canary Islands emigrant who began to sell cigars in Cuba in 1845. At the age of 12, it was a typical worker plantation.

In 1962, began to harvest the Tapado variety and the Island Government decided to market under the name of his family: Vega Robaina in homage to all tobacco Cuban anonymous. In fact, boxes of these cigars are printed Robaina photography.

Despite his advanced age, Alejandro was unable to delegate tasks fully to their children. Still rising at six in the morning, take your coffee and traveled the vega, monitoring and controlling any problem with plants. "Left an indelible mark on the history of tobacco in Cuba", have secured some local media. Company Habanos S.A. has regretted their loss and has ensured that "his experience as a farmer should add its extraordinary human sensitivity and his charisma that did globally known and worthy condition Habano man of the year 2001". By his estate have become princes, Kings, Republicans, artists, anonymous, or anyone who would listen how a good cigar is and how you can enjoy.

Habanos-Tequila Alliance, on its Way to Everlasting Significance

A Piramide Montecristo II and a Robusto Partagas Series D No. 4 were the top picks for the grand finale tasting session of the habanos-tequila alliance.
Some of the attendants –all of them deep connoisseurs in the field- hit the bull’s eye by recognizing the habanos from the very beginning, barely after lighting them up in their corresponding turns.
However, the exact information on their identity came in the last minute when the moderating panel made up of executives and representatives from both Latin American symbols eventually revealed the winning spirits and the participating habanos.
Following presentations from both sides and the necessary protocol and introductions, Adargelio Garrido, legal counselor for Habanos, S.A. invited attendees to go to the “main course”, which was no other than the tasting session itself.
The session was thorough and triggered a number of comments and remarks among participants, until the preferences were finally established by a hand vote.
In both tequila categories, the Cava de Oro brand took top honors, doing far better in the extra-aged category than in the aged one.
The winning matching proposals were those between the Piramide Montecristo II and the Cava de Oro aged tequila, and the Partagas Series D No 4 and the extra-aged spirit from that same brand.
A special moment in the course of the session was the official signing of the Habanos-Tequila Alliance, two unique and unrepeatable products hailing from this neck of the woods.
Mexican ambassador to Cuba Gabriel Jimenez Remus, who attended the session as a guest, said he was happily pleased with the presence of his country’s tequila distilling industry in this edition of the Habano Festival.
Mr. Jimenez Remus added that the matching of these two representative and genuine products, like tequila and habanos, “is just another step forward in the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.”

XII FESTIVAL HABANO

THE XII HABANOS FESTIVAL FEATURING THE PRESENTATION OF COHIBA BEHIKE, THE MOST EXCLUSIVE LINE EVER LAUNCHED BY HABANOS S.A.

• The eagerly-awaited launch of the new Cohiba Behike line - the most exclusive Habanos s.a. has ever presented - will take place during the Festival.

• There will be a new habano presented in Romeo y Julieta brand called Wide Churchills, as well as the new Julieta vitola, a cigar dedicated as a special tribute to womankind.

• Opera singer Sarah Brightman, golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Oscar-winning producer Stephen Evans, actress Mia Maestro, 2010 Grammy-winner Chucho Valdés and this year’s Latin Grammy winner Ivan Lins are just some of the celebrities who’ll be attending the Festival.

Havana, 16 February 2010. The twelfth edition of the Habanos Festival will take place from 22 to 26 February in Havana (Cuba). Around a thousand privileged cigar enthusiasts from over 70 countries will have the chance to attend the tobacco world's most important event, to see and try for themselves Habanos s.a.’s new launches for 2010.

During the XII Festival, Habanos s.a. will present the new Cohiba Behike line, the most exclusive Habanos s.a. has ever launched. They will be available at the Gala dinner – the climax of the Festival on 26 February. Its unique characteristics will be announced during the week.

