Contenders for "Habanos Man of the Year" in the Communications category

[El Presidente]

I am stunned Kirby didn't win it last year and he has to be a walk up start for this years award. 

Still there are always a conga line of insiders with close ties to those .....ah....working in the shadows   The runners up from last year may get their turn (generally do) if not this year then in the years to come. 

How far is Alex Groom away from being nominated?. I undertsand he is presenting his book "El Habano Moderno" to President Diaz himself 

Let's not forget Laurent who must be positioning himself for a run in 2026/7/8

What about Ken! Surely his work of promoting the fact that hobos can also smoke habanos is important. 

Contenders? 

 

 

 

[VeguerosMAN]

Don't forget Jasim - true ambassador of Cuban cigars and cigar lifestyle.

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, VeguerosMAN said:

Don't forget Jasim - true ambassador of Cuban cigars and cigar lifestyle.

Agreed. 

It is impossible to forget Jasim.

[riderpride]

Come on now - both Kirby and Jasim were nominated for the 2025 Habanos Golden Raspberry Awards. Ken remains in high standing and should not be included in that group, as long as he starts the 'Kencussions' segment. 

Cheers!

[Ford2112]

Ken is actually interesting and his knowledge of wines blows my mind. Kirby was the bellend to end all bellends until that Jasim guy showed up.

[SonicStag]

Sure Jasim won it a couple of years ago.

[ha_banos]

Maybe Jasby will win joint this year. Get it all over with. No one cares about this any more. Well ok I don't. 

Just pay everyone a living wage already.

[MrBirdman]

This made my morning!

Alex’s book is a treasure, certainly should have been nominated. 

[ATGroom]

Calling it the "Habanos Man of the Year" is a bit of a miss-translation. The award is "Hombre Habano" or "Habano Man" and it is given out annually, but it is more for lifetime achievement than for whoever did the best job this year. It is normal to be nominated a few times before winning.

• Jasim - already has one from 2023. Multiple awards are not unknown, but I think he is out of the running for 10 years or so.
• Alex Cigar Dandy - My money is on him. Has been nominated multiple times but not awarded. If he is nominated it is hard to see them snubbing him again.
• Kirby - Each way bet. Hard to beat by anyone except Alex Dandy. It is early in his 'career' as a Habano man, but he seems to have considerable favour in Cuba at the moment.
• Myself - very long odds. Whatever you think of my work, I have always been outside the system. My association with FoH and its regular anti-Revolution posts doesn't help.🤪 
• Laurent (HabanoNews) - As far as I know, you need to be present at the festival to receive the award.😁

Beyond those, there is a world of non-English language writers and influencers that are out there that are probably not on the radar of us on FoH. Basically, the way it works is that distributors can nominate a person they think is worthy and then make the case on their behalf. The winner is selected by HSA execs, but politics plays a big part.

[ha_banos]

Wonder if its time for a nod to China/Asia? Maybe time some of the big buyers can be recognised Xiaohong or Jimmy?

 

[Li Bai]

34 minutes ago, ATGroom said:

Calling it the "Habanos Man of the Year" is a bit of a miss-translation. The award is "Hombre Habano" or "Habano Man" and it is given out annually, but it is more for lifetime achievement than for whoever did the best job this year. It is normal to be nominated a few times before winning.

• Jasim - already has one from 2023. Multiple awards are not unknown, but I think he is out of the running for 10 years or so.
• Alex Cigar Dandy - My money is on him. Has been nominated multiple times but not awarded. If he is nominated it is hard to see them snubbing him again.
• Kirby - Each way bet. Hard to beat by anyone except Alex Dandy. It is early in his 'career' as a Habano man, but he seems to have considerable favour in Cuba at the moment.
• Myself - very long odds. Whatever you think of my work, I have always been outside the system. My association with FoH and its regular anti-Revolution posts doesn't help.🤪 
• Laurent (HabanoNews) - As far as I know, you need to be present at the festival to receive the award.😁

Beyond those, there is a world of non-English language writers and influencers that are out there that are probably not on the radar of us on FoH. Basically, the way it works is that distributors can nominate a person they think is worthy and then make the case on their behalf. The winner is selected by HSA execs, but politics plays a big part.

Fwiw you're the one who'd actually deserve an award for all his great work but if I had to pick from this list excluding you, I'd be less bothered to see Alex Cigar Dandy go home with it.

[Gubbins]

On 2/19/2025 at 7:09 AM, El Presidente said:

I am stunned Kirby didn't win it last year and he has to be a walk up start for this years award. 

Still there are always a conga line of insiders with close ties to those .....ah....working in the shadows   The runners up from last year may get their turn (generally do) if not this year then in the years to come. 

How far is Alex Groom away from being nominated?. I undertsand he is presenting his book "El Habano Moderno" to President Diaz himself 

Let's not forget Laurent who must be positioning himself for a run in 2026/7/8

What about Ken! Surely his work of promoting the fact that hobos can also smoke habanos is important. 

Contenders? 

You win Habanos man of the year.  You are offered to choose a single box of regular production Habanos that you will receive once per annum, perpetually, as is the tradition. What are you taking? Same question to everyone else as well.

I think Edward Sahakian won it in 2016 and has been getting a box of Cohiba Lanceros each year, since.

[El Presidente]

13 hours ago, ATGroom said:

• My association with FoH and its regular anti-Revolution posts doesn't help.🤪 

The award is small potatoes Alex. I am manoeuvring you to become President of Cuba. 

[MrBirdman]

9 hours ago, El Presidente said:

The award is small potatoes Alex. I am manoeuvring you to become President of Cuba. 

Definitely a step up Alex, I hear that job comes with a top-of-the-line private jet.