During a recent visit to London, after a refreshing shave at Trumper at Duke of York Street (just off Jermyn Street), I headed over to James J. Fox tobacco shop. Walking into the store, one is immersed in a world of tobacco and all of their wonderful scents and fragrances. The company has been in business for over two-hundred-seventy years and offers tobacco, pipes, cigars, and accruements which help to create a wonderful world of flavor, smells and the mood for quiet reflection and congenial company. Included in the shop are records and letters from British and international statesmen, stars, captains of industry, academics, and others. It is great fun to read a note from Winston Churchill when he is ordering a box of cigars for a male relative who has reached his majority. Churchill makes it truly clear that the selection of the cigar is in the hands of the store, that the cigars should be of excellent quality but not as good as those smoked by the great man himself!I can certainly understand that as Cuban cigars start at about 30 Pounds (about $36) each and run at least 50 Pounds (about $60) at any of the better cigar shops. I had previously enjoyed fine cigars at The Ritz Cigar Room and the cigar room at the Connaught Hotel, but I was not in the mood to pay the extra for the welcoming atmosphere this visit so I decided to confine my cigar smoking to other venues.

Buying Cuban cigars is not the same as it once was as the quality of the leaf has suffered decades of Communist misrule. The funds for fertilizer are not as ready as before the revolution and consequently much of the soil is played out. There are brands that still producjjj e a quality product, but they are not always available. On this trip I purchased a number of Cuban cigars as one of the treats of visiting London in the colder weather is to wander the streets in Mayfair (or other better districts), admiring the beautiful architecture while smoking a fine cigar. On this visit I purchased Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure #2 and Bolivar robusto. Hoyo has been a favorite of mine for decades and Bolivar offers solid smoke. The unfortunate thing is that despite declining quality, Cuba cigars still fetch a top price not made any friendlier by the tax man who believes anyone who smokes is a major Capitalist. After making the purchase I decided to save the purchases for when I reached home; there I can cure the cigars and save them as a reward for a deal done, a birthday or other special event. Plus, I knew I would be visiting the Duty-Free Shop at Heathrow, and they carried a suitable selection of both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars.

True to history, I visited the Duty-Free shop at Heathrow and found that as before the savings on Cuban cigars was minimal compared to the price in the city. I did fine however, that another favorite cigar brand of mine did offer a price advantage. I do enjoy some of the Davidoff cigars, especially the Escurio the Nicaragua Robusto. I normally would not pay the premium on these cigars as again, when I have them, they are reserved for “special” events. I found however, that there was about a twenty-percent break on the prices, so I was happy to scoop up a several of these fine cigars.

Th Escurio is a darker, richer cigar than many in the Davidoff line. It is well constructed, smooth on the draw and a bit stronger-but not as strong as a Maduro but a tad stronger than the Nicaragua rubusto. Sitting and reading while enjoying either cigar with a nice cognac at hand is a pleasant way to escape the silliness of the world. Especially when you have saved a few dollars on the purchase of the cigar! Enjoy.