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.

One of my favorite birthdays presents this year was a beautiful wooden box containing five different Davidoff cigars, each different but all being the size of a Robusto. Normally if I hit a “home run” in my business, or I have a great month, I indulge myself with a single Davidoff, so these five cigars offer me a real opportunity to smoke and compare. With that in mind I shall provide a little review of each cigar.

The first one is the Aniversario Special R which is a 50 x 4 7/8” Robusto. Here are the main points:

1. Very even smoke with a fine white ash.
2. I would compare it to a Chardonay wine; basic, safe, and mild. This is a good cigar for a first-time smoker who has never smoked before.
3. Smoke time, about 45 minutes.
4. You might want to have a roach clip nearby as it is so smooth that you will smoke it to the very end.

This series was launched in 1986 as part of the birthday celebration for Zino Davidoff’s 80^th birthday. It has a light brown wrapper which indicates the strength of the cigar. Like all Davidoff’s, it is expensive, running in the $30-36 range so it is not a cigar to be smoked unless you are ready to enjoy the excellence of the smoke. Is it worth it? Comparing it to a Chardonay wine should give you a good idea of the answer. Lucky would be the first-time smoker who was offered this cigar, but personally, I would offer a novice a less expensive treat. No sense getting spoiled when there are other options available.

I recently received a gift pack of four different Macanudo cigars and it provided an opportunity to have my very own taste test between two sets of two cigars.  I found a world of difference and thought you might find the results helpful. Note: I did not smoke the two cigars on the same day as it might have impacted my taste.

Cigar number one was the long standing Macanudo Hyde Park which is a 5.50 x 49 light colored cigar.  The wrapper is Connecticut, the binder is from Mexico and the filler a Dominican Republic/Mexico combination.  While it lit well and burned evenly, I found it to be a “hot” smoke right from the beginning and it had a harsh after taste.  It was a real surprise to me as the Hyde Park has been around for a long time so I might have just had an odd blend that was not quite right. Aside from the issue of being a “hot” smoke, I found the taste bland and uninteresting.

Cigar number two was from the Macanudo Cru Royale line; it was a Robusto 5 x50. Here was a pleasant looking cigar, darker in shade with an Ecuadorian wrapper, a binder from the Dominican Republic and a filler blend from Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.  This cigar was a much more pleasant smoke with a fuller flavor, an easy burn, and a bit of spice to add character.  The filler mixture really added so much to the taste. For a couple of dollars more, this cigar provided a better smoke and was much more interesting.

I hope this will help you the next time you are at your favorite cigar store looking for something new.  Enjoy!

Shortly before the pandemic, while in London, I ran into one of those rare London days of unending rain.  Tired of fighting the crowds, I took shelter in the Ritz Hotel, specifically in their cigar lounge.  Ah, what a relief! The room was quiet, beautifully decorated, and barely occupied.  The room attracts a certain type of individual, one who does not even bother to look up to inspect whoever enters.  I noticed that they were all males, well dressed (as you would expect at The Ritz), not a sneaker, hoodie or backpack in sight, my type of place.

Picking a nice seat near a curtained window where I could just hear those unfortunates stuck in the crowds and rain, I picked up the bar menu to inspect the excellent listing of cognacs, wines, whiskeys, scotch, etc. One of the staff approached to take my order and asked if I would like to choose a cigar; of course!  We went over the beautiful walk-in humidor, and I found an goodly selection of cigars, including those make in the Dominican Republic for The Ritz under their label. Fortunately, I was prepared for the “premium” price that would be charged for any cigar and I was certainly not disappointed.  Being a thrifty Polish American for the south side of Chicago, I do like to watch my pennies, but this was a special occasion.

Going back to my seat, I found my very tasty cognac waiting for me and the staff member took great pains to light my cigar.  It was an experience, one that would only have been better had I been wearing one of my smoking jackets. 

After a while, the young man from the staff asked if he could bother me with some questions on bringing Cuban cigars into the U.S. Of course!  We discussed the issue of inspections, the removal of bands, using boxes from non-Cuban brands, and so on for about fifteen minutes, then that having run its course, we both went our separate ways.

After an hour or so, my cigar was finished, and I motioned that was ready to leave and waited for the bill.  The same young man came over, provided the bill, and gave me a blue labeled “Coco” Ritz cigar.  He mentioned how he appreciated our conversation and hoped that I would enjoy the cigar in the future.  It was a very nice touch and I realized that the series, in the Churchill size had a price tag of one-hundred pounds, or about one-hundred sixty-five dollars.  Quite a nice gift!

I had that cigar in my “A” humidor for years, tending to it, leading it mellow and saving it for a special day.  Several very nice business deals have been completed but it still did not seem like the right time.  Finally, this January 2, the day after my birthday, I decided to smoke it.  It was to be a day of quiet: reading all day, not touching the computer, enjoy the rare day of California rain while safely sheltered in the library.

