The PH Cigar Thread

[Goaty Bill 2]

The annual Churchill's birthday smoke at Fox' on the 30th.
The star of the 'show' is of course the Romeo y Julieta Churchill Habanos.
Held in reserve specially for this event by Hunters & Frankau (as many will know these are nearly impossible to obtain at the moment)



Accompanied of course by Pol Roger Champagne from Berry Bros. & Rudd St. of James


And followed by Tesseron Cognac.


It has been a while since I've smoked an R y J Churchill. Even better than I remember.
Thankfully my humidor still contains 10 or so of these lovely cigars gently aging.

[EJH]

craigjm said:

I got them from la casa del Habano in Costa adeja. Very nice shop, huge walk in humidor and very nice owner. They were awaiting their next big delivery so quite limited in what they had but always some good stuff

RichUK said:

Antonio is a fantastic guy, in the summer he let me cherry pick what I wanted from a mastercase delivery and then kept them aside for me until the day we left for home.

I am currently on the island and popped in the other day. I didn't really need anything (I'm quite well stocked and have reduced consumption) but fancied a look around.

Antonio takes real pride in his stock (and his humidor) and whilst he's a little more thinly stocked than he would hope, he is better stocked than most and his quality is simply outstanding. In the name of science, I picked up a D4 (the quality was too good not to buy one) and am delighted to advise it was the finest I have ever had (not just here, anywhere) and a testament to his dedication.

In case anyone else is on the island and in need he and his store are quite delightful and unreservedly recommended.

[McGee_22]

Whereabouts in Costa Adeje please?

Been going to that area for years but only really noticed the little cigar cart in the small arcade underneath the El Mirador.

[EJH]

https://www.lacasadelhabano-tenerife.com/

https://www.google.com/maps/place/La+Casa+Del+Haba...

It's the in the basement level of the shopping centre

[McGee_22]

EJH said:

https://www.lacasadelhabano-tenerife.com/

https://www.google.com/maps/place/La+Casa+Del+Haba...

It's the in the basement level of the shopping centre

Minutes from the apartment I'll be in - awesome - thank you.

[Goaty Bill 2]

In London, St James yesterday and decided to have a go at the Fox house blend Canonazo this time, having quite enjoyed the Churchill previously.

Gauge : 52
Length : 6”

Every bit as good as the Churchill IMO.
Nice easy draw without being either overpowering or having that feeling that there is as much air as tobacco in that wrapper (you know that one).
Buy again? After I've had a smoke of the Robusto and the Pyramides first. Certainly would.
These are very competitively priced cigars for their size and quality, again IMO.
I am seriously considering another humidor to have the space to store a few of these to get some age on them.

[p1doc]

well went to edinburgh for my 50th went to puffin rooms lister square lovely place nice mocktail and a monte especial no2 suggested by staff-very nice way to enjoy my 50th

[Goaty Bill 2]

p1doc said:

well went to edinburgh for my 50th went to puffin rooms lister square lovely place nice mocktail and a monte especial no2 suggested by staff-very nice way to enjoy my 50th

I've never smoked a Montecristo I didn't like. Always a safe choice for a cigar with a bit of character.
Venue looks pretty reasonable too.

[nuyorican]

I like the occasional cigar. Forgive my ignorance, but where are you sampling/smoking them since the ban? I assume you’re not huddled outside.

[paulguitar]

nuyorican said:

I like the occasional cigar. Forgive my ignorance, but where are you sampling/smoking them since the ban? I assume you’re not huddled outside.

I just smoke at home.

[craigjm]

nuyorican said:

I like the occasional cigar. Forgive my ignorance, but where are you sampling/smoking them since the ban? I assume you’re not huddled outside.

There are a few places you can smoke them in London such as JJ Fox and in some of the hotels such as the Mayfair. Also some bars and clubs have heated cigar terraces like Boisdale. All very London centric I’m afraid I don’t know anywhere outside of London where you are not with the cigarette smokers on the outside chairs and tables

[p1doc]

nuyorican said:

I like the occasional cigar. Forgive my ignorance, but where are you sampling/smoking them since the ban? I assume you’re not huddled outside.

up in scotland so outside on my arbour looking across countryside,arbour so far protects from most of wind and rain

Edited by p1doc on Tuesday 19th December 14:37

[nuyorican]

craigjm said:

There are a few places you can smoke them in London such as JJ Fox and in some of the hotels such as the Mayfair. Also some bars and clubs have heated cigar terraces like Boisdale. All very London centric I’m afraid I don’t know anywhere outside of London where you are not with the cigarette smokers on the outside chairs and tables

Good to know. Thanks. So how are they getting around it? Legal loopholes or complicated architectural features?

