CigarsLover Magazine I 2023

CIGARS
The Fifteenth Procigar
Celebrating the Dominican
Cigar Culture
by Michel Arlia
In the cigar world, the first couple months of the year
are marked by the Festival season. Among the biggest
is the Dominican ProCigar Festival which was
held this year in February from the 19th to the 24th.
It draws numerous cigar lovers worldwide, and this
year's attendance boasted over 1000 visitors from
20 countries—more than double the attendees from
last year, which speaks to how popular the ProCigar
festival is.
As has become a tradition for the festival, it kicked
off with a first couple of days of relaxation at Casa
de Campo. Attendees could enjoy the warm Caribbean
sun, go for a tour of the spectacular countryside
by horseback, relax on the beach—the list goes
on. The next day a catamaran to Catalina Island took
place, followed by a sunset bonfire dinner at Minitas
Beach Club hosted by Grupo de Maestros of Tabacalera
de García.
On Tuesday, Tabacalera de García, the largest cigar
factory in the world, hosted a tour with a guided visit
to their facilities. In the afternoon, guests departed
for Santiago for the primary three days of the festival.
They were able to participate in guided tours
of the most renowned cigar factories and tobacco
fields in the world: La Aurora, General Cigar Dominicana,
Tabacalera Palma, Tabacalera A. Fuente, Tabacalera
La Alianza – E.P. Carrillo, Davidoff Cigars,
and many more. Visits to the Chateau de la Fuente,
Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, and the House
36 #1-2023 CigarsLover Magazine