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Dear fellow cigarophiles,
At last. One of those times of the year when one can light up with impunity. No hectoring, badgering, snide comments, disdainful looks. Christmas is a green light period for cigars.
Other green light occasions include weddings (positively encouraged) the birth of a new child (expected) funerals (defiantly offering the two-fingered salute to the Grim Reaper) and on one's birthday (one-day pass).
At all other times of the year, the discerning cigar lover knows he may well face anything from nagging to downright abuse before he gets to relax with his beloved stick.
I've stocked up on all relevant materials for this year's festivities; bubbly, whisky, sherry, beer, port, wine and of course, cigars. Never pleasant to run out of sticks at such a time of excess.
It's been a blitzkrieg of a year at Cristo Towers; from launching the website in April, through a summer of London cigar events including auctions, dinners and taste tests through to a late flurry of articles including my piece on vintage Havanas for the FT How To Spend It magazine at the end of the year, it's been a blast.
Personal highlights for me have been a mind-blowing cigar luncheon at The Lanesborough, a wonderful evening of like-minded company at my first Prohibition Dinner and last, but by no means least, the long-awaited trip to Cuba in November.
This was a pilgrimage and a privilege, the first of what I hope will be many trips to this incredible, pulsating, paradoxical Caribbean island.
I thank you all for your feedback, especially those who have been good enough to say they have enjoyed some of my pieces; there's nothing worse than a wall of silence after pouring your efforts into a project.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas - and a sackful of smooth, complex, flavoursome smokes this festive period. It's time to light up.
Best,
M.
IT was a lifetime ambition to meet him. Alas, I was a year or so too late.
I stood outside the gates of the rustic Robaina farm in the heart of Pinar del Rio and said a silent prayer for a man I had never met last week.
Such was his fame and magnetic personality that I, like many lovers of the Cuban cigar, felt like I knew him a little anyway.
I had bumped, swerved, dodged and scraped my way to the sacred plantation from Havana, losing my way several times and finally finding the rough mud track to the farm more by luck than judgment. The directions of young boys, old ladies and more than one mangy dog were taken en route.
Today, the Robaina plantation feels more like a museum than it perhaps should, only because of the huge numbers of pilgrims who visit to pay homage to the greatest wrapper producer the island has ever known.
Today, the last of the 150,000 tobacco seedlings have been planted in the red, dusty, mineral-rich soil of the hallowed Vuelta Abajo. Incredibly, in just 45 days, they will be 7ft tall and ready for harvest.
We stood alongside the limp looking seedlings, had a quick tour of Alejandro's former homestead and watched a 76-year-old minus a finger make short work of rolling a Robaina-grown Churchill.
But in reality, the place must surely be a shadow of its former self in the absence of the old man. His incredible wrinkled visage stares out benignly from umpteen photographs and drawings on the wall and while his nephew Hiroshi has now taken on the farm more than adequately, I can't help but feel sad I didn't make it to the Robaina farm just a little bit sooner.
In the red dust of twilight, I climb back into the car and begin the long journey home, the sound of crickets lining my route along the potholed farm track.
I'm back and recovering from as intense a few days as I can remember.
I have a stinking cold, have to keep crashing into sleep every few hours and am drinking copious amounts of water in an attempt to make up for rum overdose.
But my trip to Havana was a blast, an incredible mix of old and new, prehistoric landscape and a timeless, pulsating culture of cigars, rum and people.
There are several articles to be written and photos and videos to be processed and tweaked. Highlights were a trips to Vuelta Abajo, a tour of Cohiba factory at El Laguito, a quick visit to the Robaina farm. Rest assured I will lead you through my experiences in the coming weeks. Now I'm back off for a crash on the sofa...
Enjoy this bird's eye view of Vinales.
http://m.youtube.com/?client=mv-google&appcache_off=1321942960&errmsg=E-SER%3AQUOTA_EXCEEDED_ERR%3A%20DOM%20Exception%2022&rdm=4oox72hw1&reason=1#/watch?v=QwttvSS46ls
Best,
M.
