DAVID DAVTIAN
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Cigar Entrepreneur · Brand Founder · Industry Leader
Founder & Owner, DAVTIAN Premium Cigars
“The best tobacco is not grown — it is gifted by the land to those who wait with patience.”
— Dominican tobacco proverb
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Professional Biography · 2026
A Life Shaped by Tobacco, Craftsmanship, and the Pursuit of Excellence
David Davtian is a cigar entrepreneur, international industry figure, and the founder of DAVTIAN Premium Cigars — a boutique cigar house rooted in Dominican craftsmanship and over two decades of global experience in the premium tobacco trade. From the tobacco fields of the Cibao Valley to cigar lounges across four continents, Davtian has built a career defined by an unwavering commitment to quality, cultural authenticity, and the art of the handmade cigar.
Roots in Tobacco: A Family Legacy
David Davtian’s connection to cigars began not in a boardroom, but in childhood — watching his grandfather and father, a well-known cigar aficionado whose home humidors held the finest premium brands of the era. Those early memories of rich aromas, reverent rituals, and carefully curated collections planted the seeds of a lifelong passion that would eventually become a global career.
Walking with Giants: The Formative Years
In the early 1990s, David Davtian gained his first direct exposure to the international cigar industry through encounters in Switzerland, Austria, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the United Kingdom. During this remarkable period, he had the privilege of meeting and learning from some of the most legendary figures in cigar history:
Zino Davidoff — the visionary founder of the Davidoff brand and architect of modern luxury cigar culture, whose Geneva shop became the global symbol of cigar refinement;
Hendrik “Henke” Kelner — the legendary Dominican tobacco master who in 1984 founded Tabacos Dominicanos (Tabadom) in Villa González, Dominican Republic, and built it into the manufacturing powerhouse behind Oettinger Davidoff AG. As the architect of Davidoff’s transition from Cuban to Dominican production, Kelner is widely credited with ensuring the brand not only survived but flourished. A pioneering tobacco grower, master blender, and the founder and president of ProCigar (the Dominican association of cigar manufacturers), Kelner remains one of the most influential figures in the history of Dominican cigar making;
Cano Ozgener — the American entrepreneur and founder of CAO International, who built CAO from a Nashville pipe company into one of the most innovative and internationally distributed cigar brands of the modern era, with distribution spanning over 100 countries before its acquisition by Scandinavian Tobacco Group;
José Orlando Padrón — the patriarch of the Padrón family, founder of Padrón Cigars, and a towering figure of the Nicaraguan cigar industry whose brand consistently ranks among the highest-rated in the world;
and Carlos Fuente — the legendary head of Arturo Fuente, whose family has shaped Dominican cigar production for over a century, producing some of the most revered and collected cigars ever made.
These formative encounters gave Davtian an education that no textbook could offer — a firsthand understanding of what it means to build a cigar legacy through uncompromising quality, deep knowledge of tobacco, and genuine respect for the craft.
Beyond these pivotal meetings, David Davtian cultivated deep, lasting friendships with several of the most iconic Armenian figures in the global cigar pantheon. He maintained a close bond over many years with Avo Uvezian, the legendary Armenian-American jazz musician and cigar manufacturer whose AVO brand — created in partnership with Hendrik Kelner and later acquired by Davidoff — became one of the most celebrated names in the premium cigar world. Davtian also shared a longstanding friendship with Edward Sahakian, the revered Armenian-born founder of Davidoff of London on St James’s Street — widely regarded as the finest cigar shop in the world — and recipient of the Habanos Man of the Year award, whose family has set the standard for luxury cigar retail for over four decades. Equally significant was his friendship with Dr. Paul Garmirian, the Armenian-American scholar, author, and creator of the acclaimed PG Cigars brand — whose groundbreaking book The Gourmet Guide to Cigars helped define the modern premium cigar landscape, and whose cigars have been enjoyed by American presidents including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. These relationships, united by shared Armenian heritage and a common devotion to the art of the cigar, placed Davtian within a remarkable circle of industry titans whose collective influence spans manufacturing, retail, publishing, and brand-building at the highest levels.
