Every legend and superhero has an origin story. In the premium cigar industry, Davidoff is viewed as the creme de la creme of premium cigars—luxury, high-quality and, at times, ultra-premium. Davidoff understands how it is perceived by the outside world, which is why the company has set out to reveal its own origin story to the world in the most unique way possible.
Viaje Al Origen (which translates in English to “journey to the origin”) is Davidoff’s take on what the tobacco industry would call a factory tour. In true Davidoff fashion, the company behind some of the industry’s most highly regarded and sought-after premium cigars designed a factory tour unlike any other. For six days in January, Davidoff invited some of its top appointed merchants and sales staff to the Dominican Republic to see firsthand how the company creates its cigars. Viaje Al Origen was designed to take the visitor on a journey into Davidoff—the fields where the tobacco is grown, the barns where leaves are fermented and cured, and the factory where the precious leaves are rolled into premium cigars. As with most origin stories, Davidoff’s journey to success was filled with many twists and surprising discoveries.
Journey to the Dominican
The retailers included in the trip were some of Davidoff’s top merchants from around the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Many had taken part in factory tours led by other manufacturers in the past, but few had experienced one as hands-on as Viaje Al Origen. Tapping into the latest trend of experiential marketing, trip organizers Klaas Kelner, Sara Tio and Lisbeth Genao understood the importance of stimulating all of the senses in order to help the company’s retail partners and sales staff truly understand what makes Davidoff unique.
Each day of the tour was designed to teach the participants something new about Davidoff, its processes and its premium cigars. While there was plenty of cigar smoking, food, social occasions and excursions throughout the city of Puerto Plata during the six-day trip, this was business, and Davidoff had an intent for those in attendance. This was a full-on lesson about cigars, Davidoff and exploration of its mission statement: “Time Beautifully Filled.”
“Viaje Al Origen is basically a sensorial experience of not just smoking cigars but a sensorial experience of all the senses,” explained Klaas Kelner, who is a brand ambassador for Davidoff. “We’re all here to learn—even I’m here to learn. There are a lot of different experiences and moments that will not just be Kodak moments but tutorial moments. You guys are going to take back a lot with you.”
At Davidoff’s farm located in Jicome, questions were encouraged as Klaas Kelner led the group through the farm and explained the different processes taking place. He also asked the retailers and sales staff in attendance to get their hands dirty by having them plant seedlings that could very well be used in future cigars. In the curing barns, in the
greenhouse and in the factory, there were things to be touched, inhaled and watched.
Throughout the trip, it was clear how Davidoff has earned its lofty title as being among the leading premium cigar manufacturers after 50 years of business. It’s the dedication and commitment shown by the nearly 300 hands that touch the tobacco before it reaches a humidor shelf. It’s the company’s quest for perfection that shapes its production process, including the many quality-control checks that each cigar undergoes and the meticulous sorting process each cigar is subjected to. It’s the knowledge and passion exhibited and passed on by Klaas Kelner, his father, Hendrik “Henke” Kelner, Hamlet Espinal and master blender Eladio Diaz. None of this could have truly been communicated via an in-store visit or training seminar.
When asked about the greatest benefit of the trip, Paul Copeland of Shore Thing Cigars in Watersound Beach, Florida, responded, “Because Davidoff is now using tobaccos from all over the world, we, as cigar lovers, were able to experience a larger journey of flavors—but with the quality and consistency that only Davidoff could provide.”