Just sinking into my bed at the Nacional. Been up for 24hrs so need my sleep ready for a big day of cigar shops and hopefully Pinar del Rio plantations tomorrow. Weather looks set fair, city buzzing for Partagas Festival. Ended tonight with Bucanero beer and smokes on the sensational terrace at The Nacional overlooking the Malecon sea wall. Watch this space... M.
AS usual, I've left everything far too late.
I haven't packed a thing, not sure what I'm taking and I have an awful lot of work to do before I depart; but the flipside of that coin is, I'm flying out to Havana tomorrow lunchtime for a whistlestop tour of the capital taking in the Partagas Festival, the city's best cigar shops, bars, music and atmosphere. If I can squeeze it in, I'll also be jumping into an old Buick and cruising down to the sacred Vuelta Abajo to check out this year's crops in the plantations.
Follow @MontyCristo1 on Twitter and keep your eye on this blog over the next few days. If I can get a reliable enough internet signal(!) I'll be blogging words and pics of the trip to give you a little taster of this Caribbean cigar Mecca and the amazing things it has to offer lovers of the leaf.
I'll smoke one for you.
M.
I'VE only just recovered from a barnstormer of a cigar luncheon at The Lanesborough last week.
It was so good I've taken a few days off the cigars for my palate to recover!
I'll be writing about the occasion for the lovely Arbuturian, so I can't go into too much detail, but I can tell you it was sensational. From the moment I was welcomed to The Lanesborough by the Royal Household Cavalry (an accident - I think) to receiving a cigar-shaped dessert, it was the height of food, drink and cigar pairings. Or is that treblings?
Anyway, I include a few taster snapshots for you and will of course let you know via my Twitter feed when the story proper is published. How's about this for a menu?
Not a bad drop this...
Now for the Cognac - now that's a quality pairing
The elegant Garden Room transformed:
And how about a little cigar-themed dessert?
Hope you've enjoyed the sneak preview. May there be many, many more ahead. My thanks to Ajay Patel of Casa del Habanos, Teddington, for his kind sharing of photos.
Best,
M.
I spent one day this week in the welcoming environment of the Cigar Terrace at Number Ten Manchester Street Hotel.
Armed with an Americano, wifi, walk-in humidor and my iPad, I was all set up and ready for meetings by 11am.
It's a great place for a catch up drink or business meeting; on a fine day, it's a pleasure to stroll down New Cavendish Street from Euston for 20 minutes or so before the welcome sight of the Number Ten fluttering flag greets you as you round the corner.
From there it's the work of but a moment to be ensconced on the warm, friendly terrace. Unusually for me, as I tackled the first emails of the day, I fired up a Montecristo Open - the Master to be precise.
I say unusually, because I've not tried the line before. I wasn't impressed with this one either.
It started dull and bitter and got worse. I discarded it with a third left.
It was incredibly boring, and while it's unfair to judge a cigar based on one stick, a Havana of this price point should be better.
I bumped into Dan from Hunters & Frankau and by an amazing coincidence, he recommended I try another Open - this time the Regatta. I told him of my disappointing experience earlier, but to his credit he stuck to his guns and won me over by telling me Simon Chase had been known to wax lyrical about this cigar. Sold.
I'm pleased to report it was a much better smoke; mild, yes, but flavoursome and with a really superb draw. Good daytime smoke. Thanks Dan.
Just goes to prove you don't know 'til you try...
M.
I'VE had a blast in the last couple of weeks, really getting stuck into some exceptional cigars and some cracking events.
I can't say too much at this stage as recent jollities are forming the basis of two new articles which I'll direct you to in due course, but suffice to say, a good time was had.
I snipped my way through red-tape with gay abandon last week when I attended a Top Secret Prohibition Dinner.
A gathering of like-minded friends made use of the fine facilities of a city eatery to enjoy some tantalising food, wine, Cognac and cigars - without leaving the dinner table!
The event was a little two-fingered salute to the over-zealous health police who have held sway with their repugnant smoking ban for far too long. So we practiced a little civil disobedience - and it felt naughty but nice ;)
I've also enjoyed some wine and cigar pairings with some thoughtful advice from @DuvaultBlochet of esteemed London merchants Corney and Barrow. These pairings will form the basis of future articles. Anyone interested in a red wine and cigar pairing evening?