Mastering the Craft: Years in the Tobacco Heartlands
Before launching his own brand, David Davtian spent seven years studying tobacco cultivation, curing, and cigar production across the four great cigar-producing nations: the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Honduras. He immersed himself in every stage of the process — from seed selection and soil management in the fields, to the delicate art of fermentation in the curing barns, to the precision of hand-rolling on the factory floor. This rare depth of practical, on-the-ground experience across multiple origins gave Davtian an encyclopedic understanding of different tobacco terroirs, flavor profiles, and production traditions that continues to inform every DAVTIAN blend.
Building an International Cigar Enterprise
In the early 2000s, David Davtian launched his professional career in the cigar industry through distribution and retail operations. His commercial footprint rapidly expanded across multiple regions: Armenia — where he established prestigious duty-free cigar operations at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport — as well as Georgia, Russia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
In 2006, David Davtian was elected President of the Armenian Cigar Association, a position he has held with distinction ever since. Under his leadership, the Association became a vehicle for professionalizing the cigar industry in the region. He organized comprehensive cigar business and etiquette training programs with official certification, raising the standard for retailers, hospitality professionals, and enthusiasts alike. He also authored more than 30 published articles on cigar etiquette, history, and the cultural heritage of the cigar industry — establishing himself as one of the foremost educators and thought leaders in the Eastern European and Eurasian cigar community.
In 2007, Davtian also initiated and produced the “Support Our Troops” campaign — a charitable action that reflected his belief that the cigar community’s spirit of camaraderie and generosity extends well beyond the lounge.
On the World Stage: Events, Partnerships, and Industry Leadership
Since 2007, David Davtian has been an active member of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) (formerly the Retail Tobacco Dealers of America / RTDA), the leading trade organization for the premium cigar industry in the United States. His PCA membership places him alongside the most prominent manufacturers, retailers, and brands in the global cigar trade.
Throughout his career, Davtian has conceived and organized major international cigar events in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious luxury and hospitality brands. His collaborations have included Marriott International (including the First Power Cigar Lunch at JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Pernod Ricard, Bentley (including the centenary celebration at Bentley of Tysons Corner, Virginia), and Aston Martin — underscoring the natural connection between premium cigars and the broader world of luxury lifestyle.
Among his signature productions are the internationally recognized High Smoke Festivals, within whose framework Davtian served as producer and author of the nominations and trophies for the “Best of the Best” ceremony — a prestigious recognition honoring excellence in the cigar world. He has also organized regional Big Smoke events, bringing together aficionados, industry leaders, and luxury partners for evenings of world-class tobacco and fine living.
David Davtian is a tireless global ambassador for cigar culture, travelling extensively worldwide to deliver master classes, brand presentations, and VIP cigar events. His appearances have spanned venues from the Vienna Cigar Club in Austria and Tabakado in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, to Lil Havana Cigar Club in McLean, Virginia, jazz events in Washington, D.C., and Harley-Davidson lifestyle events in Maryland — reaching diverse audiences of connoisseurs, business leaders, and lifestyle enthusiasts across multiple continents.
From the Heart of Tobacco Country: Founding DAVTIAN Cigars
In 2011, David Davtian made the pivotal decision to relocate permanently to Santiago, Dominican Republic — the historic capital of Dominican cigar production, nestled in the heart of the Cibao Valley, the most celebrated tobacco-growing region in the Caribbean. There, surrounded by the same fertile soils and Caribbean breezes that have produced some of the world’s finest cigars for over a century, he founded DAVTIAN Premium Cigars.
DAVTIAN cigars are manufactured using premium and selected tobacco from the Monte Plata and Santiago regions, employing third- and fourth-generation blend masters and rollers whose families have been part of the Dominican cigar tradition for decades. The brand’s mantra — “Quality over Quantity” — reflects a deliberate refusal to mass-produce, ensuring that each cigar receives the individual attention of a master craftsman. Professional fermentation, careful curing, and natural aging produce the complex, nuanced flavor profile that has become synonymous with the DAVTIAN name.
The brand quickly earned recognition in the European and Asian markets following its launch, and was introduced to the United States and Canada in 2016. Today, DAVTIAN Premium Cigars are available across a remarkable international footprint: the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and through direct-to-consumer sales worldwide via davtiancigars.com. European distribution is managed through the partnership with SteenbokSigaren, one of the Netherlands’ most respected cigar distributors.
The portfolio includes distinguished lines such as the DAVTIAN Aristocrat — a medium-strength cigar featuring a dark, oily Habano Maduro wrapper over Dominican Olor binder and long-filler tobaccos, noted for its natural tobacco sweetness with highlights of spice and pepper — and the DAVTIAN Mestizo, the DAVTIAN Trinidad, the DAVTIAN Habana Series, the DAVTIAN Primus (box-pressed), and the DAVTIAN Rubina Series — debuted as “The Queen” at InterTabac 2019.
