+600

STUDENTS

+30

COUNTRIES

5

CONTINENTS

50000

TRAINING HOURS

WHY US?

The IACS’ Cigar Sommelier Certificate is the most internationally recognized cigar education degree. IACS faculty members have participated as main speakers in the three major cigar festivals worldwide (Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Cuba).

Upon successful completion of the Cigar Sommelier programs, you will become a member of the IACS, which will provide access to exclusive material for continuous education in our learning platform, discounts, referral programs for career opportunities and exclusive benefits. You will not only graduate with a certificate that designates you as an expert in the cigar service, you will become a part of a community of BOTLs and SOTLs around the globe that strive to help each other grow.

WHO SHOULD STUDY THIS CERTIFICATION?

img_aficion
Aficionados & connoisseurs
img_somme
Sommeliers & hospitality professionals
img_bouti
Boutique brand owners
img_tobacco
Tobacconists & cigar lounge managers
img_distrib
Distributors
img_journal
Cigar journalists, bloggers & influencers

LEAD INSTRUCTOR

img_instruc

YAMIR PELEGRINO, PHD

MASTER WINE AND CIGAR SOMMELIER

Yamir was born in Cuba, he holds a degree in Social Sciences, a JD, a Master in Wine and Spirits Education and a PhD in Tourism. He is President of the American Gourmet Academy (AGA), Director of Education of the International Association of Cigar Sommeliers (IACS), Honorary Maître of the Republic of Cuba and former President of the Cuban Club of Sommeliers.

He was awarded “Best Sommelier of 2017” by Excellencias Group and obtained the Gourmand World Cookbooks Award twice (Considered as the Nobel of Gastronomic Literature). Best known as the “Sommelier of the Stars”, Yamir has hosted dinners with more than 110 Michellin Stars being responsible of the wine and cigar pairing.

Yamir is a pioneer of the cigar education, 30 years ago he co-created the Habano Sommelier concept. He has been jury of the International Habano Sommelier Contest and facilitator of cigar training seminars in the Habano Fest in Cuba, Procigar Festival in the Dominican Republic, Hainan Tobacco Festival in China and Puro Sabor Festival in Nicaragua.

COURSES AVAILABLE

CIGAR SOMMELIER

CERTIFICATE

This training covers all the core material to become knowledgeable on cigar service, tasting and pairing. Even though this program is originally designed to hospitality professionals, aficionados are welcome to join, the skills developed in this program can be used either to provide an exceptional service for hospitality or to achieve a new level of enjoyment for cigar enthusiasts. This training is divided in an e-learning prework, a two days classroom session and after class learning materials for a total of approximately 60 hours of study. After training students will be required to send five tasting sheets and successfully complete an online assessment and an oral exam to get the Cigar Sommelier Certificate

History
of tobacco

Conservation
and aging

Cigar
production

DETAILS

- The Taino civilization and the Discovery of tobacco.

- The tobacco in the world.

DETAILS

- Temperature and humidity

- Storage devices

- Aging and maturations

DETAILS

- The tobacco plant

- Varieties of tobacco

- Agricultural process

- Production and manufacturing

Pairing

Concepts

Etiquette and Service

DETAILS

- Principles of pairing

- Spirits tasting

- Rules for spirits pairing

- Coffee pairing

- Mixology and cigars

- Beer pairing

- Three course cigar pairing

DETAILS

- Cigar anatomy

- Blends & origins

- Strength

- Terroir

DETAILS

- Cut and lighting

- Etiquette

- Cigar service

ENROLL

MASTER CIGAR SOMMELIER

DIPLOMA

This training covers all the core material to become knowledgeable on cigar service, tasting and pairing. Even though this program is originally designed to hospitality professionals, aficionados are welcome to join, the skills developed in this program can be used either to provide an exceptional service for hospitality or to achieve a new level of enjoyment for cigar enthusiasts. This training is divided in an e-learning prework, a two days classroom session and after class learning materials for a total of approximately 60 hours of study. After training students will be required to send five tasting sheets and successfully complete an online assessment and an oral exam to get the Cigar Sommelier Certificate

History
of tobacco

Conservation
and aging

Cigar
production

DETAILS

History of iconic brands and families:

- Cohiba

- Davidoff

- Fuente

- Plasencia

DETAILS

- Cigar entrepreneurship

DETAILS

- Advanced terroir

- Tobacco biology and genetics

- Advanced agricultural process (Field visit)

- Advanced cigar manufacturing (Factory visit)