Plenty going on and lots to write about. Give me a shout and let me know what you'd like to see covered.
Happy herfing.
M.
LAST week I drew a deep breath and herfed like I've never herfed before, Dear Reader - just for you.
In a whistle-stop tour of some favourite haunts, I first had a quick coffee with Will Hargrove, part of the team at London's long-established wine merchant, Corney & Barrow.
Will's a cigar lover as well as an oenophile and we are cooking up some plans that should prove of interest to many of you.
Next was a brief stroll to Mayfair where I introduced Will to the guys at Sautter. As luck would have it (okay, okay, it was all planned), Cuban roller Senora Berta Corzo was in situ and just getting started on some juicy looking robustos. After a croque monsieur and a two black coffees, I was in the mood and fired one up on the spot.
Will was more discreet and headed off to meetings with one safely stashed in his jacket. The next hour or so was spent in pleasant conversation with Magali, Michael, Senora Corto and customers while I enjoyed the feisty little stick, still fresh and spongy but all the more enjoyable because of it.
When all was done, I strolled off next for a chat with Eddie Sahakian at the Davidoff store. Ever the gent, Eddie ushered me towards the humidor, but I explained I had just put one out and would prefer an espresso. The espresso duly arrived - as well as a Partagas Serie E No 2! It would be rude not to wouldn't it?
After an enlightening conversation - the fruits of which you will see in a forthcoming article - I next headed for the tube and a trip to the offices of CGars Ltd.
It's always a pleasure to catch up with Mitch and Mish and relax in their comfortable office with some nearby refreshments.
"Here, have you tried these?" Mitch asked as I collapsed into a chair. You've guessed it - a Party E2...well, it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?
We had a wide-ranging discussion and then as evening beckoned and we still had much to discuss, headed for a sharpener at The Lanesborough. Over chilled white and a bite to eat, we enjoyed the stick of the day - a stunning Diplopmaticos Number 2, full of chocolate and smooth coffee. Delicious.
Finally concluding our discussions (I reckon we could talk cigars all night long given the chance), I ended the day's proceedings with a nightcap of Flor de Cano Short Robusto.
Smoked out, I made my weary way to the train station - only to discover the intended train had been delayed. Ho hum.
I finally laid head to pillow after 1am. Hard work, but somebody's gotta do it...
I have more frolics in the capital planned for later in the week, with a hotel review and at least two cigar events planned. No rest for the wicked. Keep me posted with your ideas for articles, thoughts for future filming and more at askmonty@montycristo.com
Happy herfing,
M.
THIS chunky monkey has finally put in an appearance - stylishly late, as is always the way with these little gifts from our Cuban cousins. Timing means very little to them.
However,this 54 ring, five and a half inch silky beauty was worth the wait if my single tasting stick was to be held an an example.
A really stunning wrapper, one of the best I've seen this year; nice weight and balance and a rich, enticing aroma all noticeable on pre-light.
Right from the first puff, this stick shows its class, being relatively light in body but with some underlying earthiness that rewards those used to a stronger smoke.
Indeed, although the flavour profile remains pretty linear throughout the smoke, I reckon there's some sneaky ligero popped in there; little hints of smooth power rumble away beneath that wonderful 'old Cuban' earthiness.
I really enjoyed the size too, unusual as 52 ring is usually tops for me. The stick reminded me - in a good way - of the best Edmundos; a hefty-sized, tasty, man's man of a smoke for when one has time to enjoy them.
The Serie E No 2 should be a hit and one would like to try it after a couple of years age. But rumours abound that it will be priced at £22 - and a regular production cigar, at that!
If that is the case, tasty as it was, I'll stick to the Edmundos.
Best,
M.
STOP PRESS: THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN OPENED TO GENTS AS WELL AS LADIES; PITCH IN FELLAS...
AN interesting new development on the cigar scene has been quietly building up over the summer at Boisdale Canary Wharf.
A group (flock? Herd? Gaggle?) of young ladies has been gathering in some style, mixing fine wines, spirits, food and yes, cigars.
The new Ladies Cigar Club, run by Lalla Kaur, has been attracting increasing numbers of ladies keen to enjoy the finer things in life - and find out more about cigars, their production, tasting and pairings.