Global Recognition and Awards
DAVTIAN Premium Cigars has attracted significant international recognition. At InterTabac 2019 in Dortmund, Germany — the world’s leading trade fair for tobacco products — the brand was announced as a rising star Dominican cigar brand, drawing attention from distributors, retailers, and industry experts who praised the DAVTIAN Rubina Series for its exceptional tobacco, fantastic blend, and elegant design.
The DAVTIAN Mestizo earned a nomination in the prestigious Cigar Journal Cigar Trophy Awards 2020 in the “Best Value Dominican Republic” category — placing DAVTIAN alongside globally established names such as La Aurora, VegaFina, and Kristoff.
Cigar Journal, one of the world’s most respected cigar publications, has featured coverage of DAVTIAN’s expansion into the Russian market with six product lines distributed through premium cigar stores and lounges in Moscow and St. Petersburg, including the celebrated Horse Power cigar club anniversary at the legendary Palkin restaurant on Nevsky Prospekt.
David Davtian has also received multiple international awards and prizes from various countries in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the cigar business and the advancement of cigar etiquette — a testament to the global respect he commands as an educator, brand builder, and cultural ambassador for the premium cigar world.
Beyond the Brand: Consulting, Championships, and Global Influence
David Davtian’s expertise extends well beyond his own brand. He has participated in an international expert group for cigar business consulting, advising on market development, product positioning, and retail strategy in the Middle East and Gulf countries — emerging markets with growing demand for premium cigars and luxury lifestyle experiences.
He currently serves as President of Cigar Prof, an international professional cigar business consulting group that provides strategic guidance to cigar manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and hospitality operators seeking to elevate their cigar programs and market presence.
An honorable member of numerous prestigious cigar clubs and societies across multiple countries, Davtian has also contributed to the competitive side of cigar culture as a sponsor of the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) Grand Finale in Split, Croatia. As a prize for the world champion, DAVTIAN presented the golden edition of the DAVTIAN Habana Series — and also showcased new releases during the championship’s signature boat tour, cementing the brand’s presence at one of the cigar world’s most celebrated annual gatherings.
The Next Chapter: ORITOS Mini Premium Cigars
In 2026, David Davtian is preparing to launch ORITOS Mini — a new line of handmade premium mini cigars crafted from select tobacco grown in the Monte Plata and Santiago regions. The name “Oritos,” Spanish for “little golds,” draws on a Dominican tradition in which farmers set aside the smallest, most precious portions of an exceptional harvest, calling them “oro de la tierra” — gold of the earth. ORITOS represents both the continuation of DAVTIAN’s commitment to quality and an invitation to a new generation of smokers who seek an accessible, premium cigar experience.
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Positions, Affiliations & Distinctions
Founder & Owner — DAVTIAN Premium Cigars, Santiago, Dominican Republic (2011–Present)
President — Armenian Cigar Association (2006–Present)
President — Cigar Prof — International Professional Cigar Business Consulting Group
Active Member — Premium Cigar Association (PCA), USA (2007–Present)
International Consultant — Cigar business development in the Middle East and Gulf countries
Event Producer — International High Smoke Festivals, Big Smoke events, and “Best of the Best” ceremony
Initiator & Producer — “Support Our Troops” campaign (2007)
Sponsor & Participant — Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) Grand Finale, Split, Croatia
Exhibitor — InterTabac, Dortmund, Germany — Rising Star Dominican Cigar Brand (2019)
Award Nominee — DAVTIAN Mestizo — Cigar Journal Cigar Trophy 2020, Best Value Dominican Republic
International Award Recipient — Multiple prizes from various countries for contributions to cigar business and etiquette
Published Author — 30+ articles on cigar etiquette, history, and industry culture
Global Speaker — Master classes, brand presentations, and VIP cigar events worldwide
Honorable Member — Prestigious international cigar clubs and societies
Global Brand Presence
DAVTIAN Premium Cigars are distributed across the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and through international direct-to-consumer sales via davtiancigars.com.
DAVTIAN PREMIUM CIGARS
www.davtiancigars.com · contact@davtiancigars.com
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Santiago, Dominican Republic
