Cuba Day 2: The 23rd Annual Festival del Habanos Begins! Festival Opening Ceremony & Welcome Party!
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- Immerse yourself in the excitement of the 23rd Annual Festival del Habanos in this electrifying second episode of our Cuba series! The festival's opening ceremony sets the stage for a week of exceptional cigar unveilings. I have the honor of speaking with Jemma Freeman, Chairman of Hunters & Frankau, the exclusive importer of Cuban cigars into the United Kingdom, about her thoughts on this year’s new releases, while also speaking with Cuban Cigar afficionado, author, historian, 2007 Habanos Man of the Year, and style icon Nick Foulkes about what it’s like to finally be back in Cuba after the two year hiatus of the Festival.
Afterwards, we travel to the iconic Club Habana for the extravagant Festival Welcome Party, where we witness the launch of the new Montecristo Open Slam cigar.
The highlight of the evening is reuniting with Edward and Eddie Sahakian, where we share our first cigar together, surrounded by the energy and passion of our fellow cigar enthusiasts, again reunited in Cuba for the Habanos Festival.
This episode is a celebration of the community, the craftsmanship, and the rich traditions that define the Habanos experience. So, join us as we step into the heart of Cuba's most prestigious cigar festival.
WHAT I AM WEARING
Hat: Optimo Hats Straw Montecristi bit.ly/Panama-hat
Suit: Divij Bespoke Double Breasted Linen Jacket with oatmeal Dormeuil trousers kaweb.shop/divij
Shirt: Charvet Bespoke
Tie: Kirby Allison Sovereign Grade Pink Floral Prined Silk Tie kaweb.shop/Pink-floral-tie
Shoes: Bespoke Foster & Sons Semi-Brogues
🙏 Thank you to those who helped make this series possible:
🔸 Jemma Freeman and Hunters & Frankau
🔸 Daymi Difurniao and the entire Habanos marketing team
🙌 SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL
📽️ Join this channel to support our content with independent craftspeople and artisans:
/ kirbyallison
🛒 Shop All Kirby Allison Products: www.kirbyallison.com
#cubatravel #habanos #myhabanosmoment
📽 WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS IN OUR CUBA SERIES:
🧳 Packing My Luggage for Cuba: • Packing for Cuba! My F...
🧳 Packing My Cigars for Cuba: • Selecting Cigars for t...
1️⃣ My First Day in Cuba!: • My First Day in Cuba! ...
2️⃣ Habanos Festival Opener & Welcome Night: • Cuba Day 2: The 23rd A...
3️⃣ Havana Sit Down Smoke with Edward and Eddie Sahakian: • Cuba Day 3: A Dream Re...
4️⃣ The Glorious Tobacco Fields of Cuba
5️⃣ Bolivar Festival Night
6️⃣ El Laguito Factory Tour
7️⃣ Humidores Habana
8️⃣ Havana Walking Tour with Edward and Eddie Sahakian
9️⃣ Hotel National Tour
🔟 Habanos Festival Black Tie Gala and Auction
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▶️ From Suit to Shoot: A British Shooting Series: bit.ly/3CSJqf8
🎬 CHAPTER TIMECODES
00:00 Series Introduction
01:40 Habanos Festival Opening Ceremony
05:10 Jemma Freeman
18:25 Nick Foulkes
22:38 Tom Chamberlin
26:30 Welcome Night Party
28:54 Kirby Meets Up With Edward and Eddie Sahakian
🧺 Dry cleaning provided by Rave Fabricare: bit.ly/3ery0FU
📍 FOLLOW US ON OUR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA!
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What a classy lady Jemma is.
Jemma was amazing. So good at what it is she does.
I adore Jemma!
Jemma is HER. ❤
Nick is always a charming edition to any video
Nick is the best! You can always count on him for great entertainment!
A delightful young gentleman!
Not an unwise decision to tone down the jewelry a bit on this occasion.♠♥♣♦🏴☠
@@Bjartonelol 1000% the jewelry or Nick may turn up missing if he didnt
Kirby’s channel is AWESOME… the wait for the Cuba series was worth it!
And we’re only two episodes in!
The essence of the old Havana..is alive again in this video..
