Procigar Day 3 | Together again

It can’t be avoided. The general feeling is that of a family coming together again. A sort of “together again”. This atmosphere of reunion can be felt, especially at the first of Procigar’s three big parties: the welcome dinner. It was held this year in the Central Park of Santiago de los Caballeros and was, as always, crowded. So many people, from forty countries around the world, all different, but all united by tobacco. We are a small family, no doubt about it. And in Procigar, we met again.

At the party, which many, once again, go on until the very early hours of the morning, people eat delicious Dominican food, smoke good cigars with good drinks, and then, at the end, the music is turned up… It gets louder, because it is very loud all the time… And people start to dance. This year, as a finale, the bravest participated in a dance contest: bachata, merengue… Some are really good dancers, but many are just brave or shameless. It doesn’t matter. The main thing is to have a good time.

The welcome dinner is, therefore, a reunion and, therefore, it is normal to spend a long time greeting friends. The attendees spend the evening walking around the venue, greeting, hugging, kissing people, like a groom on his wedding day, many dear people who are only seen on these occasions. It is a celebration of reunion. The “together again”.

As Michael Herklots of Ferio Tego Cigars said today at the Quesada Cigars factory tour, “Anyone who wakes up one morning at Procigar and feels like they’re 100 percent of their strength has missed something.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The factory tours are an essential part of Procigar. It is true that, as with the field tours, they are only three days and you can’t visit all the factories, but you can always come back the following year. I couldn’t miss the Quesada Cigars tour this year, where I hoped to witness an emotional family reunion. A “coming together again.”

As of 2024, the Quesada Cigars factory belongs entirely to the family of Manuel Quesada, with his daughters Raquel and Patricia, the fifth generation of the Quesada family in the tobacco world, at the helm of all operations. Patricia, after seven years away from the company, has returned to take over the family legacy along with her sister Raquel.

It was very emotional. Especially when Raquel told Patricia how grateful she was that she had left everything to return to work in the factory with her and, for her part, Patricia told her how proud she was that she had taken care of everything in her absence. Along with the video of Manuel Quesada, who is doing much better, now recovering in Madrid, Spain, welcoming us back to the factory… There were many who shed a tear.

I hope this isn’t read by Manolo, but the Quesada tour has been a party. Yes, there has been a short explanation in the galera. Michael Herklots and Raquel Quesada, who is now in charge of the factory operations and the binders and consistency, briefly explained the process of making a premium cigar. But then the music was turned up and visitors were offered the chance to experience a Dominican micro-atmosphere, including domino games and the mascot of the local baseball team, Las Aguilas del Cibao. All very Dominican.

Then, very briefly, the Quesada sisters, with Michael Herklots, explained what their plans are for the next five years, Patricia in management and sales, Raquel in operation and blending. And, at the end, people have been invited to participate in a short tasting and pairing seminar. All very fun, very light, with a very Dominican lunch, with sancocho, roast pork, coffee and, of course, lots of tobacco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fifth generation of Quesada is now reunited and ready to hit the markets hard and they are going to do it with innovation, but always respecting the legacy of their father, Manuel Quesada, who, although absent (this is the first Procigar he has missed in his life), has been present at all times. And not only through the welcome video: through his daughters, who never fail to mention him, but also through his grandson, Rodrigo, Raquel’s son, the sixth generation of the family is already here. Rodrigo is still a young boy, but it is clear to him that, before he becomes a boss, he will go through all the departments of the factory to learn. The same thing that Manuel Quesada forced his daughters, Patricia and Raquel, today happily together again, to do.