Join the campaign saying no to “plain” packaging for cigars and pipe tobacco.

we urge you to respond to the Government’s Consultation
on plain packaging for cigars and pipe tobaccos in the UK. Consultation ends 10th July!

ACT NOW!
Fill in the online form and say NO TO PLAIN PACKAGING!

TELL THEM THAT YOU DON’T WANT “PLAIN PACKAGING”
FOR YOUR CIGARS OR PIPE TOBACCO

Sign the petition here

The Heart and Soul of Cuba is a film by a man well known in the cigar world for his love of cigars especially Cuban cigars having previously written for Cigar Aficionado as their Cuban Cigar correspondent James Suckling has now branched out on his own and one of his first projects is this film on the Cuban cigar industry.

This is a beautifully shot film, focusing mainly on the stages of making the cigar from the fields where the tobacco is grown to the factories where they are love-lingly made, every step is shown in fantastic detail from start to finish.

This dvd would make a fantastic gift for any cigar lover, it really makes you appreciate what a special thing the hand made cigar is and work involved in making the finished article.

While the film is perfect on its own , if I could add anything I would have loved to see a few more interviews with the major players in the industry not just in Cuba but some of the vendors and experts from around the world have some amazing stories to tell and would have made a more rounded product in my eyes but to be fair the dvd gives you a great overview of how the Cuban cigar is made.

you can download or buy the dvd from www.heartandsoulofcuba.com

Recently I was contacted by Richard at Custom Humidors, he kindly offered to send me one of his fantastic  bespoke humidors to review and here’s what I received

The humidors are made out of perspex which forms an airtight seal perfect for cigar storage, Richard can make the humidors exact to your specifications  with pretty much any logo or text you like. On my humidor  he has put the website logo as well as some cigar brand logos around the side but the possibilities are endless, be it your favourite football teams logo, country flags, regiment crests you name it Richard can most likely accommodate your requirements.

This humidor was made to promote a new cigar brand, as you can see the customisation options are numerous

The transparent humidors look fantastic full, showing off your cigar collection but can also be made in different colours like this Cuban Flag humidor

As well as humidors Custom Humidors also create cigar dividers to seperate your cigars as well as humidity bead boxes which like the humidors are fully customisable as the examples below

I’m really happy with my humidor and am already planning to place a order for some bead boxes and dividers to go with it.   The bespoke humidors are priced from £45 depending on the size and design, for more information please contact Richard at Custom Humidors  at customhumis@googlemail.com

The Cohiba Behike cigar is one of the world’s most expensive cigars named  after the tribal chief of the Taino Indians.
Developed with a secret blend of the best Cuban tobacco from the Pinar del Rio, Vuelto Abajo.

There were only 4000 Cohiba Behikes for sale at 375 Euro (525 USD) each of the original run, with reports of one upscale London establishment charging £1500 a smoke!

 The ‘Behike brand’ cigars are now however to be released as a regular line although one suspects the blend will be somewhat different from the original run of only 4000.

Showcased in February at this year’s Habanos Festival in Havana, the three new Cohiba Behike sizes have been eagerly awaited ever since by cigar enthusiasts around the world. The Cuban cigar industry has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that this new line is special in every way. Not only are all the three sizes entirely new, but there is also a special classification of leaf within the blend of the filler, known as Medio Tiempo, which gives the new line a unique, distinctive taste. The natural scarcity of Medio Tiempo leaves dictates that annual production of these cigars will be restricted. The Behike BHKs are set to become Cohiba’s most exclusive line and to represent the highest grade of cigar in production in Cuba today.

The excellent cgars Ltd have released prices for the range and I eagerly anticipate getting my hands on these legendary smokes!

Cohiba Behike BHK52 singles £28
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-p-8637.html
Cohiba Behike BHK52 box of 10 £269
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-p-8636.html
Cohiba Behike BHK54 singles £36
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-p-8638.html

Cohiba Behike BHK54 box of 10 £355
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-p-8635.html

Cohiba Behike BHK56 singles £42
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-p-8639.html

Cohiba Behike BHK56 box of 10 £399
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-p-8634.html

Cohiba Behike BHKSampler – £103
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/cohiba-behike-sampler-p-8640.html

S.T.Dupont X.tend MaxiJet lighter has long been a standard of luxury in the cigar smoking community.  If you’re not aware of the price already, the maxi Jet (the full size X-tend) can be purchased for around £97. Now, before you completely dismiss this lighter, hear me out.

When I first read the hype on the X-Tend I was very keen, talk of laser guided flames excites the boy within, but when I saw the lighter in person I was tad disappointed, I don’t know what I was expecting this laser guided flame to look like but well, it didn’t, so I walked away.

Two weeks later, I was on my way to a cigar evening in Chelsea and my cheapo torch lighter packed up; mild panic ensued, these events tend to just provide matches and I’m not really a match kind of guy, I prefer to toast my cigars with a torch flame for that even, consistent burn I have come to love.  So what did I do? I jumped off the tube at Green Park and popped into JJ Fox to look for a lighter. I didn’t have much time and didn’t have a clue about any of the lighters on display except the X-Tend, so I reluctantly took a punt and bought one.

Well readers, I have never looked back.  This lighter totally lives up to the hype; a strong, straight flame that the wind doesn’t seem to bother, an elegant looking solid construction and it comes with the added bonus of making fellow cigar (and cigarette!) smokers dead jealous whenever you pull it from your pocket!

The S.T.Dupont X.tend MaxiJet can be purchased from Amazon and other good retailers.

mr.black@gentlemensgoods.com

I recently attended the first of this year’s Cigar evenings hosted by the UK Cuban Cigar supplier Hunters and Frankau.  It was held on the wonderful new heated smoking terrace at 10 Manchester street in London’s Marylebone.

First of all the hotel is stunning, very high end, the sort of place I would love to stay but seldom do when on holiday, often opting for the cheaper option with the logic that I’m only looking for somewhere to sleep… a nice hotel is fun sometimes though!

Anyway the cigar terrace has been expertly put together, it seems like you are indoors with gas heaters blasting out warm air so there is no danger of getting cold, comfy leather sofas to sink into and everything you could possibly need to get your cigar going. The service while we were there was excellent, coats were taken, and drinks were poured. All those present seemed to agree this is the best place in London to smoke a cigar!

The night usually cost £25.00 which includes a limited edition cigar, refreshments and a talk from cigar expert Simon Chase and are held on a monthly basis with different cigars and drinks every month.

The Cigar Terrence is open everyday from 11.00am to 11.00pm and free to use, you can find out much more by visiting the Ten Manchester Street Hotel website

mr.black@gentlemensgoods.com