I couldn’t agree more! And there is actually a lot of reconstruction going on in Old Havana, which is exciting.
This may be the best series ever made ! Kirby you’re a star of the industry and clearly well versed in it. Re-watching all of these episodes. Thank you and keep em coming ! Love from London 👏🏼
HI KIrby, as a Cuban born, that live in Cuba for 21 years, now in NY, I am delighted to see these videos. I worked in the tobacco fields when I was younger, and I know how tedious the process is from harvesting to rolling. It’s 100% true that the entire process is manual as the tobacco leaf go from the filed to a big wooden house where the leaf get attached to a big stick and stay there for at least 45 days. Today everything is so modernized and produce so fast in every industry in the world that taste and quality is loss in the process. I am happy to see that the Cuban cigars have not fall pray of the modernized world. Can’t wait to see the other videos of you in Cuba and the cigars you tasted. I hope you enjoyed Cuba and hopefully we can meet each other the week of February 26 in Havana. Cheers!
Thank you for sharing that! You couldn’t be more right. And, especially in this day and age, it should be celebrated, not condemned because of one’s political opinions.
@@kirbyallison Might want to edit that statement Kirby, kind of sounds like you'd prefer Cuba to stay a communist state for the sake of the cigars at the expense of the quality of life for the people that live there. Political opinion is what ended communism in Russia, but then again that's just vodka and that's produced world wide so who cares.... Did you move to Texas or were you raised there? Being a native Texan myself I'd expect a bit more fire than compliance. Nothing wrong with being a gentleman, but when it's time to be a man the "gentle" has to drop off for a bit.
@@SpushedSo typical. Can’t you leave politics out of this and just enjoy the video? Jesus…
@@SpushedI believe he is more-so referring to the undermining of passionate Cuban spirit in the harvesting and crafting of Habanos portfolio tobacco. Why should the passionate craftspeople of Cuba fall subject to divestment due to a dictatorial government of which they had no say in the ushering?
@@Spushed what are you going on about...Relax Mate, you're bringing things into play that have nothing to do with his statement.
I don’t smoke and this series is making me want to visit Cuba. Kirby, the Cuba tourist board should put you on the payroll. 😂 Keep this series rolling, I’m here for it! 🇨🇺
Haha. I’d certainly take some in-kind payment w cigars!
If you really want to visit Cuba then watch Bald and Bankrupt and his series from Cuba. Kirby only showed glamour unavailable to the majority of locals. Visiting Cuba based on Kirby's videos can lead to a huge disappointment. Get multiple perspectives.
@@petesvoice1313 calm down, Cletus. Go take your campaign somewhere else.
Relax
@@BuffaloNickel9 You forgot to add that I grew up in a circus or a fair. Good day.
@@petesvoice1313 good day
Jemma class is on queen level.
👸 of Cigars
Very impressed with your ability to interview, Kirby. Hats off
Thank you! Very kind!
Kirby you and your very able crew have delivered another astonishing episode of your Cuba series! Bravo, sir!
Thank you! The entire team - the film crews and editors - are exceptionally talented!
You gotta get an interview with Eddie after a few drinks! I imagine he’s even more entertaining!
Thanks for taking us along for the ride! I can almost smell the wonderful cigar smoke wafting through warm Havana night.
Glad you enjoyed it! It’s a wonderful smell!!
This guy Kirby is very elegant, well-mannered, and has a lot of culture. Glad he travels to undeveloped countries and finds the good things about the places. In this case, as a Latin American, glad he talked about the beauty of Cuba and also helps the economies. Also he uses great cameras, cameramen, helpers, interpreters, etc, creating great videos. Subscribed.
BRAVO 👏 Kirby! As Nick Foulkes said, "you do this properly"! - indeed.
This was worth the wait & did not disappoint one bit. The production was impeccable & the content was everything I'd hoped for.
Well done 👍. 😚💨
Thanks, Chris! Means a lot!
as soon as saw this i dropped everything else
Same!
I wake up myself sick with anticipation.
Same
@@kirbyallison😮
Drinks beer and enjoys cigars. Who doesn't love Jemma Freeman.
She is a Queen!
Love listening to Jemma Freeman 🙏🏾❤️💯😎
So cool ❤ Thank you for sharing …what great fun!