On Wednesday 24 February, at a dinner specially dedicated to the “Woman in the Habano”, you will finally be able to taste a cigar conceived as a tribute to womankind, the new vitola called Julieta, which will become part of the Romeo y Julieta brand. On Monday 22 February, after an exclusive concert by the maestro Chucho Valdés at the Gran Teatro de La Habana which will follow the launch of the 2010 products, those attending the welcome Gala will finally be able to enjoy the new Wide Churchills, a heavy ring gauge habano which also joins the Romeo y Julieta brand.

All star celebrity meeting point
In recent years the Festival has aroused interest from many celebrities who didn’t want to miss the chance to enjoy the world’s finest tobacco on its home turf: Cuba. This year’s guests will include Opera singer Sarah Brightman, the European and Ryder Cup golf champion - who won the 2010 Dubai Open just a week ago - Miguel Ángel Jiménez, and Oscar-winning producer Stephen Evans, actress Mia Maestro as well as 2010 Grammy-winner Chucho Valdés and this year’s Latin Grammy winner Ivan Lins.

Activities Programme
Over the course of the week there will be the Trade Fair, the International Seminar and the traditional visits to Habanos plantations and factories. This year the factories visited will be El Laguito - the Cohiba factory - and La Corona, the home of Romeo y Julieta.

The Alianza Habanos - Tequila will be celebrated, with tasting of the finest añejo and extra añejo tequilas accompanied by habanos, continuing the traditional association of Habanos with the world’s finest products.

The International Habanosommelier Contest, in its 9th edition, is another of the Festival highlights, with a growing following seeking advice from the sommelier when choosing a habano.

In addition, there will be a special event during Festival week, in the shape of an exclusive viewing of the British film “Cosi”, produced by Oscar winner Stephen Evans, directed by Christophe Menaul, and starring Opera singer Sarah Brightman and actors Richard E. Grant and Mia Maestro.

During the Gala Evening to round off the proceedings of the XII Festival, there will be the awards ceremony for the 2009 Premios Habanos with 3 categories (Production, Business and Communication) and the Grand Auction of Humidors, true works of art made from valuable woods by the most prestigious Cuban craftsmen. The entire proceeds, as usual, will be donated to the Cuban Public Health System. Last year the amount donated was a staggering 980,000 euros.

Corporación Habanos s.a
The Habanos Corporation is world market leader in premium cigars, and sells habanos in both Cuba and the rest of the world. To this end it has an exclusive distribution network, with presence in more than 150 countries across the five continents. For more information see www.habanos.com.

27 brands of habanos are distinguished with the Habanos Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) assigned by Habanos s.a. Among them are Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann, Punch, San Cristóbal de la Habana, Trinidad and Bolívar. For more information visit www.habanos.com.

Further information:
Habanos S.A.: José Antonio Candia (jacandia@habanos.cu, www.habanos.com, +535 2865837)
Ogilvy PR: Marian Ortiz (marian.ortiz@ogilvy.com, +34 91 451 21 35 / +34 628 58 15 55)
Ana Martín-Cleto (ana.martincleto@ogilvy.com, +34 610 53 27 47)

