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24 tobaccoasia / Issue 3, 2016 July / August (Photo: Cigarro Dominicano Magazine) (Photo: PuroSabor) Puro-Sabor-Factory tour The next edition of Humo Jaguar should be held in 2017 but it is still very hush-hush, watch this space for more details. Nicaragua's Puro Sabor: the most tobacco-focused Named Puro Sabor Festival del Tabaco, this fes- tival is organized by the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco as a celebration of Nicaragua's rapidly growing cigar industry and tobacco culture. This year was its fifth edition and an opportunity to meet the people behind the brands for the 200 at- tendees from 27 countries. The number of cigar companies participating in the festival is growing (24 companies in 2016), and so is the festival in size and resonance. Most of the members open up their fields and factories, and make themselves available for casual interac- tion. They are also available for closer conversa- tion during the Puro Humo night, an interactive cocktail party where each manufacturer has a dis- play booth. The events are varied and this year included a tour of the Flor de Caña rum factory and an eques- trian show. But mostly the focus is on tobacco, as the Nicaraguan tobacco industry has seen 10% growth every year for the past 10 years. Highlights of the festival were the tours of the most famous tobacco factories and plantations in Esteli, "tobac- co's capital city" with the traditional "white party" at the end of the day where attendees were able to listen to traditional tunes and wear the 'guaya- bera' made in Nicaragua. There were a few more tours of the tobacco plantations and factories, and ProCigar - Davidoff factory tour Honduras' Humo Jaguar: the most exclusive A fairly new cigar festival, Humo Jaguar has only seen one edition so far, in 2011. Named in honor of Humo Jaguar, the dynastic Mayan ruler of the ancient city of Copan in western Honduras, the festival is hosted by APROTABACOH, the Hon- duran Association of Tobacco Growers and Cigar Makers and has been created under the impulse of the president of the association, Maya Selva. Honduras is known as "the cradle of tobacco", where tobacco growing and cigar making originat- ed with the ancient Mayans, and the word "cigar" is derived from the Mayan term "sicar". The fes- tival included a series of cultural and gastronomic activities in the cities of Tegucigalpa and Danlí, as well as tours to Santa Rosa de Copán and the Copán Ruins. For the first edition in 2011, each cigar maker was asked to prepare a special blend kept a secret to all but themselves. Over 200 well-versed panel- ists tasted each blend, taking in every aspect of ci- gar making and enjoyment into consideration, and the Humo Jaguar brand was born. Unique humidor by Litto Gomez