A true master - Hendrik Kelner

James Leavey meets Hendrik Kelner, renowned master blender of Dominican premium cigars

When I visited Hendrik Kelner's office in Santiago earlier this year, I noticed what appeared to be two cigar Oscars on one of the shelves behind his desk.

Kelner, a small, easy-going man with a big warm smile who preferred discussing fine cigars to talking about his personal life, assured me they were just a pair of metal sculptures that he bought in Mexico. Yet somehow they seemed apt for if any man deserves the highest industry awards for his devotion to the Dominican Republic's cigar industry, it's Hendrik Kelner.

Known as Henke ('Henk-key') to his family, friends and colleagues, Kelner is one of the finest and most knowledgeable cigar blenders in the world.

For the past 36 years, he has been creating luxuriant Dominican smoke dreams for cigar aficionados.

The cigar masterclasses that Kelner has held in the Dominican Republic and America over the past decade are always well-attended, with retailers and aficionados hanging on to every word. Kelner's spoken English may, at times, be hesitant but his knowledge of cigars is worth its weight in golden wrapper leaf. If Kelner ever found the time to sit down and turn his lifelong experience of cigars into a book, it would be an instant classic.

He'd probably begin with the arrival of his father and one uncle in the Dominican Republic from Holland in 1925, to work in the tobacco industry.

The Dutch have a long history in world tobacco. Another two uncles went off to grow tobacco in Brazil.

Today, Hendrik Kelner, who will b.....

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By James Leavey

Section : Cigar Interviews

Page number : 12

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 5 on 15/09/2005.

This article is 83 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	A true master - Hendrik Kelner James Leavey meets Hendrik Kelner, renowned master blender of Dominican premium cigars When I visited Hendrik Kelner's office in Santiago earlier this year, I noticed what appeared to be two cigar Oscars on one of the shelves behind his desk. Kelner, a small, easy-going man with a big warm smile who preferred discussing fine cigars to talking about his personal life, assured me they were just a pair of metal sculptures that he bought in Mexico. Yet somehow they seemed apt for if any man deserves the highest industry awards for his devotion to the Dominican Republic's cigar industry, it's Hendrik Kelner. Known as Henke ('Henk-key') to his family, friends and colleagues, Kelner is one of the finest and most knowledgeable cigar blenders in the world. For the past 36 years, he has been creating luxuriant Dominican smoke dreams for cigar aficionados. The cigar masterclasses that Kelner has held in the Dominican Republic and America over the past decade are always well-attended, with retailers and aficionados hanging on to every word. Kelner's spoken English may, at times, be hesitant but his knowledge of cigars is worth its weight in golden wrapper leaf. If Kelner ever found the time to sit down and turn his lifelong experience of cigars into a book, it would be an instant classic. He'd probably begin with the arrival of his father and one uncle in the Dominican Republic from Holland in 1925, to work in the tobacco industry. The Dutch have a long history in world tobacco. Another two uncles went off to grow tobacco in Brazil. Today, Hendrik Kelner, who will b..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By James Leavey Section : Cigar Interviews Page number : 12 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 5 on 15/09/2005. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 83 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2012. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.