Partagás Friends and Clients gathering raises expectations for future editions
This edition celebrated the 180th anniversary of the Partagás cigar brand and was attended by more than 300 aficionados from 38 countries.
Posted by Daily Pérez Guillén, 23/11/2025
Photos: Omara García.
“Success” is the word chosen by Mayra Álvarez García, director of the Caracol S.A. Commercial Enterprise, to describe the 38th Friends and Clients of Partagás Meeting.
In a press conference on the closing night at the famous Tropicana cabaret, the director highlighted the broad participation of cigar aficionados and connoisseurs. “Many have been associated with the Casa del Habano Partagás and this event for years,” she commented.
This edition celebrated the 180th anniversary of the Partagás cigar brand, around which Caracol has been bringing together aficionados from all over the world for three decades. This year’s event drew over 300 people from 38 countries, according to organizers.
René Valdés, manager of the Casa del Habano Partagás, invited everyone to raise a glass to celebrate the opportunity to meet again. In an interview with the specialized publication TTC, he emphasized that the Casa holds the world record for sales among businesses of its kind. “But it’s not just about selling; we strive to educate our customers about proper cigar smoking and cultivate an appreciation for the culture associated with Cuban cigars. We have achieved customer loyalty through love, respect and by teaching them that the Cuban cigar is number one in the world.”
During the closing dinner, awards were presented to Francesco Minetti, creator of the Habanos Encounter in Italy; and to René Gautier and Arnaud Blanche, Cuban cigar aficionados who have maintained a decades-long relationship with the Casa.
The evening concluded with the auction of two humidors crafted by the artist Jorge Luis Milán. The proceeds will benefit the Cuban healthcare system.
Alvarez García announced that the Meeting will be continue to be held annually and is generating expectations for future editions. Meanwhile, Caracol is promoting other events related to tobacco, rum and coffee. In Havana, it organizes the “El Legado de Cueto” and “Asia-La Habana” events. In Cayo Coco, it hosts “Experiencias y tradiciones.”
Next year, the Comodoro Rivadavia branch plans to add “Humos de Primavera,” and another event in Santiago de Cuba dedicated to rum. These initiatives are supported by Habanos S.A., Havana Club S.A., and Cuba Ron.