"It's been more popular than I imagined," Lalla told MontyCristo.com. "We've had some really fun nights and I've made a whole new set of friends. We are looking to host more and more events, so anyone interested is invited to get in touch."
We're happy to pass on the good news here, and to let you know that Lalla's next event is on September 13 with an afternoon experience of a two-course lunch with wine, followed by a cigar and Armagnac tasting. It's all in a good cause too, with an Action Against Hunger fundraising raffle. If you know have a friend of the fairer persuasion who might be interested in attending, please pass on Lalla's contact details. She can be reached at lallakaur@waitrose.com or on +447899931233
M.
This made me smile:
"Whether you are smoking, baking or braising, the month of May is the beginning of the BBQ season. The BBQ season is the ideal excuse to light up a fat Cuban cigar to slowly enjoy throughout an afternoon. Do not risk being disappointed; consult our procedure –
1. The woman buys the food.
2. The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - Habano in hand.
Now, here comes the important part:
4. THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
Back to the routine...
5. The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will get him another Cuban while he flips the meat.
Important again:
7. THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.
More routine...
8. The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
And most important of all:
10. Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
11. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed ' her night off ', and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women!"
Courtesy of TopCubans.
Best,
M.
THE unsavoury scenes from London and beyond this week got me thinking.
Red Indians used to smoke the pipe of peace at their pow-wows; I reckon there's a lot to be said for people settling their differences with a sit-down and a cigar.
The calming ritual of choosing and lighting up gives time for tempers to cool and hard lines to soften; the social side of cigar smoking means that we're perhaps more open to other points of view.
There's no coincidence that the world's leaders have come to some of the biggest decisions in our times over a good cigar. Perhaps we should start up a 'Cigars for Society' non-prejudicial, open think tank where, as long as they are calm, civilised and respectful, people can come and air their views over a good cigar and build bridges where none currently exist?
Best,
M.
I SPENT an enjoyable couple of hours last week interviewing Laurence Davis, owner of Sautter of Mount Street.
I met larger than life Laurence at the tiny but cigar-packed Mayfair store and he kindly handed me a 'Flying Pig' before we settled down to start our discussion. This fat monster is custom-rolled for the store and is not for the faint hearted - it must be ring gauge 60 + and is packed with ligero-laden leaf. Wow. I had to concentrate just to think straight enough to ask questions!
Sautter is now in it's 50th year, and serves a roster of wealthy and famous clientele, including cigar lover Alec Baldwin, who lists the store as his favourite place in London.
You will be able to read my story on Sautter in due course at Cigar Aficionado Online, but suffice to say, Laurence, Johnny and the rest of the gang all looked after me and were a mine of information. Thanks guys.
I sneaked a peak at the amazing cabinet of smokes recently uncovered by Sautter - century-old cigars that still look in remarkably good condition. You can see a pic of them below, as well as a short vid from MontyCristoTV that gives you an idea of this remarkable little store and its amazing inventory. Look out for the Elefantes!
Happy herfing.
M.
I've spent the last couple of days exploring the wonderful Hotel du Vin outlets at York and Newcastle - not to mention the lovely Mal Maison in Toontown too - researching for a forthcoming series of articles.
These classy outfits provide everything that cigar-lovers enjoy; fine food, vintage wines, whisky and spirits of every hue and description, comfortable and well-equipped rooms - and best of all, humidors stuffed with delicious Cuban smokes and heated, covered Cigar Shacks to enjoy them in.
Not all 14 HdV hotels have a dedicated shack or bothy because of lack of room, but half or so do. Replete with a small gas fire, leather chairs, cushions, lighting and table service, it's a simple matter to adjourn from your meal with a coffee and Scotch and light up in comfort outside.
And inevitably, when a group of disparate people with similar tastes are thrown together, you make new friends. Over the course of two nights, I met a millionaire Scottish IT wizard who hardly drew breath; a proud mum and dad celebrating their son's graduation (brandy and port cocktail anyone?!) and a smashing group of ex-Navy lads computer mapping the bottom of the Tyne.
