In early 2019, Bespoke Unit Founder Paul Anthony and Editor-in-Chief Charles-Philippe were invited by Klaas Kelner to visit Davidoff in the Dominican Republic. Watch this feature-length documentary to discover how Tabadom makes Davidoff cigars and learn about the full process.

SEE MORE:
View the extended versions of every scene with our separate videos!

What Do Tobacco Seeds Look Like?
   • How Are Cigar Tobacco Seeds Planted &...  

How Tobacco Is Grown:
   • How Tobacco Is Grown & Harvested For ...  

How Tobacco Is Cured & Fermented:
   • How Cigar Tobacco Is Cured, Fermented...  

How Cigars Are Blended:
   • How Are Premium Cigars Blended? Why D...  

How Tobacco Is Sorted & Prepared For Rolling:
   • How Tobacco Is Sorted & Prepared For ...  

How Cigars Are Rolled:
   • How To Hand Roll Premium Cigars: Step...  

Paul & CP Try Rolling Cigars:
   • FAIL! Bespoke Unit's Paul & CP Attemp...  

How Cigar Bands Are Applied:
   • How & Why Are Bands Glued To Cigars? ...  

Why Cigars Are Kept In Cellophane:
   • Why Are Cigars Sealed & Wrapped In Ce...  

Hendrik Kelner Full Interview:
   • Hendrik "Henke" Kelner Interview - Da...  

Klaas Kelner Full Interview:
   • Klaas Kelner Interview: Davidoff Seni...  

Eladio Diaz Full Interview:
   • Eladio Diaz Interview - Davidoff Ciga...  

Hamlet Espinal Full Interview:
   • Davidoff VP Global Production & Facto...  

Watch All Our Dominican Republic Videos:
   • Davidoff & Tabadom, Dominican Republic  

SYNOPSIS:

00:00 Opening Credits
Join us as we follow the tobacco's journey from humble seeds to finely-matured leaves that is expertly wrapped by craftsmen into the cigars that we know and love.

You will be guided by Klaas Kelner, Senior Brand Ambassador for Davidoff, who will take you on a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you will learn the intimate details of the cigar's production.

01:33 Introduction
You will meet Hendrik "Henke" Kelner, Tabadom's founder, Eladio Diaz, Davidoff's Master Blender, as well as Hamlet Espinal, the factory's general manager, who will share their unique insights as well as their most intimate secrets of the industry.

06:07 Tobacco Seeds
We will begin our adventure in one of Davidoff's 52 greenhouses, where we learn about their unique tobacco hybrids and watch the seeds being planted and cultivated into small plants.

15:58 Tobacco Fields
From there, we are whisked away to the Kelner farm where San Vicente tobacco is grown and harvested. Klaas will show you how the freshly cultivated tobacco leaves are taken to the curing barns.

34:36 Tobacco Fermentation
Afterwards, we travel to the fermentation warehouse and learn about the many years it takes to properly mature the tobacco until it's ready to be used.

45:00 Sorting Tobacco
Before heading to the factory, we see the meticulous process of the tobacco being sorted, deveined, and prepared before it can be used for making a cigar.

01:09:50 Blending Cigars
Furthermore, we see the blending process and even speak to Eladio Diaz, Davidoff's Master Blender.

01:16:01 Rolling Cigars
Finally, we arrive at the factory and witness first-hand the cigars being crafted by two of Davidoff's master rollers They show us how the filler is properly bunched and placed into the binder as well as how the wrapper is carefully applied afterwards.

01:26:20 Cigar Bands, Boxes, & Cellophane
Before our journey draws to a close, we also explore the steps that follow once the cigars have been properly rested. We learn how Davidoff sorts the fresh cigar by colour, how the bands are applied, and how (and why) they are sealed in cellophane before being boxed.

CREDITS:
Presented & Produced by Paul Anthony
Narrated & Directed by Charles-Philippe Bowles
Special Thanks to Klaas Kelner, Hendrik Kelner, Eladio Diaz, Hamlet Espinal, Julio Martinez, José "Nacho" Vásquez, Lisbeth Genao, and Anny Moronta

REMEMBER to comment! We'd love to hear what you thought about our first feature-length documentary and whether you have any questions about the process! We would also like to hear whether you want to see more like this in the future!

Yours,

The Bespoke Unit Team

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From Seed To Smoke: A Cigar's Odyssey | Feature Davidoff Documentary:
   • From Seed To Smoke: A Cigar's Odyssey...