Aging Room Cigars: The Origins
The brand Aging Room has also secured a strong foothold in Germany. Originally established in 1996 under the name “Habana Cuba Cigar Company” in Miami, home of “Boutique Blends Cigars,” the company underwent a major transition in 2002 when it was acquired by Rafael Nodal and two partners. It wasn’t until 2012 that the brand was renamed to reflect its new direction: moving away from flavored cigars toward premium cigars produced in small, limited quantities – the so-called small batches!
Rafael Nodal and the Development of Aging Room
Why was the Habana Cuba Cigar Company sold? During the cigar boom of the 1990s, the market became oversaturated. Many producers were forced to store their inventories due to sluggish sales. The company leveraged the internet to sell its cigars and found its biggest buyers in Rafael Nodal and Hank Bischoff. Even before the acquisition, the two had specialized in selling premium small-batch cigars in the Miami area. Later, production shifted to Nicaragua, where exclusive cigars were crafted under the direction of Nestor Plasencia and Nick Perdomo. One of their projects at the time was a cigar with an impressive 60-ring gauge (“XL for Men”), which, however, did not achieve significant success.
The Breakthrough: Aging Room and A.J. Fernandez
The long-awaited breakthrough came with the SWAG brand. Produced in the Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera La Palma under the leadership of Jose Blanco, SWAG resonated with cigar enthusiasts and allowed for further strategic realignment. Starting in 2011, production of the new Aging Room line was intentionally limited to strictly controlled quantities.
A milestone was reached in 2019: Through a collaboration with the renowned AJ Fernandez, the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua was created. This cigar was named Cigar of the Year 2019 by Cigar Aficionado and is currently the only Aging Room series imported to Germany.
