Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Factory at El Laguito

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Although Cuba is relatively small, there are two separate mountain ranges which traverse the island, and enough elevation changes and topographical anomalies scattered about to create literally hundreds of unique agricultural growing zones. These regional differences and micro-climatic characteristics have worked to protect certain growing areas from the encroachment of sugar plantations, and large scale agricultural production in general.


The peasant farmers in these areas have become familiar with the personalities of every twist and turn of the land; every nuance of the soil. The result is the ability to refine planting and growing strategies designed to produce quality instead of quantity; something that corporate and large scale agricultural  concerns can only dream of.


A Friend's Special Treat

In the early 1960s, Eduardo Ribera had been growing tobacco on several scattered plots near foothills surrounding his village for many years, and his father before him. He knew why the tobacco leaves near the big ceiba tree on the hill dried faster than those close to the stream, down the road a bit. He felt it in his bones, but he could never have explained it to anyone, even if he'd wanted to.


Every year, just before selling his harvest to Cubatabaco, the state owned marketing agency, Eduardo would carefully select and prepare what he knew to be the best mix of his product. He used this material to prepare for himself, and a few select friends, his own special brand of homemade cigars. No big deal to him, just the skimming off a little cream from the top before sending the rest of to be used for whatever the marketer saw fit.


In early 1965, a neighbors' son, now working in far off Havana, was just returning to the capital after a brief visit home to see his parents. Eduardo had known him since he was a child, and would give him a box of his home made cigars on each of his visits. Something to remind him of home when he returned to the big city.


Simply Esplendido

Back in Havana, one evening his employer stopped and asked the young man where he was getting those unusually aromatic cigars he always seemed to have. “They're a gift from a friend, who makes them himself, commandante”, he replied.


He offered his boss one to try, and as the first few curls of light blue smoke drifted away, a smile of appreciation and amazement came across his face. Fidel Castro knew a good cigar when he smoked one, and he instantly knew that this was the best one of his life. Ever.


A Star Is Born

When Eduardo Ribera saw the jeep pull up in-front of his small home, he instantly recognized his neighbor's son in the back seat. He also instantly recognized the passenger in the front. Eduardo was flattered, if a little shocked, as Fidel told him his days of selling his crop to the state owned agency were over. From now on, Eduardo's homemade cigars were going to be produced at a special factory being set-up for just that purpose at a home in El Laguito, just outside of Havana.


The best hand rollers in Havana were recruited to work at El Laguito, and soon hundreds of boxes of Eduardo's homemade treats were being produced each week. Christened with the indigenous Taino Indian name for tobacco, the first Cohiba Cigars began to appear.


Getting your hands on a box can prove to be a little tricky. Only a few thousand boxes are produced annually, and buying them in the US is strictly forbidden. But somewhere in a hidden valley of the Cuban hinterland, friends of Eduardo Ribera's family are still treated to a special parting gift as they return home. No big deal really. Just a box of his home made cigars.



Hector Salinas – Quality tobacco has been a passion of mine for a number of years. It's what drew me to Cuba in the first place. And while I enjoy an e-cigarette now and again when smoking isn't permitted, Cuban cigars remain my true love.


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