Prime Time Awards 2021: Large Factory of the Year – Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
“We will never rush the hands of time” is the mantra of Arturo Fuente Cigar Company. It’s no better personified than in the excellent products that have come out of its Dominican factory, Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. It’s a big reason why it wins the 2021 Prime Time Award for Large Factory of the Year.
There is such a wide variety of cigars produced from this company, from regular production to limited editions to uber-limited editions; from mild cigars to powerhouse blend; from tried and true vitola sizes to artisan shapes. The factory has executed flawlessly on so many levels over the years, and 2021 was one that really shined and showcased the versatility and consistency of quality. Most importantly, the end products delivered were outstanding.
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2021 Smokin Tabacco Awards: Woman of the Year – Liana Fuente
Like her family before her, Liana is a professional with love and passion for the business of premium handmade cigars. She is the Vice President of Brand Development of Arturo Fuente and also oversees all of their charitable efforts. She takes after her father, Carlito, in the way she represents such a storied and historic brand with a reputation for high class and consistency. When her father created the new “Rare Pink” line, she was the one who decided to use that to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Rare Pink was introduced in 2020 when it was shipped to retailers for the holiday season. It uses Ecuadorian wrapper over a mixture of tobaccos including Nicaraguan tobacco from the Fuente farm in Estelí, Nicaragua. All of the vitolas are perfectos, with two new sizes introduced at PCA 2021 this year: Queen of Hearts and Sophisticated Hooker. Arturo Fuente announced in addition that $13 from each box would be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation after the American Cancer Society refused to accept money from a company associated with tobacco. In 2020, Liana told us they raised $107,000 for Breast Cancer Research.
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Liana Fuente -Ash Quarterly Woman of the Year
Ash Quarterly First ever award for Woman of the Year goes to Liana Fuente. Liana is the Vice President of Brand Development for Arturo Fuente and oversees all its various charitable endeavours. Speaking of Charity, Liana has made it a point to do extensive fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness. Part of this initiative saw the launch of the Arturo Fuente Rare Pink series in which the company donates money to the American Cancer Society for every box sold. With all that Liana does, it is no wonder that she was voted Woman of the Year by consumers.
Congratulations Liana!
BIG BANG UNICO ARTURO FUENTE CERAMIC
El Maestro! Carlos A. Fuente Sr. was born in 1935 in Ybor City, a Cuban émigré neighbourhood in Tampa, Florida. While still in primary school, Carlos Sr. began working in his father Arturo’s small cigar business. Even as very young children, part of the household duties was to first make 50 cigars a day before they could start their homework. Impassioned by his family and the craftsmanship of making cigars, Carlos Sr. worked alongside his father Arturo until his father’s retirement.
Taking over the reins of the family business in 1956, Carlos Sr. was ambitious and sought to expand the business, first in other parts of Florida before setting his sights on New York City. Carlos Sr. successfully enabled the company to flourish in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the United States embargo against Cuba forced the Fuentes to move their cigar production to Nicaragua. However, the family suffered further misfortune when, in 1978, their factory was burned down by Sandinista revolutionaries. Once again, the Fuentes were forced into exile and moved their operations to Honduras. And the adage that ‘things always seem to go in threes’ came true when, in 1980, the new factory also burned down.
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2021 Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest: The Cigars of Fuente
The third seminar at Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest showcased the cigars of Fuente. Gordon Mott, the senior contributing editor of Cigar Aficionado, and Carlos Fuente Jr., the maker of Fuente cigars, mounted the stage to great applause, the latter looking rather dashing with his white hat and pencil-thin mustache.
Before he got down to brass tacks, Fuente began with heartfelt words about what Cigar Aficionado has done for the cigar industry and how events such as Big Smokes allow him and his family to come face-to-face with the people who enjoy his cigars, a sentiment which felt all the more poignant in the aftermath of the lockdown. “If there’s anything at all this has taught me,” he said, “it’s not about cigars, it’s about people,” resulting in thunderous applause from the audience.
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WHAT’S GOOOOD LIVE EP 4: Liana Fuente
Tobacco Business Magazine’s 2019 Woman of the Year award winner Liana Fuente joins What’s Gooood as part of our Sisters of the Leaf Series. ALL women regardless of industry and profession because we guarantee that it will be motivating, inspiring AND empowering!
Fuente Fuente Rare Pink
The newest cigar coming from Arturo Fuente is a passion project with charity at its heart. Arturo Fuente Rare Pink is a line of shaped cigars (including one that’s a hybrid of a lancero and a figurado) made with Ecuadoran wrappers and a hint of Nicaraguan tobacco in the filler. A portion of the sales of each box sold in 2020 will go to the fight against breast cancer.
“The theme is pink,” said Carlos Fuente Jr. during a video call with Cigar Aficionado. “The boxes are so unique. It’s a gift for my daughter, and my mother, and my sister, and all the women in my life. I wanted to do something for my daughter.”
The cigar project was created to benefit breast cancer research, a project dear to Liana Fuente, Carlos Fuente Jr.’s daughter, who is deeply involved in the family business. Liana lost two family members to the disease, the second-most common cancer in the U.S. and one that kills more than 40,000 women a year in America.
Grand Cathedral Cigars
Grand Cathedral Cigars, located in the “Cigar Capital of the World,” is one of the newest cigar lounges in the United States! Home of the Official Casa Cuba Lounge & Gardens, Grand Cathedral features one of the largest cigar establishments utilizing a unique 115 year old historical cathedral with an inside space of 7,000 sqft and an outdoor patio of 6,000 sqft. With an exclusive members-only piano bar and second floor area, we pride ourselves in providing first class service and offering the finest selection of premium cigars and craft libations!
With a soft opening earlier this year, we are proud to officially open our doors to cigar enthusiasts from all corners of the world May 22nd!
Please join us this summer for the Grand Opening Party of the century! With a special appearance from cigar dignitaries such as the reigning family of premium cigars since 1912, The Fuente Family, this event is one not to miss for any cigar enthusiast throughout the world!
Fuente Cigar interview with Liana Fuente!
Slight Price Hike For a Few Fuente Cigars
January 21, 2021
Arturo Fuente will keep cigar prices the same for over 99% of its entire production
As part of its continuing commitment to local brick & mortar tobacconists, as well as considering the overall hardships caused by COVID-19, Arturo Fuente announced today that it will keep prices the same for over 99% of its entire production of cigars as it begins 2021. “The Fuente family has experienced and overcome major difficulties and tragedies during our 109 years in the premium cigar industry, and our long-standing principles and values dictate that we must do our best to assist in times like these,” said Carlos “Carlito” Fuente, Jr., President of The Fuente Companies. “We are committed to selling the highest-quality cigars at the fairest prices, and we work hard to keep our prices at or below market.” For the less than 1% of cigars that will have a minor price adjustment, it will only be an average increase of 3% among a few select sizes.
“We will make every effort to postpone any further necessary changes and will revisit this situation later in the year as life returns to normal,” said Carlito. “In the meantime, I do want to emphasize that we enter this new year with great enthusiasm and optimism for our wonderful industry. We are grateful for the amazing and consistent support over the years, and we truly BELIEVE that this year will be the best one yet!”
This announcement is effective immediately.
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