Between Queen Elizabeth II and the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, there are unfathomable distances, however something artisanal and extraordinary united them. It’s about a Cigar whose format, or vitola de galera as Cuban factories call it before being placed on the market, has a unique history.

After the monarch’s death on 8 September, the story of a special Habano made in honor of Queen Elizabeth is back. It’s about a King of the World Lake n. 1one of the brands in the Habanos catalog, which had a regional edition of three thousand boxes distributed in the UK alone.

What is striking is that this vitola, Laguito n ° 1, has the same format as another iconic cigar: the Lancero de Cohíba, Fidel Castro’s favorite. The Cuban leader not only smoked it, but also gave it to other world leaders on official visits.

However Did smoking and smoking unite Queen Elizabeth and Fidel Castro? It is not known for certain whether the queen, like another British president, Winston Churchill, enjoyed the Habanos.

Churchill, during a visit to Havana in 1946, was fascinated by the brand Romeo and Juliet. And still today one of the vitolas of this house bears the name of the former prime minister.

What is confirmed is the Habano Laguito N ° 1. The format most smoked by Castro and which was chosen to honor the Queen.

Fidel Castro’s favorite Habano and a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Habanos is the designation of origin for all cigars produced in Cuba with Cuban black tobacco seeds.

It is the highest point of the complexity and quality of the flavors of a product that has a wide and delicate elaboration that goes through hundreds of craftsmanship in its realization.

From the leaves produced in the Vuelta Arriba, in the province of Pinar del Río, or, to a lesser extent, in the Vuelta Abajo, in Villa Clara, to outlets around the world, this is a unique and extraordinary product.

Within Habanos there are several brands with different territories of intensity. From the strongest brands, usually associated with Bolívar or Partagás; even the softer ones like Hoyo de Monterrey.

Rey del Mundo, the brand that paid homage to Queen Elizabeth, was founded in 1882 by Antonio Allones after thirty years of work in the tobacco world. This brand has been awarded several times and has achieved considerable prestige. Over the years, it is often used for Habanos regional editions.

Women and Habano: a shared territory

Historically the tobacco world has been associated with masculinity and exclusive clubs, in recent years this has changed: women have entered this universe.

La Casa del Habano in Buenos Aires is an emblematic space founded by Blanca Alsogaray in 1993. Although it has been linked to Cuban tobacco since the 1980s, it is in the 1990s that it begins to work exclusively with this denomination.

Blanca Alsogaray is an inevitable reference. Passionate about the Habano world, she has transferred her passion to her daughter Lucía, who teaches courses and also shares her knowledge in this interview.

What are the characteristics of the King of the World, Laguito n ° 1, that Habanos dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II?

It is a regional edition and the regional editions are cigars specially designed and created for certain regions of the world, the ligadas are created with local experts, to satisfy the interests of local smokers, they are highly sought after in the world because they are produced in limited quantities. Argentina has one, shared with Chile and Uruguay, and a new one will be launched on the market soon. For the United Kingdom, The King of the World The Queen, premiered in London on 1 July 2019.

Laguito n.1 was the chosen vitola, and not by chance. This vitola was originally immortalized by the Cohíba Lanceros, which is still produced. This format was the one that one of his security guards introduced to Fidel Castro and which later started the most recognized cigar brand in the world. And the one that has been used for many years as a gift for leaders and diplomats.

Does this type of Habano have a high complexity in its elaboration? I am thinking of the level of specialization of the Cuban torcedores dedicated to its preparation.

There are 4 categories of cigar rollers, the most expert, category 9 (this is the nomenclature, part of 6) are those that have the particularity of being able to make this format, which in addition to the difficulty being long and thin carries, has in the goatee , the famous braid finish, which is a symbol of high quality and distinction.

In order to advance in these categories, in addition to the twist time, it is necessary to combine the skill of each twister and special courses are given according to the formats they have to learn, which can last up to 4 years. Each Habano La Reina has been produced by the most experienced cigar rollers (all category 9) in this difficult format.

What is the story of the Laguito n ° 1 that Cohíba called Lanceros?

The story of Laguito N1 is one of the most famous among the Havanas: Bienvenido Perez, head of Fidel’s escorts, gave him a spearman who had given him his friend cigar roller Eduardo Rivera, and the pleasure he felt was such that he sent him to watch for him throwing cigars for his personal smoke. This is where the Cohíba factory starts, from this episode of destiny. Cohíba is the brand that founded the first torcedora school for womenits name was chosen by Celia Sánchez, due to the term that the Taíno Indians gave to the rolled leaf they used to smoke in the Cohíba ritual.

Do you know if the queen was a smoker?

Honestly, we don’t know, but we don’t think if he did, someone would know. He was totally off the mark. But it occurs to us that Winston Churchill must have offered it once.

The world of Habano is associated with the male universe, what place do women currently occupy?

As in most other orders today, sex ceases to be a determining factor. But in my family, and in Argentina, cigars are directly related to women. My mother founded, together with a partner, the Habanos distributor in Argentina. Miguel Brascó said many years ago that my mother was the one who taught all Argentines to smoke cigars.

The image of the Habano is linked to men. Even in clubs, women could not enter, right?

True, historically the Habanos are associated with two different images, the 40/50 year old man with an expensive suit, luxury life, business man, something very ambitious or, on the other hand, the more Elder almost belonging to a sect society, bearded and surrounded, whiskey in hand, by a select group of intellectuals. Today the cigar is moving away from that place, partly because it is intended as an anti-stress ritual, a less harmful way out of blond tobacco, a culture of fun and slowing down time.

We at La Casa del Habano always try to communicate that, conscious smoking, to connect. And this is where women come into play, in this matter of ritual and connection, but also, perhaps, since the view of gender is not so restrictive, which allows women to approach our interests with more freedom, I think it is more out there, not because our interests have changed at this time in the world, but because there is more general permission to explore and express them.

What is your experience and how did you get to Habano?

I think I smoked my first cigar when I was 16 at the latest, with my group of best friends, who I still have, in the house that belonged to my mother. We stole his cigars and sat in the living room to smoke and play cards, a real show. Later, over the years, I discovered that I was born in the right family, or rather, with the ideal mother. Today cigars are a passion for me and I like to learn more and get to know this world every day.

Are there any Habanos for what might be called the female palate? I think of softer intensities, for example the Hoyo de Monterrey line.

My mother would scold you if she read this question. Ah. The association of woman and sweetness is a bit old-fashioned. My favorite brands, they are definitely not the softest and this is replicated in local consumers. In recent years more and more couples have been smoking cigars together and I would almost tell you that every time it is women who choose, even without knowing it, the brands with the strongest flavor. Then no. There is definitely no female palate to taste at Habanos.