Momento Cigars
The cigar that can only be given, not bought
At Momento Cigars, every leaf, every barrel, and every stage of craftsmanship tells a story of devotion and rarity.
What truly sets Momento Cigars apart is not only their craftsmanship, but their philosophy: Momento Cigars are not for sale.
They can only be received directly from the owner, and only as a personal gift. To receive one, you must be referred with the highest esteem—someone of distinguished reputation, noble character, or exceptional accomplishment
Our Signature Collections
At Momento Cigars, every leaf, every barrel, and every stage of craftsmanship tells a story of devotion and rarity.
What truly sets Momento Cigars apart is not only their craftsmanship, but their philosophy:
They can only be received directly from the owner, and only as a personal gift. To receive one, you must be referred with the highest esteem—someone of distinguished reputation, noble character, or exceptional accomplishment.
El Gobernador
Commanding, bold, and unforgettable—crafted for those who lead with conviction.
Gibraltar Guardian
Smooth yet powerful, inspired by the enduring strength of Gibraltar.
Hoya de Andalucía
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Magna Carta
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Our Story
Momento Cigars was born from a single shared moment—a quiet pause between friends, when inspiration meets craftsmanship. The co-founders Carlo Mason and Steven Patrick created the idea during one of their many conversations about tradition, excellence, and the art of tobacco. What began as a simple exchange soon grew into a vision: to craft a cigar so exceptional, so personal, and so rare that it could never be bought—only given.
Steven, a British-born gentleman now residing in Gibraltar, serves as Chief Innovator of Plantations in South America. His work oversees the meticulous selection, cultivation, and supervision of the tobacco plants at their earliest stages. His understanding of soil, climate, and variety forms the foundation of every Momento cigar.
Carlo, Italian-born and now living between Tarifa and Jerez, acts as Director General and Master of Taste. He is responsible for flavor development, maturation oversight, and the final approval of each cigar before it leaves the hands of the craftsmen. From the curing rooms to the barrels to the packaging of the finished piece, Carlo ensures that every cigar carries the unmistakable character and identity of Momento.
Together, they formed a partnership built on heritage, precision, and shared passion. Their backgrounds—British and Italian, Gibraltar and Andalucía, Caribbean tobacco fields and European aging traditions—blend into a unique philosophy: a cigar is not simply made; it is created, curated, and gifted.
Momento Cigars remains a personal expression of that philosophy. Each cigar is a testament to their friendship, their experience, and their commitment to excellence. It is not a brand born from marketing, but from a true moment—one that continues to define every leaf, every barrel, and every gifted cigar.
So far Momento Cigars are often shared with:
- members of royal families,
- internationally renowned entrepreneurs and philanthropists,
- celebrated artists and entertainers,
- award-winning actors, directors, and creators,
- and individuals whose influence and integrity place them among the world’s most respected.
This tradition preserves the exclusivity, mystique, and personal significance of every cigar. Each one is a gesture of honor—never a transaction.
The Journey
The Art of the Leaf
Every Momento cigar begins with a single leaf—an element shaped by sun, soil, wind, and time. For us, the leaf is more than raw material; it is a living archive of its origins, a vessel that carries the history of the plant and the legacy of those who cultivated it.
Our process begins in Cuba, where thousands of plants sway under the Caribbean sun. From these fields, only a very select few are chosen, each one evaluated not only for appearance but for potential. This selection is an art in itself: understanding which leaf will carry sweetness, which will carry depth, and which will bring balance to the final blend.
In Nicaragua, the leaves continue their journey under the guidance of expert groundsmen with more than forty years of experience. They observe each plant with almost instinctive precision—identifying the perfect moment to harvest, cure, and prepare the tobacco for its next transformation. The work is slow, meticulous, and deeply human.
Only the very best leaves—those with character, structure, and soul—are chosen for Momento. These leaves are sorted by hand. They are touched, felt, inspected under natural light. There is no machine capable of making these judgments. This is the art of the leaf: respecting its nature while refining it into something extraordinary.
A Momento cigar is defined not by what we add, but by what we refuse to compromise. Every leaf must earn its place.
