Emmanuel Diaz - A conversation about passion, tobacco and origins
I met Emmanuel Diaz in Basel at the House of Smokewhere he presented some cigars made by his father, the legendary master blender Eladio Diaz. We were both amazed when we discovered that Emmanuel and I have the same birthday - April 1st. Only the year is different. A fitting coincidence, considering that passion, craftsmanship and a pinch of humor are the best companions in the world of cigars.
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Table of contents
Emmanuel Diaz has a birthday on April 1 - just like me 😃
The spark of passion
The spark that ignites a lifelong passion can ignite in a single moment. For him, this happened in 2011 - at his first cigar event, the Procigar Festival. He still remembers the feeling: "I was impressed to see so many people from the cigar industry and from completely different fields - baseball players, actors, singers, entrepreneurs - all united by the pleasure of a handmade cigar. It was special to talk to such different people about cigars."
This experience shaped him. It showed him that a cigar is more than just tobacco and smoke - it connects people, regardless of their background or profession.
Craftsmanship without compromise
When he talks about craftsmanship, his deep-rooted respect for quality is clear. When asked why the ash of a cigar is sometimes compact and sometimes flaky, he answers simply: "It depends on the workmanship. If the cigar is well made, the ash remains compact. If it hasn't been rolled properly, it's crumbly."
No embellishment, no showmanship - just honest craftsmanship.
He doesn't believe in shortcuts or secret tricks when growing tobacco either. "If you do your job properly, you don't need any tricks. The process should be as natural as possible," he says. "Depending on the type of tobacco, the curing time can be longer or shorter. The key to good tobacco is knowing exactly what kind of leaf you're working with."
Roots and values
If he could travel through time with a cigar in his hand, he would go back to where it all began - to the roots of tobacco in the Dominican Republic. "And if I had the opportunity, I would love to smoke a cigar with Zino Davidoff and my father." A sentence that not only reveals his respect for tradition, but also the deep influence of his father, the renowned master blender Eladio Diaz.
Pride and legacy
When asked what fills him with pride every time he lights one of his own cigars, he answers without hesitation: "That so many people from the industry have tried our cigars and feel connected to them - and that I am the son of a respected master blender."
A sentence that shows that his pride is not based solely on personal success, but on passing on knowledge, passion and respect - from one generation to the next.
Picture credits
- Emmanuel Diaz
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