- Rolling techniques

Pairing

Concepts

Etiquette and Service

DETAILS

- Whisky & Whiskey

- Brandy, Cognac and Armagnac

- Tequila on the cigar pairing

- Rums of the Caribbean

- Wine pairing

  • Port
  • Champagne
  • Red wines

- Beer pairing

- Coffee & chocolate tasting

DETAILS

- Tobacco and health

DETAILS

- Advanced organoleptic analysis

- Blind tasting

ENROLL

ONLINE EDUCATION

GET YOUR CIGAR SOMMELIER DIPLOMA

RIGHT FROM YOUR HOME.

img-O-education
TEACHING
Training is done 100% online, ‘at your own pace’ with no time limits. In case you need it you can email your instructor and if required we can set up a face-to-face zoom meeting
EXAMINATION
The assessment process is exactly the same as in the classroom training. To successfully get certified the student must submit five tasting sheets (Cigars and spirits are not included), videos of the cutting and lighting process, complete an online assessment and an oral exam.
LEARNING MATERIALS
You are not required to buy any extra handbooks because the learning platform is updated constantly. Your access to the platform is permanent and you can download materials for your personal use. The training is identical than the classroom one: Utilizes the same content, videos and lectures. Materials are well illustrated, simple and designed by professionals in education to enhance self learning
CERTIFICATION
The online training provides the exact same diploma as you would in the classroom training

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS A CIGAR SOMMELIER?
The cigar Sommelier is the hospitality professional Responsible of providing an exceptional service and giving Gourmet recommendations for pairing cigars.
IS CIGAR SOMMELIER SOMETHING NEW IN THE GOURMET WORLD?
In early 2000’s Habanos S.A. in Cuba realized there was a Need to train and standardize the service of cigars in hospitality, so they teamed up with the President of the Cuban Club of Sommeliers and developed the Habano Sommelier standards that later on leaded to the Habano Sommelier Contest and education. Some years after, the President of the Cuban Sommeliers Club left Cuba and partner with a team of Sommeliers and education experts to develop a more extended curriculum, getting as a result what our cigar Sommelier program is today.
DO I REQUIRE PREVIOUS SOMMELIER EDUCATION BEFORE JOINING THE PROGRAM?
The program is suitable for both Sommeliers and cigar Aficionados, any previous education is not required. However, wine sommeliers will find easier the path since some concepts are similar between cigar and wine education. Furthermore, the organoleptic analysis skills are normally more developed on people who have already Gone through any Gourmet education
ARE YOUR PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY ANY CIGAR BRAND?
Our trainings are not influenced by any specific brand; as Any Other Gourmet education institution we aim to be independent. However, we do have Good relationship with premium brands and producers some of our trainings have been sponsored by distributors and companies such as Habanos, Rocky Pattel, La Familia Robaina Arturo Fuente or Davidoff, furthermore personalities like Hirochi Robaina (Habanos) or Henke Kelner (Davidoff) have recorded lectures that are currently part of our educational programs.
AFTER GRADUATING CAN I GET A JOB IN THE CIGAR INDUSTRY?
Some of our alumni have successfully got employed as cigar Sommeliers at five stars hotels, cigar lounges and “La Casa del Habano” franchises; others, got employed by recognized cigar companies and some others even started their own cigar brands. However, it is important to highlight that this certification does not Guarantee a job.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CIGAR SOMMELIER AND A TOBACCONIST?
There are some similarities, both of them should be Knowledgeable about the product, processes, flavor profiles and history but the Tobacconist is more focused on the retail while the cigar Sommelier focuses on the hospitality, so should have more knowledge on Gourmet pairings, etiquette and cigar service.
DOES BECOMING A CIGAR SOMMELIER GIVE ME THE TOOLS TO BECOME A MASTER BLENDER AND START MY OWN CIGAR COMPANY?
Not really, a Master Blender is a title that can be only earned by years of on-site training and experience working in the cigar industry. However, this training can help you to increase your knowledge and Get more technical vocabulary so you can better transmit to a master blender or cigar manufacturer what do you expect from the cigar you are making but will never substitute their experience.
CAN I TEACH AND CERTIFY MORE PEOPLE ONCE I GRADUATED FROM THE IACS´S PROGRAM?
We don’t offer any open “Instructor training”, our programs Do not offer the possibility to certify more people, we are very strict on the quality of our trainings, so only few people who have Graduated from our Master program are invited to become part of our faculty.

OUR GRADUATES IN THE WORLD

IACS-Alumni15
GRADUATE DETAIL
indiana Ortez

Indiana is General Manager in Mombacho Cigars, she is an experienced cigar roller and has been master blender of brands such as PsyKo 7 or Father Friends and Fire, in 2020 she was nominated as “Woman of the Year” in the Tobacco Business Awards.

