Chateau Diadem
Chateau Diadem, a lifelong dream come true.
Unlike the majority of the most famous cigar brands, which have been in the business for decades or even centuries, the beginnings of Chateau Diadem started in 2020. The story that is being written is the fruit of the passions that unite two cousins: Emily Sahakian and Thierry Farah, who both grew up in Geneva. Their ambition and will to succeed were the driving forces behind the establishment of what is today a modern and bold cigar house in full expansion.
Inseparable from a young age, Emily and Thierry were both raised in a relatively cigar-oriented environment. Thierry's father, who always carried his favorite cigar, the Romeo y Julieta Churchill Tubos, passed on his taste for the finest goods. In his office, several years ago, the two children already played the "cigar dealer", without imagining the destiny which was reserved to them... Meeting with Emily and Thierry, co-founders of Chateau Diadem.
While Thierry began his studies in the Boston Business School, he immersed himself more in the world of tobacco through the famous magazine Cigar Aficionado, thus multiplying his interest and his affection for the art that represents the confection of a cigar. Moreover, the rise of the Cigar Boom in the 1990's opened the way for the non-Cuban cigars on the market. So, back in Switzerland in 1996, he immediately used his entrepreneurial skills to establish his first cigar trading company.
On her side, Emily evolves professionally in New York, in the world of exceptional wines and spirits, forging her passion for noble products, accessories and crafts. It is at this point that her closest friend, Thierry, suggested her to join him so they can work together. Realizing the similarities between wine and premium cigars: the quality of the craftsmanship and the way of tasting the product, but with a very different palette, Emily will naturally accept the proposal, with enthusiasm.
"Let's do this!" exclaimed the two companions in chorus, at this moment of the narration. They will therefore gather their personal experiences to embark on a new ambitious and fascinating adventure: first, the two cousins will create an artisanal line of Swiss chocolates dedicated to aficionados, thus creating a complete palette of sensory experiences.
The dream of one day making their own vitolas continued to grow, stimulated by numerous tastings abroad. Soon after, their determination was strengthened by the distancing and confinement imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as their irrepressible desire to make a dream come true, at a time when life and the future seemed so uncertain: "It was during this unpredictable context that we imagined, for the first time, Chateau Diadem," explains Thierry.
The beginnings of what will become Chateau Diadem will be presented for the first time during the international InterTabac trade fair, Dortmund 2020. The question of the choice of the blend quickly arose and despite all the difficulties linked to Covid, the curfews and the setbacks, Emily and Thierry undertook a first trip to the Dominican Republic.
During 14 days, they tested and retested hundreds of different tobaccos, in search of the perfect blend. 6 blends from fresh tobaccos were selected, so it was necessary to wait 3 months to let them ferment. As with wine, it is a crucial step in the formation of flavors. During this time, the two allies worked on the development of the strategy, the design, the choice of modules... with the same ambition as day one.
Back in the Dominican Republic, the ideal blend was validated. The two cousins, driven by an unwavering passion, boundless enthusiasm and an inexhaustible entrepreneurial spirit, pushed the limits and constraints imposed by the pandemic and brought their first line, "CONVICTION", to life.
Less than a year after the creation of this "ex nihilo" company, the first "workshop", as Emily likes to call it, of Chateau Diadem, will open its doors in Navarette, Dominican Republic. Inside, 9 craftsmen as well as the chef of the Galera work to roll the cigars perfectly, before letting them settle for 5 more months. This choice, to work in small committee, allows a total control on the quality of the vitolas, an authentic welcome for the amateurs of the brand but also a personalized manufacture.
These values are fundamental for Emily and Thierry who make everything themselves. If they do not have crops, they really impose themselves as outstanding manufacturers: "Everything that concerns the culture or the fermentation of tobacco represents a profession of its own. Our job starts with the making of the cigar and everything is done at home, in our workshop!". Unlike a "White Label", the founders of the brand are at the origin of each step of the cigar creation process: from the choice of the blend, through the making of the vitolas, to the design of the boxes.
Now let's go back to the first line of Chateau Diadem:
CONVICTION is an invitation to enjoy a complex and generous cigar, with rich flavors evolving throughout the tasting. This line is composed of 6 vitolas: a Toro (52 x 152 mm), a Double Robusto (55 x 140 mm), a Robusto (50 x 127 mm), a Gordo (60 x 152 mm), a Belicoso (55 x 140 mm) as well as a Petit Belicoso (44 x 102 mm).
Made from an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper, a Dominican Olor binder and a blend of Nicaraguan Criollo Estelí, Dominican Criollo 98 and Piloto Cubano tobaccos, these cigars are the perfect expression of Emily and Thierry's attention to detail.
From the box to the ring that dresses the cigars, everything has been designed to reflect the fundamental values of the brand: tradition, elegance, commitment to quality and, of course, conviction.
The choice of the name "Chateau" highlights the elegant and sophisticated atmosphere that accompanies the tasting of cigars. Inspired by dreamy places, this name evokes an atmosphere of prestige and comfort that perfectly reflects the experience the brand wishes to offer its aficionados.
The term "Diadem" is intended to symbolize the artisanal and meticulous nature of the manufacture of each cigar. Expressing an idea of crowning achievement and success, the name evokes the meticulous work of a craftsman crafting a unique work of art.
The future of the brand looks just as dynamic as its beginnings: Emily and Thierry are already working on the next blend, scheduled for 2024. They are also developing, at this exact moment, a range of accessories dedicated to aficionados, taking up the colorful design conceived by Emily herself. The more the days go by, the more the two enthusiasts think big and come up with ideas for the "project of their lives": "The sky's the limit!" they exclaim with an infectious enthusiasm.
In this way, the process of creating cigars by Chateau Diadem is a true art form of precision and creative mastery. In spite of the difficulties encountered by the two enthusiasts, Thierry and Emily, they have rapidly integrated Chateau Diadem into the heart of the most appreciated cigar brands of demanding amateurs. An authentic testimony of perseverance and ambition...
To find out more about Chateau Diadem and the history of the brand, we would be delighted to welcome you in our walk-in humidor, where you will find our selection of cigars of the brand.
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