There's no doubt that without the cigar shack, we'd have slipped away forever, never having exchanged a word. But thanks to the brotherhood of cigars, we shared a laugh, a smoke, taste-tested each other's drinks pairings and learned something new about the world.
Tell me that's not healthy.
I've put together a little compilation video that gives you a flavour of what Hotel du Vin is all about. Once your appetite is whetted, go one step further and visit yourself. The hotels regularly join forces with local shops to host cigar dinners, and each outlet has a dedicated 'Cigar Champion', trained by Hunters and Frankau. Find your nearest HdV hotel at www.hotelduvin.co.uk
While in the soggy north, I made a point of dropping in on city newcomers, Cuban Cigar Club. What a pleasant surprise to dash in out of the rain to a warm, well lit and beautifully presented cigar 'showroom' with a large and extremely well-stocked humidor. Two real enthusiasts in Justin Clayton and Manager Nick Houghton treat visitors with respect and understanding, and are building up quite a following. Plans are afoot to build a lounge under in the cavernous back of the shop - can't wait for that. Watch this space for further details and get up their and support the lads if you can. You can find them at www.cubancigarclub.co.uk
To send you on your way, here's a quick wander around the shop, courtesy of MontyCristoTV.
All the best,
M.
EVENING friends, just a quick note to make you aware of recent videos I've taken at one of my favourite London cigar stops and watering holes - No. Ten Manchester Street Hotel.
You'll know from previous blogs that this luxurious and welcoming hotel is VERY cigar friendly - down to the warm and comfortable Cigar Terrace and well-stocked walk-in humidor. Take a look for yourself.
If you choose to stay over and make the most of the place, why not also settle for your own private Cigar Patio? Peace and quiet and somewhere dry to enjoy a smoke - what more could you ask?
Tell the guys Monty sent you.
Best,
M.
IT'S one of the perks of the job as a roving cigar reporter that a) you occasionally get invited to some seriously swanky bashes and b) you continually get to meet Cigar People, for which - generally speaking - you could replace the word 'Cigar' with 'Great'.
I was fortunate enough to dine with Josh and Jeremiah Meerapfel last night at the C.Gars Ltd Summer Cigar Auction. These two lads - lovers of life, there's no way around it - come from a 136-year-strong family bond with cigar tobacco. Their father, Richard, is credited with saving one of my favourite wrappers from extinction.
Cameroon wrapper - the part that forms the 'cloak' of the cigar and gives it its silky feel and looks, as well as an important hit of its flavour - is renowned for its incredibly pure and sweet taste across the palate.
Over dinner, I discussed the leaf with Josh, who along with Jeremiah, now runs the Meerapfel tobacco empire after Richard's untimely death in 2003.
The first - and I guess, most obvious question - was how on earth does the African Cameroon wrapper retain this incredible flavour profile?
The answer, appropriately enough, was indeed because of earth. Virgin, unspoiled tracts of fertile land in the poverty-stricken country contain incredible amounts of magnesium which aid the traditional burning quality of the Cameroon wrapper - fine, white ash with little or no impurities.
"We use no chemicals, no pesticides," Josh told me. "That's why the ash is white, not a dirty grey. The soil gives that distinctive flavour and we use a plot of land to grow our Indonesian-seed wrapper just one season and then leave it fallow for seven years before we use it again. That's organic farming - and that's why you can taste that amazing Cameroon flavour that is unlike anything else on the planet."
Richard Meerapfel stepped in and began growing in Cameroon when everyone else had bailed out in the 1990s. It was a country in virtual civil war, hugely diverse with a population bordering on the starving.
Things are still hard, Meerapfel told me, but the company now employs some 36,000 workers and a foundation started by Richard helps provide schools, hospitals and churches.
It's a moving story, and one day I will stand in a Cameroon tobacco plantation and relay to you what it feels like to stand on that remarkable, virgin earth.
Monty.
FOR those of you thinking of heading to the Casa del Habanos in Teddington - stop thinking and go. To entice you, I enclose some video I shot there the other week.
It's like stepping into another world once you're over the threshold, and if you care to venture downstairs to the Lounge - well, you've got a whole new ballgame indeed.
Make a trip and tell Ajay and Bhavna I sent you. It's a great place to enjoy a smoke.