Alexis Botherel
GRADUATE DETAIL

Alexis was born in Brittany, France, is a hospitality professional with Swiss education and international experience. He graduated as Wines & Spirits Sommelier from the WSET and the Burgundy School of Wine. Currently, Alexis is involved with the wine business in Burgundy.

IACS-Alumni17
GRADUATE DETAIL

Liz is responsible of Public Relations for the IACS, she has also positioned herself on social media as a “Cigar influencer” by owning one of the most popular Instagram accounts in the cigar community “@remarkableliz,”, Currently she lives in NYC where she leads private tastings and educational events.

Tommy
GRADUATE DETAIL

Mr. Liu is President of the International Association of Cigar Culture and director of Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, he is a wine importer and the official distributor for DeLord Armagnac in Grand China and owns Sommso, an amazing wine bar located in front of the emblematic Perl River in the City of Guangzhou.

IACS-Alumni7
GRADUATE DETAIL

Certified in wines, water, spirits, coffee, tea and cigars Mikaela is one of the most respected Sommeliers in South America, she is Director of the Brazilian Bars and Restaurants Association, Maître and restaurant owner business consultant and educator, she is also founder of the first smokers club for women in Sao Paulo

IACS-Alumni3
GRADUATE DETAIL

President of the Mexican Association of Cigar Sommeliers, Dentist by education, but his passion for cigars lead him to create one of the most emblematic cigar shops in Mexico City: “El Cigarrito”, with more than 25 years of operation. He is also certified by La Aurora Cigar Institute and Habanos Academy

IACS-Alumni14
GRADUATE DETAIL

Paul is a specialist in soft commodities trading, he is currently partner of several coffee endeavors in New York City and Colombia, as well as Cigar Factory in Medellin where he produces high-quality cigars with strong focus in regional tobacco development throughout Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

IACS-Alumni12
GRADUATE DETAIL

Vivian is the Taiwan Development Commissioner of the Cigar Culture Promotion Committee. She is WSET certified wine sommelier, Specialist in Sake by the Sake Service Institute in Japan and CSP by the Specialty Coffee Association. Currently she organizes gourmet tours and tasting events for the top Fortune 500 companies in Taiwan.

IACS-Alumni15
Indiana is General Manager in Mombacho Cigars, she is an experienced cigar roller and has been master blender of brands such as PsyKo 7 or Father Friends and Fire, in 2020 she was nominated as “Woman of the Year” in the Tobacco Business Awards.
Alexis Botherel
Alexis was born in Brittany, France, is a hospitality professional with Swiss education and international experience. He graduated as Wines & Spirits Sommelier from the WSET and the Burgundy School of Wine. Currently, Alexis is involved with the wine business in Burgundy.
IACS-Alumni17
Liz is responsible of Public Relations for the IACS, she has also positioned herself on social media as a “Cigar influencer” by owning one of the most popular Instagram accounts in the cigar community “@remarkableliz,”, Currently she lives in NYC where she leads private tastings and educational events.
Tommy
Mr. Liu is President of the International Association of Cigar Culture and director of Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, he is a wine importer and the official distributor for DeLord Armagnac in Grand China and owns Sommso, an amazing wine bar located in front of the emblematic Perl River in the City of Guangzhou.
IACS-Alumni7
Certified in wines, water, spirits, coffee, tea and cigars Mikaela is one of the most respected Sommeliers in South America, she is Director of the Brazilian Bars and Restaurants Association, Maître and restaurant owner business consultant and educator, she is also founder of the first smokers club for women in Sao Paulo.
IACS-Alumni3
President of the Mexican Association of Cigar Sommeliers, Dentist by education, but his passion for cigars lead him to create one of the most emblematic cigar shops in Mexico City: “El Cigarrito”, with more than 25 years of operation. He is also certified by La Aurora Cigar Institute and Habanos Academy.
IACS-Alumni14
Paul is a specialist in soft commodities trading, he is currently partner of several coffee endeavors in New York City and Colombia, as well as Cigar Factory in Medellin where he produces high-quality cigars with strong focus in regional tobacco development throughout Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
IACS-Alumni12
Vivian is the Taiwan Development Commissioner of the Cigar Culture Promotion Committee. She is WSET certified wine sommelier, Specialist in Sake by the Sake Service Institute in Japan and CSP by the Specialty Coffee Association. Currently she organizes gourmet tours and tasting events for the top Fortune 500 companies in Taiwan.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM