An Exclusive Three-Hour Cuban Cigar Masterclass by Cuban Cigar Roller
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Transport your guests to the heart of Cuba through an evening of craftsmanship, culture and storytelling.
Led by our best Cuban Master Cigar Roller, Maria Caridad, travelling exclusively from Zurich, together with Cuban Cigar Sommelier and founder Elena Del Pino, this immersive three-hour experience offers guests a rare opportunity to discover the true art of handmade Cuban cigars.
More than a masterclass, this is a journey into one of Cuba's greatest traditions.
Guests will explore the history, craftsmanship and passion behind every handmade cigar before creating one of their own under the guidance of genuine Cuban experts.
Guests begin their journey with a warm Cuban welcome before discovering the fascinating history of the world's most celebrated handmade cigars.
During this introduction they will learn about:
The origins of Cuban cigars
Why Cuba remains the world's most prestigious tobacco-producing country
The traditions that have been passed down through generations of Cuban cigar makers
The cultural importance of cigars in Cuban life
Guests are taken behind the scenes of the cigar-making process, learning how every exceptional handmade cigar begins long before it reaches the hands of a roller.
Topics include:
The legendary tobacco-growing region of Pinar del Río
Cuba's unique climate and soil
Tobacco cultivation and harvesting
The different tobacco leaves and their purpose
Fermentation and ageing
Selecting leaves for flavour, aroma and strength
The craftsmanship behind every handmade Cuban cigar
Watch our Cuban Master Cigar Roller demonstrate every stage of producing a handmade Cuban cigar using traditional techniques learned in Cuba.
Guests witness first-hand:
Preparing the tobacco leaves
Bunching the filler
Rolling the cigar
Pressing and shaping
Applying the wrapper leaf
Finishing and quality inspection
Throughout the demonstration, Elena shares fascinating stories and traditions from Cuba, bringing each stage of the process vividly to life.
The highlight of the evening.
Under the personal guidance of our Cuban Master Cigar Roller, every guest will create their own handmade Cuban-style cigar using traditional techniques.
Each participant receives their own professional rolling station including:
Traditional wooden rolling board
Chaveta (traditional Cuban cigar knife)
Wooden mould
Natural vegetable gum
Authentic tobacco leaves
All rolling materials
Guests leave with the handmade cigar they have crafted themselves, an unforgettable keepsake of their Cuban experience.
Discover how to appreciate a fine handmade cigar with guidance from our Cuban Cigar Sommelier.
Guests will learn:
How to choose the right cigar
Cutting techniques
Correct lighting methods
Smoking etiquette
Storage and ageing
Understanding flavour and aroma profiles
The experience concludes with an informal question-and-answer session where guests can speak directly with our Cuban experts.
Hear personal stories about growing up in Cuba, working with tobacco, life inside the cigar industry and the traditions that continue to make Cuban cigars legendary around the world.
What's Included
Three-hour luxury Cuban Cigar Masterclass
Cuban Master Cigar Roller travelling from Zurich
Cuban Cigar Sommelier and Host
Professional rolling station for every guest
Authentic tobacco leaves and rolling materials
Traditional Cuban cigar rolling tools
Full event management
Set-up and pack-down
Travel within London
The Experience
Minimum Number of Guests: 18 Maximum: 25
Pricing is tailored according to guest numbers, venue logistics and any optional enhancements selected.
About Cuban Cigar Roller
Founded by Cuban-born Elena Del Pino, Cuban Cigar Roller offers one of Europe's most authentic Cuban cigar experiences.
Having grown up in Havana and worked in Cuba's tobacco fields as a teenager, Elena brings a genuine connection to the traditions, craftsmanship and culture behind every handmade Cuban cigar. Today, together with an exceptional Cuban Master Cigar Roller from Zurich, she shares this remarkable heritage through immersive experiences for luxury hotels, private members' clubs, prestigious corporate events and exclusive private celebrations across the UK and Europe.
More than a masterclass, this is an opportunity to experience Cuba through the hands of those who have lived its traditions, sharing stories, craftsmanship and the timeless art of handmade Cuban cigars.
Every event is designed to be engaging, creating a truly distinctive experience that guests will remember long after the final cigar has been rolled.
No dates scheduled yet
This masterclass runs on request — check back for upcoming dates, or follow the organiser in Events.
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Rating Breakdown
I'll be honest I booked this expecting a bit of fun and not much more. I came away having learned a proper craft, made a few new friends, and gained an entirely new appreciation for something I'd been enjoying for years without really understanding.
Melody Whisky Bar turned out to be a lovely choice of venue. Warm, low-lit, a little bit tucked away, exactly the kind of room where an evening like this should happen. We had a drink in hand within minutes of arriving, which set the tone nicely.
Elena ran the evening and she is, quite simply, a brilliant host. She's warm, funny, and has a real knack for making a room of strangers feel like a group of friends within about ten minutes. She kept the whole thing moving, made sure nobody felt lost, and clearly loves what she does, that sort of enthusiasm is contagious.
Raiza is a Master Cuban Cigar Roller, and watching her work is the highlight of the night. She trained at the Corona factory in Havana, and it shows in every movement she bunches, binds and wraps a cigar in the time it takes most of us to read the instructions, and makes it look like nothing at all. She's also a lovely teacher. Endlessly patient, quick to laugh, and generous with her time, she came round to each of us individually, fixed our grip, rescued the odd torn wrapper, and never once made anyone feel silly for getting it wrong.
Before you touch a leaf, Elena and Raiza walk you through the story: how tobacco is grown and harvested in Cuba, how the leaves are cured and aged, and how the different leaves each play their part in the finished cigar. The bit about how the filler blend, ligero, seco and volado, determines strength and burn genuinely changed how I think about every cigar I've smoked since. It's the kind of detail that could easily be dry, but between Raiza's hands and Elena's storytelling it never is. Questions were welcomed all night, and no question was too basic.
Then you roll your own, step by step, bunching, binding, pressing, wrapping and finally that fiddly little cap. I aimed for a Gordo size cigar but had to settle for a Robusto. Everything is provided, so you turn up with nothing and leave with something you made yourself.
Complete beginners: no experience needed at all, and you'll never feel out of your depth
Seasoned aficionados: the technical detail goes deeper than you'd expect
Groups, teams and celebrations: with up to 25 people it stays relaxed and sociable, and everyone being equally hopeless at the start is a great leveller
Anyone after an evening that isn't just another dinner
Dates aren't fixed, the masterclass runs on request, so you message Elena directly through the Cigars Amigos app or enquire via their website to arrange a session. It's a friendly, easy process, and it means the timing can work around your group.
The cost for a few hours with two people this good at what they do, all materials included, plus the cigars you've rolled yourself that's excellent value by London standards.
I left with a new skill, a much better understanding of what goes into a proper Cuban cigar. Thank you Elena and Raiza for a genuinely memorable night.
Wholeheartedly recommended.
Smoke well Amigos!