I sit here sipping a tart, albeit budget wine - concha y toro - and am smoking another working class brand cigar which will go unnamed for fear of judgement from more those with more refined tastes - just popped in to say i love these travel series kirby! Where to next? Tokyo? Germany? Italy? There is great artisanal goods and culture everywhere to be found. Keep it going!
At long last. Cuba!! Thanks, Kirby and staff!
I am envious of your phrase: "Quality, craftsmanship and tradition" It's the PERFECT phrase to sum up what most gentlemen would be into. And it's the prefect phrase to summaries your entire channel. There simply isn 't much room for other aspiring commentators to manoeuvre into this space after that eloquent summary. The phrase is brilliant - a stroke of genius, in fact.
Lady Jemma is such a beautiful woman,very well spoken and knowledgeable of cigars. Very classy! Mr. Foulkes doesn't have all his rings on as he usually does.
Would love to visit Cuba one day. Thank you Kirby for this series of the beautiful country.
Glorious just glorious!
I'm in Dallas Texas as well. Next time Kirby takes off to Cuba, I'm going to have to stowaway...
Great video as always Kirby, Cheers 🥃
Good quality production and a treat to enjoy in these cold winter months in England. Cheers 🍻
Glad you enjoyed it! More to come!
Another phenomenal episode. Kirby thanks for everything you do and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Thank you! 🙏
Well done 👍 looking forward to the next episode. Thanks and kind regards, SF.
Next episode is our sit-down smoke with the Sahakians!
Wonderful as always! Cuba is on the bucket list for sure!
You should! It really is!
I know we only saw very small glimpses of the party, but it looks like Kirby was one of the very few people wearing a tie. Jemma is wonderfully articulate and obviously very intelligent and classy. Edward's hat looks to very well loved and worn.
I was basically the only person in a tie. But someone has to uphold standards... I'd feel naked without one.
Beautifully presented Kirby, thank you.
It’s been 20 years since I was in Cuba. Through your video I can feel it and smell it! Thank you.
Thank you! Very kind! Yes 🙌 should return!
Thanks for this Kirby. The much anticipated. Love your content!
Enjoy! More to come!
Enjoying a new world cigar while watching this second episode. So well produced. Thanks for taking us with you to Cuba.
You are living the dream!
My baby is sleeping now...time to light a P. Carrillo toro, pair with a Lagavulin 16y and I'm ready to enjoy this 😊
Enjoy! You've got a lot of catching up to do!
Only gets better this series with every episode 🎉
And I can assure you that the BEST is still yet to come! The content is so good that I wish that I could release it all at once so that everyone could just bing watch it in one day! Even after having watched these videos countless times in the editing and proofing process, I still find myself excited to see them publish!
Fantastic videos Kirby. Really excited for what's to come.
You and me both! They only get better! Full episode list in the description of this video.
I was outside smoking a Monte no 4 and I had a quick thought “I wonder if Kirby dropped another Cuba video“ I open CZcams and boom the first thing that pops up is this!
Perfect! One thing you can count on is another exciting episode from Cuba every Saturday through January!
Just love Jemma! ❤
Excellent video
I 'm a simple man. I see new Kirby Allison's video i press like .Goodjob Kirby !
🙏🙏
Man you really look like an
American tourist with those
hats of yours. Thanks for
sharing the visit wifh us.
Why such hate for the hat?? Back should have been flipped up… surprised nobody pointed that out to me while we were filming that morning.
@@kirbyallison Not at all Kirby i think those hats are very classy.
Reminds a little of the 50's.
@@kirbyallison you should put on a straw Stetson and wear your heritage proud 🇺🇸
Credit where credit is due,an excellent day 2. Brilliant production and music, just great to watch this from a cold uk, keep it up Kirby..
Very kind! Thank you!
Fabulous episode. Superb channel.
Glad you enjoy it!
This is shaping up to be a great series! Can’t wait for the next episode!
It only gets better! Truly!!
Love it! Thank you
Love it!
I really appreciate this series. Your videos, I'm sure, take an incredible amount of production, and it shows. This event is so interesting. i'm glad there's some high-quality coverage finally.
