Monday, March 10 2008
By Rich Perelman (
CigarCyclopedia.com)
"Aging is in the leaf, not in the finished cigars. Who says?" asks writer, Rich Perelman. "How about master cigar maker Henke Kelner!"
Santiago, Dominican Republic – When Henke Kelner talks cigars, people listen.
The man behind the production of 31 million cigars in a three-factory complex in Villa Gonzalez, including the high-profile Davidoff, Avo and Zino brands, had a rapt audience Wednesday [March 5th] as he explained the process by which tiny seeds turn into large tobacco leaves and in turn, cigars like the celebrated Davidoff Special R robusto.
One of his favorite subjects is aging and if you ask if a certain bale or box of leaves is ready, he'll respond, "It depends." It depends on what blend that leaf is destined for and what role it will play in the cigar to be made. What does not change is the process and Kelner explained with clarity the role of aging in leaves that creates the tobaccos he wants to use in his brands.
Story continues at cigarcyclopedia.com...
