Celebrating Our Sisters of the Leaf Worldwide
Every September, Ash Hole Cigar Club recognizes the women who continue to shape, strengthen and elevate cigar culture around the world.
Family. Culture. Respect for the Leaf.
Women Have Always Been Part of the Story
From tobacco fields and rolling tables to blending rooms, lounges, businesses, events, media and leadership, women have earned their place in the history, present and future of the premium cigar industry.
For Ash Hole Cigar Club, that recognition is personal. Our Sisters of the Leaf are leaders, members, supporters, innovators, professionals, entrepreneurs and friends who help define the culture we continue to build.
We call ourselves a family for a reason. Without our sisters, the family is not complete.
Throughout September, we celebrate women throughout Ash Hole Cigar Club and Sisters of the Leaf everywhere. We recognize knowledge of the leaf, leadership, accomplishments, influence and, most importantly, the value women continue to bring to cigar culture.
This is not about making room at the table. You have already earned your seat.
We see you.
We respect you.
We appreciate you.
And this month, we celebrate you.
More Than One Role
The Women Behind the Leaf
Premium cigar culture exists because of an entire ecosystem. The contribution of women reaches far beyond any single job title or position.
01
Tobacco & Agriculture
Cultivation, harvesting, curing, fermentation and tobacco selection begin long before a finished cigar reaches a humidor.
02
Craftsmanship
Skilled cigar makers, rollers, bunchers, supervisors and quality-control professionals preserve techniques that can take years to master.
03
Blending & Product
Palate, tobacco knowledge, experimentation and production discipline help transform raw leaf into distinctive premium cigars.
04
Business & Leadership
Owners, executives, operators and entrepreneurs influence brands, distribution, retail strategy and the future direction of the industry.
05
Lounges & Hospitality
Retailers, tobacconists and hospitality professionals create the physical spaces where cigar communities meet, learn and build relationships.
06
Media & Community
Writers, reviewers, photographers, creators, event organizers and community leaders help cigar culture reach new audiences and new generations.
Women in Premium Cigars
A Few Women Who Helped Shape the Industry
No short list can represent every woman whose work has influenced premium cigars. These stories are examples of women whose roles in major cigar companies have been documented by established cigar-industry publications.
Co-Founder • Operations • Sales
Ines Lorenzo-Gomez
La Flor Dominicana
Ines Lorenzo-Gomez helped establish what became La Flor Dominicana alongside Litto Gomez in the 1990s. While Litto concentrated heavily on the factory and cigarmaking side of the company, Ines became a central force behind the business, including distribution and sales operations. What began as a small cigar venture developed into one of the most recognizable family-owned names in premium cigars.
Leadership • Operations • Product
Janny Garcia
My Father Cigars
Janny Garcia represents another generation of one of the industry's best-known cigar families. Alongside her father José "Pepín" Garcia and her brother Jaime, she has played an active role in leading My Father Cigars. Her work has included business operations as well as cigar projects such as La Dueña, demonstrating that leadership and product development are not separate worlds.
Family Leadership • Legacy
Cynthia Fuente-Suarez
Arturo Fuente
Cynthia Fuente-Suarez is part of the Fuente family's multigenerational premium cigar legacy. Industry reporting has documented her involvement in the family business alongside Carlos Fuente Sr., Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. and other members of the Fuente family. Her career illustrates an important truth about cigar history: many of its legendary companies were built and sustained by entire families, not a single famous name.
Brand Development • Marketing
Liana Fuente
Fuente Family
Liana Fuente spent 15 years working within the Arturo Fuente organization and served as vice president of brand development. Her work included branding, marketing, advertising and creative projects, showing how modern premium-cigar legacy depends not only on tobacco and manufacturing, but also on how a century-old story is communicated to new generations.
Editorial note: This section is intended as recognition, not a definitive ranking of women in premium cigars. The cigar industry spans generations, countries and thousands of professionals whose contributions cannot reasonably be reduced to a four-person list.
AHCC September Spotlight
Sisters, Send Us Your Story
During September, Ash Hole Cigar Club is placing the women of our community where they belong: front and center. We want to introduce the community to the people behind the cigars, conversations, businesses and relationships.
AHCC Sisters
Submit Your SOTL Spotlight
Send us:
- A clear photograph of yourself
- A short biography
- What you enjoy most about the cigar community
- Your Instagram handle
Remember to attach your photograph before sending.
Recognition Beyond AHCC
Know a Sister Who Deserves Recognition?
She does not have to be an Ash Hole Cigar Club member. If you know a Sister of the Leaf whose contribution, character, knowledge or love for the leaf deserves recognition, nominate her.
A simple introduction may help the wider cigar community discover a woman whose story deserves a larger audience.
To Every Sister of the Leaf
Recognize Her.
Celebrate Her.
Share Her Story.
Tag a Sister of the Leaf who deserves recognition and help her story travel farther through the cigar community.
Sisters of the Leaf
About the Celebration
What does "Sister of the Leaf" mean?
Sister of the Leaf is a community expression commonly used for women who participate in and contribute to cigar culture. That may include enthusiasts, tobacconists, cigar makers, brand professionals, entrepreneurs, lounge owners, media professionals and industry leaders.
Do I have to be an AHCC member to be recognized?
No. AHCC is celebrating its own Sisters of the Leaf while also recognizing women throughout the wider cigar community.
How can an AHCC Sister submit her story?
Send a clear photograph, a short biography, your Instagram handle and a few words about what you enjoy most about the cigar community using the submission link on this page.
Can I nominate someone else?
Yes. Submit her name, Instagram profile and a brief explanation of why you believe her story or contribution deserves recognition.
Ash Hole Cigar Club
Sisters of the Leaf Make the Family Stronger.
Great cigar culture is built through knowledge, relationships, craftsmanship and respect for the people behind the leaf. September is our opportunity to make those stories more visible.
Family. Culture. Respect for the Leaf.
