Cuba Cigar Auction Raises $ 1.1 Million

March 3, 2013 | | Print Print |

The Cohiba cigar factory in Havana.

HAVANA TIMES — Humidors with prized Cuban cigars brought in revenues of over $ 1.1 million in the auction held on the final day of the annual Habanos Festival, reported dpa news.

Six lots of crafted humidors (humidifiers) we sold for a total of 890,000 euros (1.16 million dollars) in the gala which on Saturday night closed the popular event that drew 1,500 guests from 70 countries.

The decorated chests contained 350 to 550 cigars each of the “highest quality”, said the Cuban media.

Among the guests were the famous former German tennis player Boris Becker and US actor Danny Glover.

The six sets of humidors auctioned contained the traditional Cuban brands: H. Upmann, Hoyo de Monterrey, Romeo and Juliet and Sagardelos, Partagas, Montecristo and Cohiba.

As usual in the Habano Festivals, the proceeds of the auction go to the Cuban public health care ministry. Since 1994, the event takes place over six days in Havana, traditionally in February.

Boris Becker, winner of three Wimbledon titles, said he is a great lover of Cuban cigars and the “Cohiba“ brand.

“The real reason I retired (at age 31) is that I wanted to smoke cigars,” joked the now 45-year-old former tennis champ on Saturday.

 


What's your opinion?

  • Moses Patterson

    Since I am often accused of never saying anything good about Cuba (not true by the way), let me go on the record about how much I enjoy smoking my full-length Esplendidos and short Petit-Robustos. Don’t even think about asking me how I get them here! Suffice it to say, unlike the sugar industry, somehow Fidel managed to NOT f*ck the tobacco industry up.