COHIBA, a new positive decision in USA in favor of CUBATABACO

December 15th, 2009, The Cuban cigar company Cubatabaco has won a court order enjoining General Cigar from continuing to use the COHIBA trademark in the United States.
Federal judge Robert W. Sweet, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, issued the injunction on December 14, 2009.
COHIBA is the world’s most famous and coveted cigar. It is sold everywhere except the United States, where the U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba prevents its sale. General Cigar, a major U.S. cigar company, sells a Dominican-made cigar under the COHIBA name in the United States.
In issuing the injunction, Judge Sweet found that, at the beginning of the cigar boom in the United States in 1992, “General Cigar selected COHIBA for a new product in order to exploit the reputation and goodwill of the Cuban COHIBA” in the United States. Judge Sweet additionally found that General Cigar “continues to profit from the Cuban COHIBA’s goodwill” in the U.S.
General Cigar has stated that it will appeal Judge Sweet’s decision. Under the terms of the injunction, General Cigar is permitted to sell its Dominican-made cigars under the COHIBAname until its appeal is decided.
Judge Sweet still has before him Cubatabaco’s claim to recover the profits General Cigar has obtained since 1992 by exploiting the COHIBA’s reputation. No date has been set yet for proceedings on Cubatabaco’s claim.
Michael Krinsky and David Goldstein, of the New York law firm Rabinowitz Boudin Standard Krinsky & Lieberman, P.C., the U.S. attorneys for Cubatabaco, said today that “Judge Sweet’s decision fully vindicates the fundamental principle that a company cannot be permitted to reap what it has not sowed, that it cannot be permitted to exploit the goodwill and reputation of another company’s product.”
Judge Sweet found that the COHIBA’s unique reputation for excellence is so strong that the U.S. consumer “primarily associates the designation COHIBA with the Cuban COHIBA,” even though the COHIBA cannot be sold in the United States. Judge Sweet found that this lead General Cigar to “to plagiarize the mark” by “intentional copying.”
Judge Sweet’s decision is the latest round in a 12 years litigation over the COHIBAtrademark in the United States.

COHIBA ATMOSPHERE CANCUN GRAN OPENING

Saturday 21 November, Cancun, Quintana Roo. Cohiba Atmosphere, the new concept for Habanos, S.A opened in the city of Cancun as the first in México and the sixth in the world after Buenos Aires, for the opening guests enjoyed a buffet provided by our host, showing what will undoubtedly be a place of very haute cuisine, a wide range of drinks and cocktails, a tasting of the vitolas Eagle and Junior from the new Montecristo line OPEN and most importantly the comfort that you will find in this place, Cohiba atmosphere.

Among the distinguished guests, we have the presence of Mr.Manuel Garcia, vice president of Habanos, S.A and Mr Adargelio Garrido, Legal Director of Habanos, S.A who witnessed the act of distinction as Certified dealer to our friends from Cohiba Atmosphere presided by Mr. Bernardo Andrés, Commercial director of IEPT, we also have the presence of Jimmy Sotolongo, experienced roller from Partagas factory in Havana, Cuba that delighted us with all kinds of vitolas.

If you want to enjoy great food and a unique atmosphere for an expert Habano smoker, visit undoubtedly Cohiba Atmosphere.

XIX Anniversary of the First Casa del Habano in the world

Friday, November 20th 2009, Cancun, Quintana Roo. IEPT and La Casa del Habano Cancun joined forces to host an event together, as the headlines, the nineteenth anniversary celebration and commemoration of the 1st Casa del Habano in the world, drawing on good care of our host, IEPT invited all customers in this zone to accompany to this important event and so allows us to talk about our certification campaign. In an atmosphere of celebration was offered all kind of drinks, including the house specialty the classic Mojito and the significant presence of our friends Tequila Esperanto who delighted us with a tasting of their exclusive products, the visit of the resent arrived roler Jimmy Sotolongo and to complete a great Cuban night, La Casa del Habano prepared representative dishes of the country, also you can order direct from the menu at any of your visits to this great establishment located at Blvd Kukulcan Km 12.7 L-345 Plaza Sands in the Zona hotelera in Cancún.

Among our distinguished guests, we had the presence of Vice President of Habanos, S.A Mr. Manuel Garcia to give the host along with our Commercial Director Mr. Bernard Andres a plaque to recognize their hard work and effort.

XV ANIVERSARY CONSEJO REGULADOR DEL TEQUILA

Guadalajara, Jalisco. November 4, 2009. Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) is celebrating its 15 year history with an international event involving great exponents with the distinctive denomination of origin (DOP), among the many guests were: Tequila, Champagne, Cognac, Rioja, Café de Colombia and so important event could not miss our DOP Habanos who enjoys the support of our trading partners, "La Casa del Habano" in Guadalajara doing shows his great experience and professionalism, as proof, they offered two tastings for all visitors in the that there was a broad explanation from the manufacturing process to the cutting and lighting of a cigar.