Wow, thank you! Yes, we put an exceptional amount of work into these videos. Thank you for your kind words! They mean a lot!
So great to see AK jesus here 😱 glad you love cigars and carry handles 🤌🏻
What a hoot! I would love to attend this festival someday. I just really want to go to Havana, Cuba someday. It will happen! Great video Kirby.
Bucket list event, for sure!
I’m really looking forward to trying the open slam. I love the open series definitely underrated
Thank you Kirby for uploading so fast.can't wait to see this Part of your Trip.merry x-mas to u and your beloved.greetings from good old germany.andre 🇨🇺🎄🎁
😂
Every week for 10 weeks! Something to pull everyone through the new year with!
What a great production
I love your content sir, learning a lot of stuff from ur videos!❤ watching from the Philippines 🇵🇭 💕 more power & God bless
Thanks for watching!
Yeayyyyyy more Cuban vlogs. Thank you jesus lol
Just awesome
Thank you!
Amazing video!
great video thanks Kirby
Really nice video showing the atmosphere of Cuba for cigar lovers by professional Mr. allison. I was in Cuba in 2014 with focus on cigars and can really relate to smoking Behikis celebrating my 50th birthdate at the time. Planning on visiting Cuba again. Greetings from Sweden!
Thank you for watching!
By the way, I forgot to tell you that your videos have incredible quality,
Thank you! These are my favorite kind of commends. 😁 We put a tremendous amount of work into both the filming and editing. It’s nice when people are able to appreciate it.
@@kirbyallison thank you very much 👍💪🇨🇺
I had a good chuckle! Watching Englishmen extolling a 'good ole American' for his classy handling of such a marvellous event. The boot would normally be on the other foot! Lol! As the young people would say "Kirby has rizz!"
Haha. Nick is too kind. He’s truly singular.
Good to see you and Tom embarking upon your first Habanos Festival. One point, however : a gentleman never - never - wears a hat indoors. Look around and I believe you will see my point reinforced. Forget Edward as his personal status transcends tradition.
I koce this video !❤👍
Awesome! More Foulkes more Foulkes!
More to come!
Time for a good Whisky, and cigar, to enjoy while watching.
💯
Amazing video. Appreciate the cinematography and felt like I was there with you. Safe travels and best of health
Excellent video!
Thank you very much!
I definitely enjoy your videos kirby. With cigar keep, Edward and eddie from Davidoff London and foulks and sons.. you have an amazing channel going on here! Very very enjoyable and entertaining. I send yoy lots of respect my friend
Much appreciated
I'm a former Kentucky tobacco grower iv been to Cuba twice when I first landed in the airport I went up to a military man and asked him where could I smoke and he said your in Cuba you can smoke anywhere you like ,so I lit up then and there I been twice to do ocean jumps with the Cuba military
I agree with the ring gauges. I prefer a 50 RG or below.
I must say, your interviewing skills have come a long way. What an improvement over the years, well done
Ah, you’re very kind!
Quality, craftsmanship and tradition.
I'm going to start a drinking game with your videos😂
Kidding aside love your videos kirby.
Love from Portugal 🇵🇹
We have an entire bar playing that game. Just over there to the right.
Spain? 😅
It suddenly reminded me of that episode of "how i met your mother"
The "but hum" game.
I was just messing around, i hope you didn't get offended by it.
I do enjoy your videos a lot.
The ones in London with the sahakians are just the cherry on top of the cake.
Keep up the excellent work and thank you very much
I adore this woman
Wish I could try one here in America
Oh wowie that Cuban Gold oi that has to be the creme in the cup.
After the first one I said to my wife, "I feel like a puff." "I'm not surprised, you look like one!" she rudely retorted.
Touché
We can always count on our wives to bring us back down to earth…
At first, I didn’t watch Kirby’s videos, not because they were bad, but I felt they were slightly out of my league per se. I’ve later found Kirby’s videos to be extremely educational, entertaining & gives us all a peak into the world of the exceptional, finer things in life. Good job sir, excellent content! 👍🏾
Thank you! Very kind! These videos are about the people and their passions, which can be enjoyed regardless of whether someone is purchasing what it is they craft!