Monty.
WHAT a terrific evening last night at London's Langham for the Hunters & Frankau Summer Cigar Party.
A great turn out and the chance to meet faces new and old was not to be missed, and the Cuban band and live cigar roller didn't disappoint.
Shame that the expected Partagas Serie E Regional Edition couldn't join the fun, but the wonderful little Flor de Cano Short Robusto and the Por Larranaga Regalias del Londres made up for it.
Thanks to all of you who came up to say hi - never enough time to talk to you all properly, but hey! We'll have to meet up again and smoke :)
Hope you enjoy the vidblogs. More soon.
M.
BUSY week last week, none more so than when I visited Mitchell Orchant, MD of Cgars Ltd, to inspect some of the Lots for the forthcoming Rare and Vintage Cigar Auction.
Mitch has just built a new humidor storage which is already overflowing with smokes; you can watch a guided tour of this wonderland with MontyCristoTV below:
Plenty more to tell you about, and it's nearly time for the Hunters and Frankau Summer Party! Look forward to catching up with many of you then, come and say hello. I'll be posting more later in the week, so stay tuned.
Best,
Monty.
DING dong, as they say - what I day I had.
Plenty of fine smokes, Champagne and whisky, vintage humidors worth hundreds of thousands and the chance to smoke the most eagerly-awaited cigar for years.
Stopping off at the Casa Del Habanos in Teddington, I was delighted when Ajay Patel asked me to join him in tasting the first box of Flor de Cano Short Robustos he has received. We've got it on video and I'll post it as soon as I can.
Suffice to say, it's a cracker of a small smoke; light and creamy with real substance, it'll be unbeatable with Champagne. Lots of floral notes and a subtle swipe of caramel, it's a real beauty. Will age superbly and a great investment, IMHO.
Then I was off to Cgars Ltd to inspect the Lots for this year's auction on July 4. Oh boy, what a line up; some real stars including one special Cohiba humidor expected to fetch in excess of £150,000! Awesome, report to follow shortly.
Exciting times in the UK cigar industry!
Best,
Monty.
I'VE been meaning to post this for ages, and what with being a bumbling sort of fool, just haven't got round to it.
Well, here it is at last - a snapshot of the lovely Casa del Habanos in Teddington, London, where the cigar lover can kick back, relax and enjoy a great smoke in lovely surroundings.
You'll find a walk-in humidor stocked with incredible smokes and in Ajay Patel, one of the finest hosts in the business. Let me know how you get on once you've visited.
Download Monty Reviews Casa Del Habanos here.
Best,
Monty.
I SHOULD have known better; I had spent the evening before talking about cigars with perhaps one of the most knowledgeable men on the planet in regard to such things.
And perhaps I was feeling the need to impart some wisdom, however minor, of my own in the face of such expertise.
Whatever the reason, we found ourselves discussing the 'under the radar' Cuban marque, Diplomaticos.
It is supposedly aligned with the flavours of Montecristo - featuring identical sizes to the original Monte brand - and was aimed at the French market.
"Hardly anyone smokes them these days anyway," I opined to my chum. "Not a lot to them and much better things to be spending your money on."
It took just 24 hours to prove me a charlatan.
Taste testing a pair of these sticks from a recent box, I was blown away. Smooth, creamy, sweetness filled the palate with every puff, with a lingering taste of caramel on the long, soft finish.
Shows what I know. Get yourself a stick and remind yourself how good a mild cigar can be when it's flavoursome; mild these days is too often associated with blandness.
I was tasting the sticks for a forthcoming tasting article you'll be able to download here - A Tasting of Current Production Pyramides. Snappy title eh?!
So wish me luck as I descend into the tasting pit with a pair of Partagas Serie D No 2 tonight. How will they match up?
Best,
Monty.
"Taking things steady so far - major wedding at weekend which will involve multiple herfication!"
A quick dash to London this week for meetings and the chance to revisit some old haunts.
I was delighted to get back to JJ Fox for the first time in a while and carry out my own personal 'mystery shopper' excercise, which they passed with flying colours.
Courteous, knowledgeable staff allowed me to pick my smoke without intrusion or bluster, from where it was up to the Sampling Room for coffee, conversation and a pleasant little Hoyo Petit Robusto while watching the traffic below.
