IT'S a dreary morning as I write - dreach, I believe the Scots would call it; but last week saw some beautiful autumn sunshine and London made the most of it.
I popped into the old metrop for the first time in ages to catch up with cigar chums and set up some new and interesting articles for my magazine and website clients.
First stop was Davidoff of St James's Street. Never a chore to visit this store! Eddie Sahakian, joint owner, is the model of decorum, and we shared a little while discussing blends old and new and planning ahead. Good to see the store busy with cigar lovers choosing sticks left right and centre.
I then scooted five minutes up the road to see Danny at Alfie Turmeau's little shop in Shepherd Market, Mayfair. Great stock in the walk-in and my first chance to sample the newly-released Partagas Serie C No 3, LE for 2012.
It's a super smoke, nice maduro wrapper and a clean, sweet, earthy blend which should age really well. Not sure on numbers released yet, but really enjoyed this stick.
Good company and coffee too, at Alfie's, as I met two young cigar enthusiasts keen on experimenting further and expanding their knowledge. They were off to a good start - one was smoking a BHK 52!
Next stop was No Ten Manchester Street Hotel and a meeting on the cigar terrace. This was accompanied by a brand new full flavoured stick - but I can't tell you about it! Top Secret at the moment, but you'll be amazed and I hope to be able to reveal all before long.
Finally, my weary feet carried me to the oldest cigar store in the world. JJ Fox is celebrating an incredible 225 years of business and a gathering of friends, colleagues, partners and cigar lovers was invited to share the moment.
A specially-produced cigar from the Padron family was unveiled and Jorge Padron himself was on hand to introduce it and say a few words in praise of the Fox family institute. The 6 x 52 box pressed maduro is a very tasty stick, medium to full and complex. Pricey at £400 per box of 10, but a stick to mark an important anniversary.
It was great to chat to members of the Fox family, and I also enjoyed a smoke with cigar maestro Simon Chase and old pal James Leavey.
All in all, a packed itinerary and it was a weary Monty who climbed aboard the rattler to head home. Some great things going on in UK cigarland, you'll hear about them here first.
You can catch up with one of my latest articles here. It will soon be up on the Press Page with my other cuttings.
Happy Herfing.
M.
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