The event was held at the facilities of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce from Novembre 4th to 7th with great success and good taste thanks to our excellent hosts El Consejo regulador del Tequila.

EXPO GOURMET

Mexico City 24 November 2009. The Expo Gourmet is presented in Mexico City at the facilities of the Centro Banamex from September 24th to 26th and thanks to the valuable support of the Embassy of Cuba in Mexico IEPT and La Casa del Habano could have taken part by offering our range of familiar products for sale and tasting, for the event, we have the participation of the roller Alberto Galan Fernandez from H. Upmann factory in La Havana, Cuba who delight visitors by offering Habanos and giving a full explanation of the rolling process. Again IEPT given to the task of finding good moments with lovers of good living.

WINE & HABANOS

Monday, September 14th 2009, Mexico City. Once again, Importadora y exportadora de puros y tabacos in the research of sharing good times with great connoisseurs, merged with the Restaurant "El Pecado de Noe" for a marriage of their wide range of wines with our prestigious Habanos. The private event was held at the premises of the restaurant located in Oaxaca # 69 in Colonia Roma, this celebration came together with all the necessary ingredients for that night, the company of our distinguished guests, a place skilled and comfortable, excellent wines to taste, the presence of the cigar roller Jose Alberto Galan Fernandez from H. Upmann factory in Havana, Cuba, the marriage with the vitola Master of the new Montecristo line OPEN and the classic Partagas Serie D # 4, and to conclude this wonderful event, an exquisite dinner hosted by our friends from "El Pecado de Noe."

TEQUILA AND HABANOS

Monday, 10 August 2009. IEPT and Tequila Esperanto joined efforts to make a marriage of this prestigious brand and our vitola Regata of the new line Montecristo OPEN, this event was held at the Restaurant La Lima located at Calle Tamaulipas # 94 in Colonia Condesa Hipodromo, Mexico City, were tasted four different ranges of tequila: Blanco, reposado, añejo and extra añejo.

So we have the presence of José Alberto Galán Fernández, from H. Upmann factory delighting us with different sizes and strengths of Habanos and Ernesto Garza sommelier who guided us during the marriage, in addition to our distinguished guests. To conclude this magic night, were offered various special dishes exquisitely prepared and seal of the house, Restaurant La Lima.

New Cuban Warranty Seal

As a way to keep updated to our Exclusive Distributors all over the world, it's necessary to notify the changes to be occurred as regards as to the Cuban Warranty Seal.

From now on, a new Warranty Seal will be gradually introduced in all the packaging where two new elements are to be added. On the right hand, a hologram as a security item will be added and on the left hand, next to the Cote d´ Arms, a bar code will personalize every package.

This label will always be placed from the upper left side of the box or display, leaving 3 to 6 mm from the edge and to be bending up to the front right over the center of the Cote d´Arms whenever possible.

This Seal has been developed through a base of synthetic paper with special characteristics such as an autodestructive feature before any attempts of removal and with several maximum security techniques added.

- Non-transferred label. Any attempt to remove it, will cause invalidation of the seal by self destruction.
- Highly adherence of the paper (plastic) Auto-destructive, Self-destructive
- Scan and Photocopy Protected System
- The holographic band will show a bicolor text in 2nd and 3rd dimension,
- Elements with optical variations attached.
- Also it will enclose a micro dot only visible through laser scanner.

On the other hand, a unique bar code will be applied on every single box thus customizing every packaging. This information will be saved in a data base allowing the identification of this product everywhere, whom this product was addressed to as well as the Invoice number, amongst other details.

The fact is that there will always be a time in which both old and new Warranty Seals designs will exist at the same time in the markets. The length of time in which the two seals will coexist is not so easy to foresee because it depends on the stocks and on the rotation of the different products.