Makers & Masters
Inside the ProCigar Festival 2026: A Georgetown Tobacco Journey to the Dominican Republic
Mar
Six Georgetown Tobacco customers traveled with tobacconist, Teresa Wessling, to the Dominican Republic for the 2026 ProCigar Festival—touring legendary cigar factories, visiting tobacco fields, and experiencing one of the cigar world’s most celebrated events.
“Epic. Excellence. Captivating. Amazing. Magical.”
When I asked the six customers who joined me in February for the ProCigar Festival 2026 to describe their experience in one word, those were the answers.
To say my own expectations were exceeded would be an understatement. From the accommodations to the logistics, service level, educational content, event production, and hospitality, every aspect of the trip was exceptional.
For cigar lovers, the ProCigar Festival offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Dominican Republic’s most important cigar factories and tobacco farms, bringing together the people, craftsmanship, and culture that make Dominican cigars some of the finest in the world.
ProCigar is a celebration of the Dominican cigar industry, but it also highlights the culture and rich heritage of the country. The week culminates in a Gala Dinner and Auction, which this year raised over $618,000 to support local Dominican charities.
From Field to Factory
Each day begins with a field or factory tour.
On our first day, we visited Finca Schneider in Villa Gonzalez, one of the beautiful tobacco fields farmed by Davidoff, with its signature curing barns rising above the landscape. It was my second visit to this field, and standing amidst tall tobacco plants in the bright morning sun with a Dominican coffee and a Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 in hand was just as special the second time around.
Finca Schneider, one of Davidoff’s tobacco farms in the Dominican Republic, where ProCigar attendees experience the journey from seed to cigar.
Our tour of Finca Schneider and Davidoff’s tobacco processing facility in Jicomé was led by Hamlet Espinal, President of Tabadom and VP of Worldwide Production for Davidoff. Hamlet shared the same detailed insights we received as retailers during the trip I attended with Davidoff two years ago.
Hamlet Espinal discussing cigar wrapper fermentation Davidoff’s facility in Jicomé.
Davidoff is meticulous about every step of the process—from seed to shop. The tour revealed just how much time, care, and attention to detail goes into creating every Davidoff cigar.
As Hamlet explained:
“When you combine quality with passion, it’s art—and we are making art.”
One of the biggest takeaways for our group was realizing just how many people it takes to create the cigars we love. As Davidoff says, “From 300 hands to one—yours.” It’s not just a marketing line—it’s a true representation of the number of people involved in producing a premium cigar.
Learning from the Masters
Over the next few days, our group split up and covered more ground, visiting the factories of Arturo Fuente, EP Carrillo, Tabacalera Palma, and La Flor Dominicana.
Each factory had its own distinct personality and atmosphere, but all shared the same commitment: producing cigars of exceptional quality and flavor while showcasing the best of Dominican tobacco.
For our group from Georgetown Tobacco, however, one visit stood out as particularly special.
An Afternoon with Eladio Diaz
We were invited for a private tour of Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera, the boutique factory created by the legendary Eladio Diaz.
In more than 30 years with Davidoff, Eladio created over 3,400 blends and oversaw the production of cigars known throughout the industry for their extraordinary consistency.
Now, as he says with his extraordinary smile, he is “as free as the wind.”
At his own factory, he works alongside his three sons and his wife, producing blends he truly wants to make. These include Before and After, La Diana, and the special anniversary blends he produces each year for his birthday. These limited edition cigars were once something he made only for friends and family—but now, thanks to his own factory, we all get to enjoy them.
Our Georgetown Tobacco group visiting Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera, with Eladio Diaz and his son, Emmanuel.
Spending an afternoon with this humble legend—and his gracious son, Emmanuel—is something none of us will ever forget.
It’s also leading to something pretty exciting for next year’s ProCigar… so stay tuned.
Nights to Remember
As extraordinary as the factory visits were, the evenings were just as unforgettable.
Every night was truly an event.
From the Welcome Dinner to the famous White Party, and finally the Gala Dinner and Auction, each evening featured unique venues, exceptional cuisine, live music, DJs, and an atmosphere of celebration.
The Welcome Dinner— also attended by the President of the Dominican Republic!
Between 800 and 1,000 guests attended many of these events. Our Georgetown Tobacco group gathered each evening to share stories from the day while enjoying dinner—and of course, exceptional cigars.
And the cigars!
Each tour and evening event included special gift packs from members of the ProCigar Association. By the time we returned home, we had accumulated so many cigars that I may actually need another humidor.
The Georgetown Tobacco Experience
As a tobacconist, one of the most rewarding parts of the trip was experiencing it through our customers’ eyes.
I’m incredibly grateful to each of them for taking the leap and joining this inaugural Georgetown Tobacco trip to ProCigar.
As often happens when people share a love of great cigars, new friendships formed quickly. The camaraderie was palpable, and future plans to gather together again are already underway.
Looking Ahead
ProCigar takes place each year the week after Valentine’s Day.
If you’d like to join us next year, send me an email to get on the list. After this year’s experience, I have a feeling the Georgetown Tobacco group for 2027 is going to be even bigger.
Cigars Featured During Our ProCigar Trip
Many of the cigars we enjoyed during the festival are available at Georgetown Tobacco:
Explore our full collection of premium cigars at Georgetown Tobacco.