Fox's is such a lovely store, a visit there is always a treat.
Then, a dash across town to Marylebone and one of my favourite smoking dens - Number Ten Manchester Street.
I was delighted to see the inestimable Simon Chase of Hunters and Frankau there and even more pleased to hear him talk on the provenance of the evening's cigar - a Monte D from 2005. You will not find a more knowledgeable man on Havanas than the delightful Mr Chase.
I won't go into details on the smoke and it's pairing, as that's due to be aired elsewhere, but suffice to say a pleasant evening was had by all.
Summer is a great time for cigars in the UK. I'm looking forward to a good one.
Best,
Monty.
"Monty's back to his best. Maximus Herfus."
THE Summer blockbusters are here in the shape of monstrously large cigars.
There's something decadent in the extreme about these tree trunk smokes, and I've set about taste testing a couple this week - both at the same time - all in the name of science. And because I can.
It's the turn of the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona in one corner and the Partagas Lusitania in the other. How do they shape up against one another? Find out for yourself with this free download, Cigar Tasting - Clash of The Titans.
"Herfing not as manic as last week's Canary Island trip. Monty's taking things slowwwwlyyy..."
AS soft, refreshing rain pattered gently down over the garden, I slept the sleep of the just.
And in the morning, the sun came out warm and joyous and all was well with the world. Over a bracing espresso I was able to ponder the day's events, plan the cigar tasting for later that evening and marvel at how the weather makes such a difference to one's outlook.
Apart from the obvious - nice, sunny days make people a lot happier - these last few golden weeks of Spring have also revived my cigar palate. The heavier, bolshier, ligero-led offerings of Winter are not quite so delicious now, and I find myself reaching for more subtle, understated blends.
And what a delight it is to be able to sit out through a warm afternoon and relax with something tasty; I find Cameroon wrappers particularly suited to afternoon smokes, for some reason. Largely, I suppose, because of the leaf's lightly sweet characteristic, and because Cameroon wrapped cigars tend to be mild to medium and perfect for a post prandial herf.
Anyway, the pleasant weather here in the UK enabled me to do just that last week as I sat out and planned the next few weeks' articles, blogs, tastings and reviews.
I'll be reporting from some great events this summer, with July's Vintage Cigar Auction already shaping up to be a real highlight. I have a couple of other treats up my sleeve, but I'll keep these under (Cameroon) wraps for now.
There's the Guide To Buying Havanas Part 2 to post, and the first tasting reports to file. I am planning a 'Clash of the Titans' with two big Cuban smokes being tested and compared; the mighty Partagas Lusitania and giant creamy companion, the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona.
So, lots to look forward to this summer - keep dropping by for latest news and follow my Twitter feed on the right for up-to-the-minute reports.
TTFN,
M.
"Herfage to the max. Monty's kicking the arse out of it!"
A REFRESHING trip to the jolly old capital yesterday, and the chance to catch up with the Chief Bigwig of The Arbuturian over a spectacular Ramon Allones Specially Selected in the pleasant environs of Casa on Wardour Street.
This dim and inviting little haven used to be the full-blown Casa del Habano, but the blasted smoking ban put paid to that. Now it is simply a small room adjoining Floridita, but it has retained its walk-in humidor, members lockers and 'cigar factory' ambience. I was hoping the roller might still be in attendance as there's nothing quite like a cigar straight 'off the bench', but his little chair at the front of the store was forlornly empty.
But the RASS, and the company, more than made up for it. I'd forgotten what a killer little cigar this can be. Plenty of balls, but not too strong, it's a tasty treat for the concerning cigar man. I always find it smokes in three distinct phases, starting lightly, easing into some power and spice and then tailing off with a nice, sweet, lingering finish.
While I'm on the subject of Casa, what sort of idiotic piece of legislation is it that allows you to drink iced tea with your cigar, but not anything alcoholic?! Moronic in the extreme.
Anyhoo, the good news is that I shall be licking my nib thoughtfully (no smutty jokes please) and putting pen to metaphorical paper for The Arbuturian in no time at all.
