Inside Cuba's Newest Factory
When we arrived in Havana last week, Gordon and I were expecting to hear that the Partagas Cigar Factory had closed for its much-needed renovation. When we were in Cuba in February, everyone was talking about how Partagas would soon be shut down, the jackhammers brought out and workers would start the arduous task of undoing the damage done by years of hot, Cuban summers, drenching tropical hurricanes and years of salty sea air on the Real Fabrica Partagas, which has stood since 1845.
Not so. Partagas is
still open, although its closing is (still) expected soon. But instead
of seeing a shuttered Partagas, Gordon and I visited a different factory
that has been moved to temporary digs-H. Upmann.
H. Upmann, which is
also known by the post-revolutionary name José Martí, is now closed, and
the factory's staff and production has been moved to the Romeo y
Julieta factory. The Romeo y Julieta factory has been completely
transformed into the new-albeit temporary-home of the H. Upmann brand.
So all H. Upmann cigars are now being rolled at Romeo, along with some
Montecristos, some Romeo y Julietas and a number of Cohibas. While the
factory is also in charge of the diminutive Diplomaticos brand, none
were being rolled at the time of our visit. Some notable new smokes are
being made here, including the H. Upmann Half Corona and the
soon-to-be-released H. Upmann Royal Robusto.
For the past five
years, Romeo has been closed to tourists, and has been used primarily as
a rolling school. Now it is decorated with banners and posters touting
the H. Upmann cigar brand, and H. Upmann factory manager Miguel Barzaga
Maceo is running the factory.
Barzaga Maceo came here at the end of
January, and by February 10 he said the facility was ready to roll
cigars. It was in full production upon our visit, and was even open to
tourists.
I shot a few videos
inside the factory, including this clip that shows you the size of the
colorful and vibrant rolling gallery. Take a look.
The factory is open to tourists (10 CUCs for a visit if you happen to be in Havana) and while it lacks the polish of Partagas it's definitely worth a visit. It even has a cigar shop right around the corner, which I hear will soon be turned into a full blown Casa del Habano, so it can be a visit complete with cigar shopping.
