When the Habanos Festival in Havana was canceled this year, few expected that its spirit would reappear somewhere else
Hello, dear reader,
This year’s Festival del Habano left many of us with mixed emotions. The cancellation of the event meant that the traditional gala in Havana, one of the most anticipated evenings in the cigar world, simply did not take place. For those who have attended the festival over the years, that gala is a moment when the global cigar community gathers in celebration of friendship, culture, and the craft we all admire…in a place we fell in love with.
But sometimes, life gets in the way, creating more anticipation for our famous festival. But the cancellation didn’t stop the community from celebrating what they love and getting together.
On February 27th, in the city of Almere in the Netherlands, something remarkable took place. At La Casa del Habano Almere, the owners Olav and Yuri decided to create their own tribute to the Havana gala that never happened. What followed was an evening that perfectly captured the spirit of the cigar world: generosity, friendship, and a shared love for the rituals that bring us together.
From the moment I arrived I was greeted with great hospitality. Many friends had traveled from different corners of the world to be there. Guests came from Brazil ( the famous auctioneer), Serbia, London, you name it…, all converging in Almere for what felt like a reunion and not a formal event even though tuxedos and fancy shoes (in some cases yellow) were everywhere.
There is something special about these gatherings. The cigar world may seem large from the outside, but once you are part of it, you realize how small and connected it truly is. Seeing familiar faces from across the globe, sharing cigars and stories, immediately brought back the atmosphere that many of us associate with Havana.
And that was precisely the intention. To honor the Spirit of Havana
Olav and Yuri deserve far more than a simple mention on a random cigar blog for what they accomplished that evening. Organizing an event of this scale requires effort, care, and above all, passion. What they created was not a substitute for the Havana gala, obvoiously, but it was a heartfelt homage to it.
The evening pulled out all the stops with Cuban food, Cuban music, and dancers who filled the room with energy and rhythm. Cigars circulated generously, as they always do when aficionados gather together. Glasses of rum were raised, conversations carried out late into the night, and the atmosphere felt exactly as it should: relaxed, celebratory, and filled with laughter.
What impressed me most was how natural everything felt. Nothing about the evening seemed overly staged at all. It was simply a room full of people who love cigars, enjoying each other’s company in the way that only cigar smokers know how, I guess you had to be there to understand.
The Famous Auction.
Toward the end of the evening, the hosts organized an auction that added another meaningful dimension to the gathering. I mean…they didn’t bring in the best auctioneer in the business for something casual…
Several remarkable items were offered, including the Partagás Tropicales humidor, a 50-cabinet of Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas from 2018, and a box of Ramón Allones 40 Carat. These alone would have been enough to excite any collector in the room.
But perhaps the most memorable moment of the auction came when something far more unexpected appeared in Yuris hands: a pack of cookies. In the spirit of generosity and humor that defined the evening, the cookies were enthusiastically bid on until they reached 200 euros, a perfect example of how the mood of the room had shifted from competition to shared goodwill.
Every euro raised during the auction was donated entirely to the Cuban people. That gesture gave the evening a deeper meaning. It reminded everyone present that the cigar culture we celebrate is inseparable from the island and the people who sustain it.
The evening was further honored by the presence of the Cuban Ambassador, whose attendance added a sense of dignity and connection to the island itself. It was a powerful reminder that even far from Havana, the cultural ties that unite the cigar world remain strong.
Moments like these highlight something often overlooked: cigar culture is about people, traditions, and the relationships that develop around a shared passion and not only about the cigars.
For me personally, one of the most beautiful aspects of the evening was simply seeing friends again. People I have met over the years at festivals, events, and lounges around the world were suddenly gathered in one room in Almere. Conversations picked up exactly where they had left off months earlier, as if no time had passed at all.
It was the kind of night where cigars were constantly exchanged, where stories traveled around the room, and where laughter often interrupted conversations. In other words, it was exactly what the cigar community does best.
So, it seems that the gala found its way…
In the end, what happened in Almere that evening proved something important.
Even when Havana could not host its traditional celebration, the spirit of that celebration did not disappear, it just traveled.
Thanks to the generosity and vision of Olav and Yuri, the cigar community found a way to gather, celebrate, and give back. What might have been a quiet week in the cigar calendar became instead a memorable moment of solidarity and friendship.
And perhaps that is the most beautiful part of cigar culture. Wherever cigar smokers gather with good intentions, a little piece of Havana always seems to appear.
Before ending this piece, I think that a few words must also be said about La Casa del Habano Almere itself. Over the years, it has become a place that many aficionados across Europe and beyond know and appreciate. What makes it special is not only the well-stocked humidor or the comfortable lounge, but the atmosphere that has been created there. People come here not only to buy cigars, but to spend time, share stories, and share the ritual that brings us together. In many ways, it was the perfect setting for an evening dedicated to the spirit of Havana and the friendships that cigars continue to inspire around the world
Wishing you rich flavors and good company, until we meet again.