On 28 August 2024, Kreuzlingen experienced an event that transformed the city into a little piece of Mexico. The highlight of the evening: a breathtaking LIVE link directly to the tobacco fields of Turrent in San Andrés, Mexico! Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG hosted the Noche Mexicana, and this evening was dedicated entirely to exquisite Mexican cigars. The centre of attention was Alejandro Turrent, an important figure in the world of cigars, who guided the guests through the fascinating world of the Turrent 1880 line. An evening full of enjoyment, exciting insights and a spectacular connection between the worlds of tobacco - that was the Noche Mexicana in Kreuzlingen!

12 minutes

TURRENT: A touch of Mexico in Switzerland
Weather changes: Challenges for tobacco growing
An evening of a special kind
Thanks to the hosts, the Portmann family
Resources on the topic and buying cigars
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TURRENT: A touch of Mexico in Switzerland

Pure retro charm: the new event location of Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG in Kreuzlingen takes you back to the golden 1950s with authentic American diner flair.

The event took place in the new event location of Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG in Kreuzlingen. The location impresses with its charming style, reminiscent of an American diner from the 1950s - a perfect ambience for such a unique evening. As soon as they entered the room, the guests realised that this would be no ordinary cigar evening. The anticipation was literally in the air.

The clip is from Lazzarini

My second cigar was the ‚Rosado‘ - a favourite among the participants. No wonder the boxes were sold out in a flash.

The highlight of the evening, however, was a LIVE link directly to the tobacco fields of Turrent in San Andrés, Mexico - SENSATIONAL! This gave visitors the unique opportunity to experience the tobacco fields in real time and gain an insight into the origins of the exquisite cigars they savoured that evening.

The sensation of the evening: a LIVE link directly to the tobacco fields in Mexico!

Alejandro Turrent explains live what we see and how tobacco is grown in Mexico at TURRENT.

Weather changes: Challenges for tobacco growing

Alejandro Turrent is a pleasant and friendly conversationalist who is already the 5th generation to run his company. His children currently attend one of the world's most prestigious boarding schools in Switzerland.

Before the event, I had the opportunity to speak to Alejandro Turrent. I was particularly interested in whether the weather changes have an impact on tobacco cultivation. He confirmed: „Yes, the rain comes several weeks later in the last two to three years. As a result, the harvest is delayed and sometimes lasts until the end of September, over a month later than usual. The problem is that the temperature drops in October and so does the humidity. Drying the tobacco becomes more complicated and we have to make sure that the air in the drying sheds circulates optimally in order to maintain the necessary humidity.“

Urs Portmann, the legendary cigar lover and founder, is a perfect host. As a close friend of Zino Davidoff, he knows the art of cigar enjoyment like no other.

On the left: Thomas Portmann, who is carrying on their father's legacy together with his brother Marc. While Thomas runs La Casa del Habano in St. Gallen, Marc, who is currently on holiday, takes care of the business in Kreuzlingen.

Alejandro Turrent: A legend of tobacco

My first cigar at the event: the Oscuro. Deep in flavour, sweetish, earthy, with notes of cocoa - a multi-layered journey of pleasure.

Alejandro Turrent is not only the star guest of this unforgettable evening, but also a living legend in the world of cigars. The Turrent family behind the brand has a long and proud history in tobacco growing. Now in its 5th generation, the Turrents are dedicated to growing tobacco in the San Andrés region of Mexico, one of the best tobacco growing regions in the world. The family has been growing tobacco in Mexico since 1850 and the company was officially registered in 1880. Today, it is one of the leading manufacturers of tobacco for well-known brands such as Rocky Patel, Davidoff and Drew Estate, to name but a few. The family also grows tobacco for cigarillos, machine-made cigars and cigarettes. And, of course, for its own premium cigar brand TURRENT.

Alejandro Turrent is a passionate speaker. Once he gets going, he talks tirelessly about tobacco growing - until Thomas Portmann finally shouts: „We're having BBQ now!“

The Turrent 1880: A masterpiece of Mexican cigars

The atmosphere was extremely good - an all-round successful evening.

The Turrent 1880 pays homage to the year the company was founded and epitomises the tradition and passion that goes into every single cigar. This line is the brand's flagship and was presented on this evening by none other than Rouven Bähr, probably one of Switzerland's most gifted cigar sellers and a partner of importer Impcor.ch. With his expertise and passion, he explained the special features of these cigars to the guests - from the selection of the tobacco to the ageing process and the perfect balance of flavour and aroma.

Rouven Bähr (right) in his element: he presents Casa Turrent 1880 to the participants with passion and great pleasure.

BBQ and cigars: a perfect combination

The BBQ is being prepared - here one of the two founders of smokey.eyes.ch in action.

Of course, a real Mexican evening also includes the right food. smokey-eyes.ch took care of the physical well-being with a BBQ that spoilt the taste buds just as much as the cigars spoilt the palate. The combination of spicy meat and the rich flavour of Turrent 1880 cigars created a perfect harmony that made the evening an unforgettable experience.

A real explosion of flavour! Before the meal, there was of course an aperitif with crispy Güggeli wings and Mexican tortillas.

An evening of a special kind

The location in 1950s American diner style is a real highlight.

The Noche Mexicana at Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG was more than just an event - it was a journey into the world of Mexican cigars, a celebration of tradition and craftsmanship. Alejandro Turrent and Rouven Bähr managed not only to entertain the guests, but also to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of the art of cigar making. The LIVE link to San Andrés and the delicious BBQ crowned the evening and made it a highlight in the event calendar of all cigar lovers.

Next time you're in Kreuzlingen, pop into Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG - who knows what extraordinary event is waiting for you next!

The participants show great interest, and Rouven expertly recommends the perfect cigar for after the BBQ.

Thanks to the hosts, the Portmann family

The hosts, the Portmann family, impressed as always with their warm and attentive manner and were always up for a joke. The service was impeccable and 40 people enjoyed an unforgettable evening that will live long in the memory.