The Gibraltar Aging Method
From the rich soils of Cuba and Nicaragua, our tobacco takes an unexpected journey—to the legendary Rock of Gibraltar. Here, in one of the most distinctive microclimates in the world, the leaves undergo a maturation process that gives Momento Cigars their unmistakable identity.
Gibraltar’s natural environment—80% humidity, constant sea-salt air, and limestone caverns—creates conditions unlike anywhere else on earth. The leaves rest in these chambers, absorbing the subtle mineral qualities of the rock and the gentle salinity carried in the Mediterranean breeze. This interaction infuses the tobacco with depth, roundness, and a whisper of aritime character that cannot be imitated.
But the process does not end there.
The maturing tobacco is then placed in red oak barrels from Jerez, previously used to age fine brandy. These barrels lend a final layer of refinement: a warm sweetness, delicate oak tones, and a quiet richness that settles deep into the leaf. This combination—salt air, humidity, limestone, and brandy oak—is the heart of the Gibraltar Aging Method.
No other cigar in the world follows this path. No other cigar can.
It is a method born from curiosity, perfected through patience, and executed with intention. The result is a cigar with complexity, elegance, and a sense of place—an expression of the journey from Cuba to Nicaragua to Gibraltar, shaped by the vision of its creators.
This is the signature of Momento Cigars: a maturation process as rare as the cigars themselves.
The Philosophy of Rarity
Rarity is not an accident—it is a discipline. At Momento Cigars, rarity begins long before a leaf is rolled or a barrel is filled. It starts with intention: the intention to create something that cannot be replicated, mass-produced, or purchased at any price.
Every stage of a Momento cigar’s life is touched by scarcity. Only a fraction of Cuban plants are selected. Only the most exceptional leaves from Nicaragua continue to maturation. Only a limited number of barrels from Jerez meet the standards required for aging. And only a small number of cigars are completed each year—far fewer than demand could ever fulfill.
But rarity, for us, is not about limitation. It is about meaning.
A Momento is not a commodity. It is a gesture. It is a cigar that cannot be bought, not because of exclusivity for its own sake, but because it carries something deeper: personal connection, respect, and recognition. Each cigar is gifted directly by the founders to individuals of notable integrity, accomplishment, or contribution—those who shape culture, lead with distinction, or inspire others.
By removing commercial value, we elevate the personal value. The cigar becomes a symbol of appreciation. A token of trust. A moment shared between people who make their mark on the world.
This is the essence of our philosophy: True rarity lies not in price or quantity, but in significance.
A Momento cigar is rare because it represents something more than craftsmanship—it represents the bond between giver and receiver, the journey of the leaf, and the tradition that defines who we are.
Our cigars are created to be treasured, remembered, and experienced with intention. They are born from passion, refined through patience, and shared only with those who understand their meaning.
This is the philosophy that guides us. This is Momento.
Our Team
Carlo Mason
Steven Patrick
Daniel Cortez Perez
Momento Cigars World Wide is proud to introduce Daniel Cortez Perez as our Chief Global Distributor, a figure whose refined palate and profound knowledge redefine the luxury cigar experience. A young Spanish native, Daniel brings a unique blend of high-end hospitality and specialized expertise that is invaluable to our brand and our clients.
Daniel is more than just a cigar enthusiast; he is a formally recognized Cigar Sommelier. Drawing on his background as a successful restaurateur in Spain, he approaches the cigar experience with the same dedication to quality, provenance, and the perfect harmony of flavors.
The Master of the Marriage
Daniel’s true expertise lies in the nuanced Art of the Pairing. He possesses a comprehensive, near-encyclopedic knowledge of how to perfectly match the complex profiles of premium cigars with the world’s finest spirits.
His guidance is essential for those seeking the ultimate sensory experience, advising on the ideal companions for every blend, including Brandies: Whiskies: Rums:
As our Chief Global Distributor, Daniel Cortez Perez is committed to ensuring that every box of Momento Cigars delivered worldwide carries his seal of approval, guaranteeing quality, and comes with the expertise to transform a simple smoke into a memorable occasion.