Kauai Cigar Company

Kauai Farm and Research

Les — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:59:21 +0000

2013 Cigar Tobacco Research

Breeding cigar lines
Charting curing curves for various cigar lines
Cigar seed archives
Cigar seed line records. Some collected by agronomists from as early as 1926
Cigar seed pod collection
Climatized kiln for cure testing cigar tobacco leaf
Collection of leaf samples for processing
Collection of leaf tissue for lab analysis
Comparing the cigar to the data
Dominican leaf from seed collected in 1975
Field testing one of many new cigar lines
Preserving cigar seed lines
Size and weight measuring of cigar line tobacco

2011 Tobacco Harvest

2011-Tobacco-Harvest-Crew

Nicaragua and Cuba

Les — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:41:42 +0000

Nicaragua Factory Work – New Kauai Cigar Brands

Quiet, cool scene next to a tobacco barn in Esteli, Nicaragua. The fields are very hot!
Tobacco harvest anywhere is hard labor, and at the end of the day in Esteli, Nicaragua workers are glad the day is done.
Professional baseball in Esteli. Each main city in Nicaragua has a team. Games are played Friday thru Sunday, with double headers on Sunday. The players have jobs during the week day! Notice the free seats in the outfield trees.
Les Drent and Victor Calvo of Kauai Cigar Company have a cigar and relax at a baseball game.
Our factory workers that put together Kauai Cigars in Esteli, Nicaragua. From fermentation to the final boxed product, it takes a total team effort.
I discovered the best cake I've ever had at a Cuban restaurant in Esteli, Nicaragua. This cake was so good, I bought several over the month I was there working!! Custard, chocolate, coconut, and some kind of white icing that was to die for.
When we weren't working 12 hour days, there was still time to monkey around at our factory in Nicaragua.

Cuba – Havana And Robaina Farm Visit

Aloha from Cuba! Les Drent of Kauai Cigar Company, and Juan Carlos Brizuela of Costa Rica. Juan is an engineer at my partner's factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Museum of the Revolution stands in the background.
The Capitol building in Havana, Cuba
The architecture in Cuba is awe inspiring. Eroding yes, but simply amazing. Museum of the Revolution
Quiet public park space near the National Museum. Books are still being made by hand in Cuba, and many are sold on the street.
The entrance to Palacio de los Capitanes Generales features a statue of Christopher Columbus. This museum is incredible, and features a ton of history from the 18th and 19th centuries.
More art from Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
My man Simon Bolivar, the Liberator! I love his cigars!!!
Coat of Arms on display in Cuba
Juan wasn't quite up for the fun and games, but if he's hanging with me... he has no choice!
Ernest Hemingway's old stomping grounds in Havana. Hotel Ambos Mundos. The first five chapters of For Whom the Bell Tolls was written here. 7057. Quiet street in old Havana
Plaza Vieja established in 1559. What a splendid place early in the morning!
Everyone is a New York Yankee fan in Cuba. Including Jose Luis Argiles, who was kind enough to give us the grand tour around Cuba. He is a lawyer for the government when he's not cruizing with the Hawaiian smoking cigars at Plaza Vieja! Being a coffee farmer, I shouldn't forget to mention how good the espresso was in Havana. It might actually be the Cuban sugar that makes it exceptional.
Cuba is in the Carribean. But, being from Hawaii.... sorry, just not the same.
Carlos Robaina, Alejandro Robaina's son, was all hospitality when I visited their national cigar shop.
Everyone had to have a picture with the Hawaiian tobacco man. Every cigar shop I've ever visited, except South Pacific Pipes and Cigar in Honolulu, has been filled with great people, and great cigars. The shops in Havana are no different. Friendly and hospitable people all around. Maybe some day, I'll have a locker here!
A view of Havana from the hotel
After a 3 hour drive, we arrived at Finco El Pinar Alejandro Robaina. The history at this tobacco farm is not something you can put into words. It's worthy of a book.
The Patron Saint of Tobacco. Must I say more? The professional baseball team in Pinar Del Rio was playing in their Country's version of the World Series when I visited. Their logo is the tobacco leaf.
Alejandro Robaina passed away last year, but he left a legacy, which is clearly evident at the farm.
This place has hosted many from around the world, and many great cigars have been left to ashes here.
I was kindly treated to explanations on how tobacco is traditionally produced in Cuba.
Hirochi Robaina, Alejandro Robaina's grandson now runs the farm. We bonded easily. We are both about the same age, both farm tobacco, and both have young children growing up on the land. He is another Yankee fan, but we both agreed that tobacco, baseball, and women are the universal languages spoken by cigar men!
Hirochi Robaina spent many years as a youngster working in the Partagas factory. Like all good business men, he learned from the bottom up. Here he chooses leaf for a lonsdale cigar that he would roll for us in perfect fashion.
Hirochi Robaina and one of his beautiful daughters at the family farm.
A great room at the farm, filled with history from the farm. I made him take off the Yankee hat for at least one photo!
A bunch of cigar loving folk. Farmers, a lawyer, a young engineer, and an agronomist who has seen his day in the dirt!
One can only imagine the scene on this farm during the 1930's and the sounds that this Victrola played.
Coppelia in Havana is known for the best ice cream in town.
Coppelia in Havana is known for the best ice cream in town.

