Cigar aficionados area wide appreciate the fine art of cigar rolling and many will travel near and far seeking quality hand-rolled cigars for their enjoyment. One such cigar roller will be in Havana on Saturday, April 10 during the Havana History and Heritage Society’s Cigar Days Celebration.
His name is Luis Gonzalez and he is a master cigar roller from Las Villas, Cuba. At an early age, his grandfather inspired a passion in him for growing and preparing tobacco for the manufacturing of cigars. In 1994 while still in Cuba, he began learning the fine art of making cigars, which takes years of hard work and dedication. Luis honed his skills at several well- known factories such as La Bauza, H. Upmann and P. Larrea.
In 2007 he arrived in the United States and continued making cigars. In 2017 he joined the J.C. Newman Cigar Company to begin making a cigar called “The American,” which is 100 percent made from American tobaccos. This cigar is highly sought after for its limited production and expert craftsmanship. Luis Gonzalez, J.C.
Newman and others involved in the cigar industry will participate in “Havana Cigar Days, a celebration of cigars and the 100 years of shade tobacco production in the Gadsden County area.” From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. presentations, demonstrations, tours and a panel discussion by former local tobacco growers will be held throughout the day at the Shade Tobacco Museum, 204 2nd St. NW, in Havana. Activities will conclude with a social hour beginning at 5 p.m. Ashley Hunter is the editor of The Havana Herald, a member publication of The Gadsden County News Service.