Bravo
Going to smoke my first Habano when I go to Cancun in February, am excited. However, I have heard countless times how the QC has gone down so far from what it used to be with Cuban cigars. The quality in new world cigars is basically the closest you can get to perfect with a man-made product it’s a high bar to meet. Also, when the cigars are more important than the people to a country there’s an issue, just saying….
I am living in Greece and here H. Upmann are very hard to find man, to see so many of them there makes me feel some way you know 😂
Kirby, I watch your videos because of their uniqueness and high production value. I don’t smoke, consume alcohol or like wearing suits and all that stuff (no offense😅). I enjoy your videos nonetheless and always appreciate the effort and attention to detail that goes into things.
Thank you!
Universe of cigar😇
Really enjoyed watching this. Just affirms my choice to prioritize collecting and enjoying Cubans despite all the naysayers espousing their preference for “new worlds” and sharing their absurd opinions on Cuban cigars as a whole. One is allowed to like chocolate…. and vanilla
i would love to see Kirby and Tristan Tate speaking about cigars
I’m sure CZcams would love this.
@@kirbyallison They get pumped massively by the algo, they are always in my feed. I'd say it must be something about the videos I watch but yesterday both the brothers were on a Twitter Live Space talking to Elon Musk regarding free speech and individual rights. Something cigar smokers, especially in the UK should be interested in.
Did you run into any issues importing the Cubans from your trip? Any online shop suggestions when trying to purchase Cubans?
That would be Hurricane Ian, which did effect Pinar del Rio one of the big tobacco producing areas, Ivan was in 2004
Free Cuba
I just ordered a Box of Gold Medal. I have only 8 left from my first box. Very good cigar.
The LCDH ones? I think I have 2.5 boxes left...
I'd be broke if I went to an event like that!
Jemma is a beautiful being
de este lado El Puro!
I only wish these were longer episodes!
Don't fret, there are plenty of long episodes ahead of you!
Envy. Envy.
I was able to travel to Havana through a local travel agency, Cuba Executive Travel, Inc. out of Apollo Beach, Florida (No affiliation). They take care of all the details for your trip.
Great! Such a beautiful and interesting place to visit. I feel that it’s important for Americans to visit Cuba to better understand the spirit of the Cuban people.
I have only 34 'Romeo y Julieta- Mille Fleurs' left in my humidor, and there are basically no more regular cuban cigars available to buy here in Germany. And I don't know if and when new cuban cigars will arrive here, so I just smoke these last few cubans that I have only on rare occasions, but that makes them even better, in the morning with a cup of coffee😁
A 'Bolivar-Belicosos Finos', or a 'Partagas-series D-No.2' would be awesome to have once again.
So I really hope that the cubans get their regular production going again.
It is a crisis we all face...
Kirby:, the Cuban cigar industry, the UK purveyors, the various factors in the upscale life industries should be paying you a good sum for all that free exposure!
I’m still waiting for that day! 😅 Until then, I’ll just take an occasional free cigar…
Kirby, glad you corrected the rear brim of your hat at the end - its not usual etiquette to fold down the rear (as you would not raise the collar of your jacket), but you note that it makes the hat sit lower you your head too, as it influences the way the leather sits - 0.25mm can change the way the hat sits on the head - it looked too large from the front with the brim down, a pity for a custom Optimo - of course on can roll up sleeves and raise the collar on a custom jacket, but not when worn with a tie and custom leather shoes.
With the brim down, the only missing was a magnifying glass.
Yeah. Too bad about the back. Sad nobody mentioned it because it definitely isn’t a great look.
Looking sharp, Kirby! Like you're ready to provide investors with your legal advice on a soon to be opened Costa Rican dinosaur park!
lol.
The only complaint can be is that each episode is only 30 mins and not 120. A peek behind the scenes vlog with you and your guys would be cool too Mr Allison, where are you staying, how are you getting round? If you are not travelling by motorcycle taxi while smoking a double corona one will be disappointed!
So, is the Bolivar Gold Medal a 46 or 48 ring gauge?
Got that detail wrong. The new one is a 46 x 6.5 vs a 40 x 6.5. Same length, just a larger ring gauge.
@@kirbyallison thanks for responding. I was really only teasing....