The 2025 Habanos Festival marked a historic moment, offering a rare chance for enthusiasts to roll their own cigars alongside seasoned professionals—a privilege granted for only the second time in the festival’s 25-year legacy.
This year’s master rolling classes took place at five iconic factories, including the legendary El Laguito, where some of the most famous – and expensive – cigars in the world are crafted.
Daymi Difurniao Rodríguez, a communications and marketing specialist for Habanos, emphasized the unique opportunity provided by holding the class within the actual production facilities. “I wanted attendees to make their own Habano so they could understand the details and intricacies involved in creating the Habanos, the world’s finest cigars,” she explained.
By engaging directly with the “Totally by Hand” production process participants gained invaluable insights into the meticulous art behind the luxury cigars.
At El Laguito, the experience was particularly memorable. Nestled in Havana’s picturesque Miramar district, El Laguito stands out among the elegant mansions that line its tree-filled avenues. For decades, this historic site has served as the home factory for Cohiba cigars.
Once a lavish private residence, the building’s Beaux-Arts architecture, complete with a sweeping spiral staircase and intimate salons with rolling tables, hints at its opulent past. Established by Fidel Castro himself to craft his personal cigars, El Laguito is renowned as the birthplace of the Cohiba brand—a name that has become synonymous with the world’s premier cigars.
During the festival session at El Laguito, attendees received hands-on instruction from Ana Isel Mederos Cano, the factory’s principal quality specialist. With an impressive tenure spanning 26 years—12 of which she spent as a roller and 15 in her current role—Mederos Cano brought both expertise and passion to the master class.
“I love that I have been given this opportunity to teach the art of cigar rolling to cigar aficionados from around the world,” she told Nicotine Insider, her eyes lighting up as she demonstrated the delicate process of rolling a perfect cigar.
Participants were equipped with traditional tools including a wooden board for rolling, a “chaveta” for cutting tobacco leaves, vegetable glue, and a new high-quality apron (the cheveta and apron could be kept as souvenirs). Under the attentive guidance of expert rollers who moved through the room offering tips and encouragement, festival-goers embraced the challenge, learning to appreciate the craftsmanship behind every Habano.
Beyond El Laguito, visitors also had the option to tour other renowned factories such as La Corona, Partagás, H. Upmann, and Carlos Baliño. At La Corona, which employs around 750 workers with 300 dedicated rollers, brands like Hoyo de Monterrey and Montecristo are produced.
The H. Upmann facility is known for crafting not only its own label but also Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and even occasionally various Cohiba sizes, while Partagás and Carlos Baliño each carry a legacy of Cuban cigar excellence.
For many, the hands-on rolling class was more than just an educational experience—it was a chance to connect with the heritage of Cuban cigars and to take home a piece of history.
The festival’s innovative format and commitment to preserving traditional techniques ensured that every participant left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art of cigar making, a craft steeped in decades of history and passion.