[craigjm]

nuyorican said:

craigjm said:

There are a few places you can smoke them in London such as JJ Fox and in some of the hotels such as the Mayfair. Also some bars and clubs have heated cigar terraces like Boisdale. All very London centric I’m afraid I don’t know anywhere outside of London where you are not with the cigarette smokers on the outside chairs and tables

Good to know. Thanks. So how are they getting around it? Legal loopholes or complicated architectural features?

JJ Fox has a legal exemption because you are “sampling” a cigar before going on to purchase more in theory.

The others are creative architecture. The Mayfair hotel for instance has about two inches open to the elements at the top of the glass walls before it meets the glass roof and this ensures it meets the definition of “outside” while being so much like a room you wouldn’t know

[BigBen]

nuyorican said:

Good to know. Thanks. So how are they getting around it? Legal loopholes or complicated architectural features?

Loopholes. IIRC you are buying a single cigar to 'sample' ahead of buying a box (box purchase not obligatory) and they must make a certain percentage of revenue through non-cigarette tobacco sales or somesuch.

[p1doc]

Goaty Bill 2 said:

I've never smoked a Montecristo I didn't like. Always a safe choice for a cigar with a bit of character.
Venue looks pretty reasonable too.

it was very nice great service and knowledge, would recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh and armchair books is 5min walk away for a great selection of second hand books

[number2]

BigBen said:

nuyorican said:

Good to know. Thanks. So how are they getting around it? Legal loopholes or complicated architectural features?

Loopholes. IIRC you are buying a single cigar to 'sample' ahead of buying a box (box purchase not obligatory) and they must make a certain percentage of revenue through non-cigarette tobacco sales or somesuch.

That's it - for indoor smoking, most revenue must come from tobacco sales. There's no doubt a bit more detail that that, but that's the gist of it.

Hence sampling lounges in cigar shops, or separate transactions for drinks/cigars e.g. order and pay for a drink from the Ritz bar and drink it in the Ritz cigar lounge where you pay for your cigar and smoke it .

Then there are the terrace/open area rules.

[nuyorican]

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks chaps. Will put this on a list of things to do when next in London.

[number2]

nuyorican said:

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks chaps. Will put this on a list of things to do when next in London.

Most decent hotels have pleasant (and heated) terraces for a cigar and a drink. Or, as has been mentioned, check out Boisdale - Victoria have a terrace (gets busy) and Canary Wharf has few comfy chairs in their humidor room as well as extensive outdoor terracing.

Just had a Google for you too: https://slman.com/culture/best-cigar-rooms-london

Annoyingly, I was at the Connaught for lunch a few weeks back, had some drinks in the Red Room bar and didn't realise they had a cigar room!

[Goaty Bill 2]

number2 said:

nuyorican said:

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks chaps. Will put this on a list of things to do when next in London.

Most decent hotels have pleasant (and heated) terraces for a cigar and a drink. Or, as has been mentioned, check out Boisdale - Victoria have a terrace (gets busy) and Canary Wharf has few comfy chairs in their humidor room as well as extensive outdoor terracing.

Just had a Google for you too: https://slman.com/culture/best-cigar-rooms-london

Annoyingly, I was at the Connaught for lunch a few weeks back, had some drinks in the Red Room bar and didn't realise they had a cigar room!

Good list on that site.
It's worth noting that some places require that you buy the cigar from them; i.e. JJ Fox (partially due to licencing issues), Ritz (terrible pricing structure at the Ritz) whereas the Mayfair, Corinthia, Lansdowne allow you to just stop in for a drink and a smoke, though they do have a selection of cigars available.
I can't say with certainty for the others, and some may have changed policies, but it's worth checking in advance to make sure you aren't spending £10+ over the odds for a cigar if you can bring you own or visit Fox's / Davidoff / CGars etc. in St. James / Sauters in Mayfair (others are available, but these are the ones I know best).