2012 Martin & MacArthur Ala Moana Center

Les — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 02:11:16 +0000

Elaine Dalistan receiving a lesson in cigar rolling.
Tai Erum and the Martin & MacArthur staff welcoming the public to the event.
Tai Erum getting warmed up in front of his first group of spectators for the day.
Tai Erum rolling a cigar rolling while explaining the process and answering questions.
Curious mall goers can't resist watching through the window.

Frank S.

Les — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:44:50 +0000

I am from phoenix arizona and have a place on the beach in mexico so cuban cigars are as easy to get down there as anything else and are consistently very good. Im in Kauai with my daughter for her graduation and read an article on your company on the plane, and was of course intrigued and had to try one. To say I was skeptical is an understatement, especially after i saw the price. Nonetheless…..Fantastic. I would put your cigars up against anything I have had from cuba or anywhere else in the world. Whatever you are doing…..you certainly seem to be doing it right. My compliments.

2012 NFL Pro Bowl Luau JW Marriott Ihilani

Les — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:55:39 +0000

The rolling table, with a variety of our cigars ready for the guests to light up.
A couple of gentlemen enjoying the cigar rolling demonstration, cigars in hand.
Some players lighting their sticks, enjoying the evening.
Classic.
Even the cheerleaders are participating

2011 NFL Pro Bowl Luau JW Marriott Ihilani

Les — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:13:07 +0000

Les Drent (Owner) and Tai Erum (Cigar roller) awaiting the arrival of the event guests.
Cigar roller, Tai Erum, explaining the different Island Prince cigars to very interested guests as others arrive.
Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker, DeMarcus Ware, having a wonderful time picking out a cigar.
Curious event guests enjoying the detailed explanation of a cigar, from seed to the final product.
Two gentlemen carefully examining their cigars before lighting up.

Kauai Grand Hyatt Resort

Les — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:22:37 +0000

The cigar lounge area put together for us at Kauai's Grand Hyatt resort.
Cigar roller, Tai Erum, teaching a fascinated volunteer how to roll his own cigar.
During a cigar rolling leason, Cigar roller, Tai Erum points out the next step in the process.
Cigar roller, Tai Erum, explains the the different tobacco leaves that are used to create a premium cigar.
Delighted guest having a blast!
Good drinks, good people and great cigars

Pueo Point Estate

Les — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:11:08 +0000

Setting up our traditional cigar rolling tables at the lovely Pueo Point estate on Kauai.
Cigar roller, Tai Erum, explaining all of the work that goes into a premium cigar to a very interested guest.
A group of guests enjoying their Kauai cigars with a new appreciation after experiencing the rolling demonstration.

Jason D., Los Angeles, CA

Les — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:52:07 +0000

I read highly praising comments from other customers in your company’s literature in the shop in Lihue with a mix of hesitation and skepticism but after enjoying just one of your Dark Island Prince Momona cigars, I would put it up against and beyond any cigar I have ever smoked.

Bryan, S, San Diego, CA

Les — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:49:59 +0000

I was lucky enough to stumble upon a store in oahu that was selling your cigars. I bought a momona dark and had a large cup of kona coffee and was instantly in disbelief. I could not believe the cigar I was smoking, from a small company I had never heard of; was the BEST cigar I had ever smoked… EVER!!! I have smoked many cohiba, punch, fonseca, etc. habanos. Opus x, rocky patel decade, 1926 padron 1964, etc the list goes on and on. Your dark habano 2000 cigar is honestly an unbelievable experience.

My father has smoked thousands of cigars in his day and I was so excited to give it to him as if to say “wait until you smoke this cigar from Kauai, I found this cigar and its the best ever”. He smoked the first third in my car and turned to me and said “This is one of the greatest cigars I have ever smoked in my life”. I will be anxiously awaiting your new releases in the years to come. keep up the outstanding work.