Earlier in the day I found an excuse for a meeting at the good old Lanesborough at Grosvenor Square, although being a forgetful plum, I hadn't realised the wonderful Garden Room wasn't open until 4pm. Doh! as Homer might so poignantly put it.
Didn't spoil things though, for while enjoying the sunshine outside, I was treated to my very own changing of the Horse Guards and even an official fly past from a Lancaster bomber. And I wasn't even getting married.
Toodles,
M.
Just planning my trip to London tomorrow and I intend to herf at The Garden Room, Lanesborough for at least some of the time. You'll find my Cigar Aficionado report on the venue HERE
A wonderful, classy lounge, filled with interesting people. Last time I was there, I enjoyed a Bolivar Royal Corona and a chat with a record producer who had worked with many of the greats - including Sting and Paul McCartney.
Bar Manager Giuseppe Ruo is a lovely man and a real connosseur of fine Havanas. He also makes a mean vodka Martini :)
If you're in the Big Smoke tomorrow, drop me a line and we'll try to catch up.
Also finalising my first tasting/review sessions for the website. Further details to follow, but the description Big Smoke is apt indeed...
Happy Herfing,
M.
"Maximum herfage over glorious Bank Holiday Weekend. Royal Wedding, big sport, fun with family. Superb."
NEWS just out that Davidoff of London is pairing a mini bottle of legendary Cognac Louis XIII with an almost as legendary 2004 Cohiba Sublimes to celebrate the Royal Wedding.
A snip at just £500(!) the 5cl bottle and cigar comes in a special commemorative presentation case and will give those unable to stump up £1,500 or so for a full bottle of Louis XIII an idea of sheer magnitude of flavours released by this extraordinary blend of vintages, some in excess of 100 years old.
Your correspondent was lucky enough to sample this heady brew in conjunction with an aged Montecristo A a couple of months back and can report it is sublime indeed. A report on this magical night will follow in due course on www.montycristo.com
As promised, here is Part 1 of my Guide To Buying Havanas, hot off the press. Aimed primarily at the starter smoker, it will also be of interest to those with more experience. Download Part 1 here absolutely free - enjoy! I am working on Part 2 as we speak and this will be available here before too long. Please let me have your feedback, I'd love to here what you like and don't like.
Happy herfing,
M.
"Slow start to the week; but Champions League Semi Finals should provide some herfing opportunities!"
This will soon be available - free - to visitors to my site; a unique take on Cuban cigars, where to find them, how to select them, how to store and enjoy them. Here's just a snippet from Part 1...
WELCOME to your first steps on a magical journey - a bewildering smorgasboard of tobacco awaits. Before you lies an intricate path to be explored, its length strewn with the remains of unwary travellers.
Or something like that.
Switch on the kettle, pull up a chair and let’s chat about my favourite topic. You don’t need a fortune to enjoy Cuban Cigars (although it helps). You need common sense, a willingness to experiment, an open mind and a great pal like me to steer you in the right direction. Whatever circuitous route you’ve taken to get here, you’re in the right place.
Be warned; Planet Cigar is just as stuffed to overflowing with pompous oiks as its sister, Planet Wine. Be forewarned against snobbery and erroneous advice, both malign and well-intended and let’s march together, united.
Rest of Part 1 to follow on this site shortly, so watch this space...
Fellow lovers of the leaf - bonjour, hola, bonjourno and welcome.
You've made it to the inner sanctum; where journalist and cigar mole Monty Cristo beavers away searching for interesting articles, news, views and live reports from cigar events in the UK and beyond.
The site will grow and evolve, and I want you to be part of it. Send your ideas and suggestions to askmonty@montycristo.com and I'll do my best to include them. Sign up for my Monty Monthly newsletter, which will feature developments in the cigar world and will shortly be offering some scorching special offer deals from handpicked retailers - it's free to sign up!
In the meantime, check out my Twitter feed to see where I'm in action and the Herfometer to see how how many hand rolled beauties I'm enjoying - purely for you, dear reader.
Look forward to catching up with many of you fellow cigarophiles in the coming months - and disappearing in a cloud of smoke...
Happy herfing.
M.
“Warming up nicely! Sunshine means happy outdoor herfage.”
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