Afficianado women and their cigars have certainly made an impact on a what once was a male dominant world. We sat down and spoke to Dalia who is the European brand ambassador for El Septimo cigars.
Dalia let’s start at the beginning. Please tell us a little about yourself. How did you find yourself in the world of cigars?
D: I was born in Serbia; I was a hyperactive girl. I played the piano, wrote poetry, played Latin American dance, sang in the choir, but I always knew that I did not belong to that environment. At the age of twenty-one, I left Serbia because I want to finish college. I started working in Austria, and soon graduated from college. Since 2007 I am living in Switzerland. Cigars were my love. I loved the smell of cigars, but I always secretly smoked, since there weren’t many women who smoked in those years. In 2006 I lit my first cigar, it was Trinidad. I was fascinated by the aroma, the taste, the smoke.
In 2014 I started working in La casa del Habanos in Switzerland, where I gained a lot of experience and knowledge. I fell in love with cigars. I started buying books, exchanging experiences with colleagues and I learned very quickly and so I became addicted and a fan of cigars.
You are an ambassador for El Septimo cigars. Can you give us some information on the brand?
D: Yes, I am Brand Ambassador, I brought this brand to Serbia and Montengero and hopefully soon in other Balkan countries as well. El Septimo is a luxury brand of cigars and accessories. The company has been in business for over 20 years and produces limited ultra-premium cigars that include some of the best tobacco from around the world. El Septimo has over 40 blends of cigars which is the biggest collection of cigars than any other company in the world.
Originally founded in the early 2000s, and a well-known brand in Europe and the Middle East since 2005, El Septimo was acquired by Zaya S. Younan in March 2019. His first goal after purchasing El Septimo was to bring his favorite cigars into the U.S. market. Today the El Septimo brand encompasses more than 40 blends and sizes of cigars along with a complete line of premium accessories designed to complement their cigars and offer a fully developed luxury experience.
In the U.S. alone, El Septimo cigars are now in more than 130 retail locations and are on the ambitious track to be in 1,000 retailers by spring of 2022. And while this growth rate is impressive, for El Septimo it’s less about quantity and more about quality.
The company’s purposeful marketing and distribution dovetail with the precision that El Septimo has achieved throughout its entire production process, from seed to smoke. They pride themselves in an ability to offer an extensive range of cigars to “fit any smoker’s preference, without sacrificing quality.” In doing this, El Septimo is primarily distinguished by a production process at their factory in Costa Rica, one that cuts no corners from start to finish. With expert blenders combining up to five different fillers, their cigars are fully packed with complex flavors and aromas. They age the cigars for up to 15 years, using special processes in oak and rum barrels, which imprints complexity and nuance on the flavors that one can experience in an El Septimo cigar.
Precision farming is not the only way El Septimo is doing things differently. If you were at the PCA 2021 Trade Show this summer, then you got to see and sample the debut of their newest line, the Sacred Arts Collection, which features seven new cigars honoring some of the most well-known artists in history and named after the seven days of creation. Also on display was their Alexandra Collection, which initially launched in June 2019 and currently includes two lines of cigars designed and blended with tobacco aged for 10 years and created specifically for women. We are excited to see what they will innovate next, as rumors are that they will be displaying a new lighter at the upcoming PCA Show that will retail for $5 million.
When and where do you like to smoke the most? Also, what is your favorite cigar now?
D: Many cigar smokers will choose to enjoy their favorite cigar during rare moments of rest. There’s nothing quite like returning home after an exhausting day at work and indulging just a little. I smoke with friends but also sometimes alone.
My favorite now is El Septimo Luxus Collection Bomba Orange.
The tobacco industry has been for the longest time heavily dominated by men, but in the last 20 years we have seen a big movement by women who enjoy cigars. What do you think is responsible for this movement?
D: It is thanks to women that have some practices or knowledge connected to the premium cigar world and are now being recognized. See Maya Selva with long-fillers in Honduras. I think about it in this way. It is very nice to see the movement happening of more women joining the cigar industry. It’s a shame that so many women have felt excluded from the cigar world in the past. Hopefully, that era is over forever now, and every person can enjoy the cigar they want, their way.
What would you say attracts you to cigars and the cigar world?
D: I’m in the cigar industry and I love cigars. Cigars is really something to be enjoyed, you’re smoking very special stuff that you really look forward to, and that is a premium thing to be enjoyed on special occasions.
What is your favorite vitola? Is there also a particular origin of tobacco you prefer more than the other and why?
D: I think today there are many wonderful cigars in the world. My favorite cigar lengths vary based on the time I have available. Ideally, I smoke robusto or pyramid torpedo.
What can the cigar brands do to be more inclusive of women?
D: As women are increasingly leaning into the areas once consider exclusively male domains, it’s not surprising to see a shift in the public image of the cigar smoker.
I think, cigar brands should have more women representing the brand and speak directly to other women.
Let’s squash the biggest pet peeve. What do you hope to see forever banished from the cigar industry that affects women cigar smokers?
D: I wish everyone to be successful in expressing the best of themselves. Women have long association with cigar smoking – according to anthropologists, ancient Mayan women were just as likely as their menfolk to smoke dried tobacco. I hope that women will be equal to men in the tobacco industry.
The Instagram cigar community is knowledgeable and very inclusive with popular tags such as #botl (brother of the leaf) and #sotl (sister of the leaf). What is it about the culture and the group aspect of cigars that everyone finds so appealing?
D: Woman who smoke cigars are often teased, but thanks to social media, women have relaxed. I have a lot of friends on Instagram, and it feels like we all know each other. We all have the same interests and I think that’s wonderful. We are all one big family.
If you could smoke one cigar for the rest of your life which one, would you choose?
D: Difficult question. I can only tell you that I would be happy to be able to smoke one but good cigar every day. Smoke less, but smoke the good one 😊
Are you currently involved in any ventures in the cigar industry we should know about?
D: Except Ambassador El Septimo’s brand- no, but I am open to all kinds of cooperation in tobacco industry. My goal in the future is to have my own brand.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
D: I would love to thank you for this Interview. It is an honor for me to see you how you are asking women what they think about this marvelous industry. I wish you a lot of success in the future.
