During the last days of November, a project that had been dormant for over two years in the minds of those who make up Grupo Humo Latino finally came to light with the launch of Humo Latino Dominicana, the new print magazine of this company, born in Mexico, which has now established itself in the Dominican Republic to contribute to the development of the tobacco industry through quality articles and reports, but also with the corresponding fiscal obligations that contribute to the country’s economy.
Read in the magazine (rotate your device for a better reading experience):
According to the Group’s Director, César Salinas Chávez, this is a Spanish-language magazine made from, by and for Dominicans, with national distribution aimed at the domestic market, but thanks to the support of several partners, it will also reach select areas in Puerto Rico and the United States.
The predecessor of this product is Humo Latino Journal, a free newspaper that circulated in eleven countries such as the United States, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Honduras, which sparked the audience’s desire for it to transform into a magazine. “An idea that seemed as desirable as it was distant. Time, circumstances, and the support we found allowed us to achieve it.”
In this regard, César Salinas thanked each and every one of the clients, many of whom have now become friends, who made the creation of this magazine possible, which now adds to the editorial product catalog of Grupo Humo Latino.
He also emphasized that the choice of the Dominican Republic to launch this first edition of a print magazine responds to various positive circumstances, such as the culture, respect, belonging, admiration, and pride that Dominicans feel for their tobacco, their cigars, their tobacco growers, and their great industries, which have been a school for all and the origin of an unparalleled diversity of emerging and boutique brands.
These circumstances make the Dominican Republic a model for all tobacco and cigar-producing countries, turning these products into a national pride and the tobacco culture into a topic that extends across all areas of life.
For his part, Alberto Arizmendi, founding partner and Editorial Director of Grupo Humo Latino, explained that the interview with don Eladio Díaz, which formed the cover story for this first edition, had waited more than two years for the ideal moment to be published. That moment could not have been better than the presentation of the Humo Latino Dominicana magazine, in response to the importance of don Eladio and his history for the tobacco industry in this country.
Finally, he referenced the formation of the company GHL República Dominicana, a project that took more than two years to shape and legalize, finally established in Santo Domingo, with the incorporation of Julio César Fuentes as a partner and Commercial Director.
With this company, Grupo Humo Latino seeks to simplify its advertising activities “and make our modest contribution to the country’s economy through the timely and correct payment of taxes.”
From the facilities of Tabaquería Cigar Club, don Eladio Díaz, one of the most distinguished Dominican master blenders, recognized and thanked the Group for providing a platform for local producers, which he described as yet another reason to continue working on improving the quality of Dominican tobacco and cigars.
Finally, the technical director of the Dominican Association of Cigars and Tobacco (Adocitab), Francisco Matos Mancebo, known in the industry as El Diputado del Tabaco (The Tobacco Congressman), pointed out that a product like this was needed in the country to reinforce the fact that Dominicans possess the best tobacco in the world.
In this regard, he emphasized that this magazine is free, and it is up to Dominicans to place it where everyone can see it, with each copy serving to educate people about a product that is part of the national heritage.
“We needed to write the truth. From the moment we are born, we are told that smoking kills, and it’s necessary for us to stop turning our backs on a crop that is an inheritance from our ancestors, and educate ourselves just as each of us has educated our palates to enjoy the flavors of this cylinder called Dominican cigar.”
Furthermore, Carlos Abreu, owner of Tabaquería Cigar Club, the first lounge of Santiago, welcomed the creation of a magazine focused on the local market, which he considered to add value to the work developed over the years by the industry leaders present at the event, highlighting the presence of Radhamés Rodríguez, president of Adocitab, and Hendrik Henke Kelner, honorary president of ProCigar.
Also present were members of the Díaz Cabrera family, the executive president of ProCigar, Agustín Fernández García; the general director of the Dominican Institute for Quality (Indocal), Néstor Matos Ureña; Francina de la Cruz, representative of the Institute; as well as clients, partners, and friends of Grupo Humo Latino.
Accompanied by Benny Batista from Valdespina Cigars and Martín Cornelio from Cornelio Cigars, the celebration continued at La Recalada Cigar Lounge, at the Naval Officers’ Club of the Dominican Republic, in Santo Domingo, where a second presentation of the magazine was held, and the opportunity was taken to share cigars during a night among friends. The location was also named as one of the consultation points for this and future editions.
Finally, with Linga Cigars and Jonathan Almanzar as hosts, the celebration for this launch moved to Bhuké Cigar Lounge and Bar, where the gathering continued, now dedicated to clients in this region of the country.
