Finest Cognac and cigar pairing

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

Guide to Buying Havanas available now!

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!"

Guide To Buying Havanas

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...

Welcome aboard HMS Monty Cristo

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.”