We are Emily and Thierry, the founders of Chateau Diadem, and we are first cousins on our mother’s side. We both grew up in Geneva, Switzerland, but our heritage has roots in many different countries.
Whilst studying at business school in Boston, Thierry discovered Cigar Aficionado magazine and began to fall even more in love with cigars. When he returned to Switzerland in 1996, he built his cigar business from the ground up, which led to the launch of one of the first online sites specialising in hand-rolled long-filler cigars.
Meanwhile, Emily was developing her career in luxury catering, where she honed her passion for ingredients, fine craftsmanship and everything in between. The similarities between wine and premium cigars made it clear to her that she couldn’t love one without the other, so she joined Thierry in his cigar business after leaving New York City.
Together, we designed a range of artisanal Swiss chocolates for cigar enthusiasts, creating a comprehensive array of sensory experiences – something very close to our hearts.
The dream of one day making our own cigars remained, fuelling our regular phone calls and cigar tastings overseas, featuring over 800 non-Cuban and Cuban cigars.
In early 2019, Thierry launched a website for hand-rolled cigars and created a cryptocurrency called ‘CigarCashCoin’ on the Ethereum blockchain. It was a visionary move, albeit a very early one; the industry simply wasn’t ready for such a technological leap.
The distance and the restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic – and perhaps also the irrepressible desire to fulfil our dream at a time when life and the world’s future were so uncertain – fuelled our determination.
Together, we finally set out to develop the perfect blend. As soon as we were able to travel, we gathered all our knowledge of the world of cigars, food, wines and spirits and set off for the Dominican Republic.
It is our conviction that has brought us here, hence the name of our first ‘liga’: CONVICTION.
We hope you enjoy the fruits of a lifelong passion.
