“La Grande Dame” Limited Edition by Laura Chavin is an homage to Irene Seiler, the Grande Dame of the German cigar trade.
Irene Seiler founded Rauchkultur Seiler in 1998 in Bensheim, a small town in the Bergstrasse district in southern Hesse. It must have been at this time that she and Willi Knopf’s, owner of Laura Chavin, paths crossed for the first time. 25 years later, Rauchkultur Seiler is one of this brand’s most committed cigar dealers.
As a consequence of this close cooperation, the idea of developing a cigar in a limited edition for Irene Seiler came about. She had clearly defined the specifications. It was supposed to be a cigar in a Toro size (52 x 152mm – 6″), and she was also very specific about the taste. Preceding was the mandatory Laura Chavin – internal selection process. Only a few subjects were left on the shortlist, and the decision was made quickly. What Irene Seiler didn’t know then: in preparation for the Laura Chavin portfolio, Willi Knopf had had very special tobaccos put aside months earlier. Selected tobaccos initially intended to be used for Laura Chavin’s Limitada. But the number of beautiful, oily wrappers was not enough. After its completion in November 2021, the cigars were aged in the humidor of the Tabacalera in Villa González in a large cedar box specially made for Limitadas. A year later, it went on a long journey toward its destination. The cigar was given another six months to acclimatize to the humidors of the Cigar Company Willi Knopf.
“La Grande Dame” is a Dominican puro and a limited edition of 2,000 cigars. The creative department of the advertising agency Knopf developed the product design. Noble 10-ct boxes made of mahogany combined with a high-gloss lacquer in off-white and copper elements – matching the no less elaborate cigar rings in the same colors, additionally provided with a relief embossing. The retail price is set at €24 per cigar.