2nd German „Habanos Champion“ competition in Wendorf

On 19 November 2022, the German „Habanos Champion“ was crowned for the second time. Twenty-five aficionados met at the Schlosshotel Wendorf in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for the event. The event was sponsored by 5TH Avenue and was once again organised by Gerhard Heimsath from „Art of Smoke“.

Four teams, each consisting of two participants, took on the challenging competition. A total of four tasks had to be mastered: Firstly, theoretical knowledge about Habanos was tested by means of a questionnaire. In the second part, a Habano had to be recognised blind. The third part of the competition was about cigar service, i.e. the careful cutting and lighting of a cigar. Finally, a Habano had to be paired with a drink of the participant's choice to create the perfect combination. 

The jury, consisting of Katja Gnann, editor-in-chief of „Cigar Journal“, Hartmut Tschetschorke, multiple „Habanos expert“ and German champion in „slow smoking“ and Claudia Puszkar-Vetter, expert in the history of Habanos brands and factories, assessed the individual performances in detail.

In the end, two teams were named „Habanos Champions“: the team of Marcel Lindemann and Dirk Rehder and the team of Andreas Hilmer and Daniel Bretschneider. Marcel Lindemann and Dirk Rehder were the winners of the competition on points. 

As in the previous year, the cigar-friendly Schlosshotel Wendorf provided the perfect backdrop for this demanding competition. The evening ended in the adjoining „Cheval Blanc“ restaurant with an autumn menu, matching wines and spirits and fine Habanos. 

Next year, the international „Habanos World Challenge“ competition will once again be held during the „Festival del Habano“. Teams from different countries will compete against each other. Marcel Lindemann and his brother Daniel, who won the German „Habanos Champion“ competition together in 2021, will also be taking part.  

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