How was the cigar?  I am not a reviewer who will claim to taste a blend of cinnamon and birch bark in each draw, or marvel at hint of molasses that is in the first draw.  But it had an excellent white ash that was firm and had an even draw. It burned smoothly, not too quickly and did not require an extra light.  It was on the mild side and did provide with excellent plums of smoke that hung lazily until they drifted to the open window.  I must admit that I have enjoyed other cigars more both in terms of flavor and gauge, but it was fun to remember back to that enjoyable afternoon at The Ritz and know that I sampled their prize product and did not have to pay for the pleasure.

If you are a cigar smoker and do a bit of travel, finding a good cigar lounge can be a daunting task. Yes, there are shops that sell cigars, and a few may have a comfortable chair or two, but there always seems to be something missing.  So, we continue to hunt for that gem of a cigar lounge that seems to bring it all together.

One such gem is Cubana Creations Cigar Bar at 533 Toulouse St. in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  A nice selection of well cared for cigars is available and the bar features an excellent selection of liquid pleasures, including some that can be difficult to find.  Aside from the bar, there are two rooms with comfortable seating in a setting that allows one to enjoy a smoke, your drink of choice and have a pleasant conversation without having to shout as is so often the case in many bars in New Orleans.

Matthew manning the shop that day, has travelled the world and provided each new customer a nice overview of the club and its offerings.  After inquiring about my favorite cigars, he suggested a Bandolero Vanidosos 50, which was a new cigar for me.  I teamed it with A Remy Martin Tercet cognac, and it was a happy choice.  The Bandolero was mid-range in strength and the Remy very smooth, a great team.

CC is the only indoor cigar lounge in the French Quarter so there was a slow but steady influx of clients, all happy to be able to enjoy their pleasures in a location that was far enough away from the sometimes craziness on the street to be a nice place of shelter. 

I recommend Cuban Creations not because it is the only shop of its kind, but because it offers a good selection of cigars and liquors in a calm, well-tended manner.  A step above a neighbor shop, it offers good value with a personal touch.

With a rich dark brown Dominican wrapper, the 6×52 cigar is a medium to full smoke. Yesterday during a visit from a good friend, we discussed the problems of the world (managed to solve most of them) and this cigar stuck with me for nearly 1 1/2 hours. It burns slow and smooth and does not get hot. It runs about $11/stick which compared to the premium charged for most Cubans makes it a real bargain. If you are looking for a Montecristo with a excellent taste and which will stay with you and that you will enjoy, I recommend this excellent cigar.

Romeo and Julieta offers two good cigars in their standard 1875 blend. The first one is a 5×50 “Bully” and the second in this review is the 6×50 Exhibicion #3.

The Bully is a good cigar while on a walk or on the golf course. I would let it sit in the humidor for a week or two in order to enhance the smoke. It will last about 35-40 minutes and has a even burn with a fairly good grey ash.

The Exhibicion #3 offers a cooler smoke due to the extra inch in length. If you want an even cooler smoke, try the 6×60 Magnum. The Exhibicion is a “sitting” cigar that I enjoy a bit more and one I can enjoy with a good whiskey or scotch.

All three will run in the $6.50-$7,50 range through the mail although from time to time I do stock up on the Bully when they are fun on special for as little as $3.40-4.50. Interestingly, a box of the Magnum will fun a bit less per cigar probably due to the 60 gauge which is not as popular.

These are good everyday cigars, consistent, smooth burning but can be hot if not property cured.

I must admit I have not smoked an Alex Bradley cigar in quite a while, but this puppy was in a sample pack so as I headed out the door for a 5AM walk, I thought what the heck, give it a try. I was about a block into the walk and I realized that the cigar had a clean, white ash, a good draw, good plume and a moderate taste. Not bad. I wouldn’t smoke it with a Cognac for example, but if you are looking for an inexpensive (under $5.00 from on-line sources), 30-40 minute mindless smoke, give it a try.

When you pick up this cigar, you know you are handling a cigar! Box pressed, the 6×50 is firm and meaty with a beautiful dark and oily texture. With Ecuadorian filler wrapped in a Mexican San Andres Binder, this is rated a medium to full smoke but I recommend that you smoke this puppy after you have eaten as you could be zoned out smoking this on an empty stomach. Enjoy your favorite liquid refreshment and settle in for a solid hour of smoking that has hints of chocolate and coffee. Plumes of beautiful smoke and a firm ash keep a cooler smoking experience. The cost is about $11.00 via on-line sources. Enjoy!

This is a handsome cigar, rich in dark color but pleasing and not harsh. A new cigar for Montecristo and the first in a new line up and it is a winner! I chose the 6×54 which runs about $12 through the mail. It burns evenly and smoothly all the way to the end and easily lasts a good hour or more. I don’t claim to have a developed “taste” but even I could enjoy the taste of coffee and leather in this all Nicaragua tobacco treat. This is a cigar I would save for a nice evening along with a bit of liquid refreshment (for something different, try a Calvados that is at least 12 years old) while reading a book. At the end you will feel you have accomplished something.