The 3rd annual ProCigar Festival in the Dominican Republic was a cornucopia of cigars, food, libations and fun. Of course, the ProCigar Festival is much more than that. It is really a celebration of the Dominican Republic: the people, culture and customs. I've been privileged to have attended all three festivals and they just keep getting better and better.

Above: Manuel Quesada, president Matasa

Below: New Quesada Tributo cigar

But of all the memories of festivals past, there are none that have moved me like this year's "tour" of the Matasa factory. Calling it a "tour" is really a misnomer because this was a gathering of loved ones for the purpose of paying tribute to family, friends and the link that has tied them all together: cigars. But first, let me give some background on this company…

President of Matasa, Manuel Quesada, has been blending cigars for more than 35 years and he has given birth to numerous cigars including: Fonseca, Quesada, Cubita, and many other private brands such as Licenciados and Nat Sherman, among others. Manuel is the 4th generation of a family that has been in the tobacco industry for more than 100 years, both as tobacco leaf processors in Cuba and now as a cigar production factory in the Dominican Republic. The current cigar factory, Matasa (Manufactura de Tabacos S. A.), was launched in 1974 as a small operation with only three rollers and Manuel Quesada running the venture.

Below: A box of the new Quesada Tributo

In 2008, the 5th generation of Quesada's decided it was time to nudge the company in a new direction by creating a new brand. The "Quesada" brand was created to pay homage to the family tradition and heritage. In 2009, the Quesada brand was launched with the Quesada 35th Anniversary cigar in honor of Manuel Quesada and his 35 years in cigar manufacturing. This cigar, which was a 6-inch by 49 ring box-pressed limited edition, was well received and sold out during the first few days of the 2009 IPCPR convention in New Orleans.

This year will mark the second cigar under the Quesada brand and that is where this story comes full circle. I was one of 40 or so people who were on hand to witness the pre-release of the new Quesada Tributo. Tributo, which translated to English means "tribute," was again produced through the collaborative effort of the entire 5th generation of the Quesada clan. As the name suggests, this cigar is a tribute to those who are no longer alive, but whose lives and memories have shaped the younger generation.

The Tributo cigar, which is due to be released in May, will come in four sizes and will bear the name of the family members whose lives are being celebrated by the sharing of this new cigar: Manolín, Alvaro, Alvarito and Julio.

Above: Patricia Quesada

As I listened to Patricia Quesada (daughter of Manuel and one of the 5th generation family members) talk about these four individuals, I felt the passion, love, and respect that this family shares. I almost felt like an intruder, seizing a very intimate and private family moment, until I realized that the Quesada family was opening their hearts and sharing this moment with all of us. We were being included as a part of the extended family and it was truly a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.

This pre-release event included a tasting of three of the individual tobacco components that make up this cigar: Dominican Habana Vuelta Arriba, Dominican Criollo 98 and Honduran Jamastrán. Each of these tobaccos was sampled separately by smoking small "puros," or cigars made up of only that type of tobacco. Smoking these puros allowed us to experience the characteristics that were added to the completed cigar by each individual component. Then, of course, we smoked the "real thing." The Quesada Tributo is a medium-bodied cigar with spicy sweetness and excellent balance. As of this writing, I have only smoked one of the cigars, so I wouldn't make too much of my assessment, nevertheless, this cigar will likely be as well-received as its predecessor, the Quesada 35th anniversary.

After the tasting, each of us in attendance was given a sampler box of the Quesada Tribute and the family members gathered round to sign the boxes for any who might wish. I can tell you that I waited patiently for each of those 7 signatures. I did so, because I want those signatures to be indelibly printed in my mind as a vivid memory of my entry into the Quesada family. The Quesada Tributo is more than a cigar. And, the Matasa pre-release event was more than a tour. The event and the cigar will forever represent the outpouring of love and the spirit of sharing that I felt that day.

About the Cigar:

Name: Quesada Tributo

Wrapper: Ecuador HCHS

Binder: Nicaragua Ligero

Filler: Dominican and Nicaragua Ligeros

Sizes:

6.5 x 60 Manolín (Toro Gordo)

6.0 x 52 Alvaro (Belicoso)

4.5 x 40 Alvarito (Petit Corona)

5.0 x 50 Julio (Robusto)