Cigars and rum didn’t magically arrive in the Caribbean; they were born there. The tobacco fields of the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Nicaragua and the sugarcane distilleries that have been producing world-class spirits for centuries are part of the region’s DNA. So it’s somewhat surprising that it took this long for someone to build a proper festival around them. Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in La Romana is correcting that oversight this June, and doing it in the most Casa de Campo way imaginable.
From June 25th through 27th, Casa de Campo will host the inaugural Caribbean Cigar & Rum Festival, billed as Cigars in Paradise. It’s the first consumer cigar festival of its kind in the region, and already shaping up to be one of the most compelling events on the luxury lifestyle calendar. Guests will enjoy three days of world-class cigars, premium rum, expert seminars, golf on one of the planet’s most beautiful courses, and evenings that drift from cocktail receptions to late-night pairings under the stars. The resort, which has welcomed everyone from Michael Jordan to Beyoncé over its 50-plus year history, describes itself as “more than just cigar friendly” — and this festival is the proof.
The centerpiece of the weekend is Cigars in Paradise, a two-evening showcase held Friday and Saturday at the Marina Riverside Center, where guests can move through a Grand Tasting Pavilion sampling offerings from the world’s top cigar brands alongside premium rums, chocolates, liqueurs, and more. Friday night closes with a Dominican Perfect Pair featuring La Aurora with E. Leon Jimenez rum. Saturday night goes in a different direction entirely with a Whisky & Cigar Pairing from 10:30pm, for those who find rum too easy.
The days are equally compelling. Mornings begin with a Cigar Breakfast at Lago, the resort’s beloved open-air restaurant overlooking the greens and the sea. Golfers then head out for two rounds across Casa de Campo’s legendary Pete Dye layouts — a first round Friday on the Dye Fore course, and the main event Saturday on Teeth of the Dog, the #1-ranked course in the Caribbean. Non-golfers on Friday get something arguably more interesting: a private tour of Destilería Casa Brugal in San Pedro, one of the Dominican Republic’s most celebrated rum producers. Saturday morning offers a Cigars, Trap & Skeet Shooting Contest at the resort’s world-class 245-acre Shooting Range.
Afternoons on both days feature cigar seminars at the Flamboyan Conference Center, hosted by two names that carry serious weight in the industry: George Brightman, a cigar veteran and former Cigar Aficionado editor, and Erik Calvino, editor of Cigar Snob Magazine. Together they’ll lead panels and tastings that are designed to be genuinely educational. Also on hand are Fred Rewey, co-owner of CigarPress and a recognized voice in the premium cigar community, and Penelope de León, a lifestyle and cigar personality.
The event opens Thursday evening with a Welcome Cigar & Cocktail Reception and Buffet Dinner at the Minitas Pool Bar — arguably the best possible introduction to what Casa de Campo can do when it decides to entertain — and closes Sunday morning with a Farewell Cigar Breakfast before guests check out.
All-inclusive packages cover three nights of lodging in a private villa, elite hotel room, or premier suite; all meals; unlimited drinks across the resort’s bars and restaurants; both rounds of golf; the spa day pass; airport transfers; and the Brugal distillery tour. Personal golf carts are included (the resort’s signature amenity) and, for 7,000 acres of paradise, a practical necessity. The festival expects around 800 guests per day, drawing from Casa de Campo’s private homeowner community, resort guests, and visitors arriving from Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, and well beyond.
For cigar lovers who have always suspected that the best place to smoke is somewhere warm, unhurried, and unapologetically luxurious, Casa de Campo is the ideal spot.
Photos courtesy of Casa de Campo, unless otherwise noted
