Habanos World Day Trinidad Cabildos Recap: A Night to Remember

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! I'm KD, and these are my Leaf Diaries. Today, I'm thrilled to share my impressions from the recent Trinidad Cabildos event I attended, part of the Habanos World Days in London. This event was nothing short of spectacular, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

A Grand Welcome

The event was held at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London and organized by Hunters & Frankau. As soon as I arrived, I was struck by the impeccable organisation and the sheer number of staff dedicated to making the evening perfect for all guests. The atmosphere was electric, with photographers capturing every moment and videographers, including myself, documenting the evening's highlights.

An Evening of Elegance and Luxury

Upon entering, we were greeted with complimentary drinks, including an exquisite Krug champagne. It set the tone for an evening of luxury and celebration.

Meeting so many new people from the cigar industry and seeing familiar faces like Alex Cigar Dandy, Sarah Donvito, and Jasim Ahmed and of course the chairmen of Hunters and Frankau Gemma Freeman was a true pleasure. The camaraderie and shared passion for cigars created a warm and welcoming environment.

We had our first Trinidad Topes in the courtyard of the museum with the welcome drinks and enjoyed the scenery.

Dinner and Auctions

The evening continued with a grand dinner in one of the museum's galleries. The food was outstanding, paired perfectly with white and red wine of course an outstanding cognac for dessert.

The dinner was punctuated by two exciting auction sessions, where rare and exclusive items were bid on, adding an extra layer of excitement to the night. Habanos auctioned in total 6 lots of spectacular handmade humidors to elected participants for a grand total of 5.2 million Euro. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Cuban Public Health System.

The Star of the Show: Trinidad Cabildos Edición Limitada 2024

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Trinidad Cabildos Edición Limitada 2024. The cigars were delivered by the royal guard, a dramatic and unexpected touch that left everyone in awe. The speeches from Jemma Freeman, chairman of Hunters & Frankau, and representatives from Habanos were inspiring and added to the prestige of the event.

A Special Cigar

I didn't smoke my Trinidad Cabildos at the event, opting to save it for a more serene setting where I could fully appreciate its qualities. This cigar is part of a limited edition of 50,000 cigars, specially selected for their excellence. They are all distinguished by a "Premier" sign on the Limitada band and come with an NFC chip embedded in the foot band, allowing smokers to verify their authenticity by simply tapping their phone against it. This innovative feature is a first for Habanos and represents a significant step in combating counterfeit cigars.

Looking Forward

I want to extend a massive thank you to Hunters & Frankau for organising such an incredible event. It was truly the best cigar event I've ever attended, and I'm still in awe of the experience.