Cigar Masterclasses

An unusual shape, the Presidentes is a ‘double-figurado’, meaning it is tapered at both ends. Cigars of this shape were very popular in the early part of the 20th century and are very difficult to roll consistently. It is a full-bodied smoke and needs a powerful whisky to compliment its rich, slightly spicy flavours. The Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old is a sherry-cask aged whisky produced on the Isle of Islay whose whiskies are usually known for their intense smoky tastes. This does have a little smoke on the finish but a great, rich sweetness to start which compliments the spicy, powerful Presidente. £140 per person.

The Romeo Y Julieta Belicosos is a good old fashioned ‘torpedo’ style cigar with a hefty ring gauge of 52 which tapers down to a pointed head, thus giving the cigar its characteristic shape. It is medium of strength with an almost sweet top note developing as the cigar is smoked into a delicious spicyness, which is perfectly paired with King Alexander III - a one-of-a-kind Single Malt assembled from six carefully curated cask finishes. £170 per person.

This cigar is the Regional Edition for the UK for 2023. These days, when many choose to smoke a cigar with a large ring gauge, it is unusual to see a cigar of this size, known as a Lonsdale or Cervantes. It has a narrower ring size of 42, making for an extremely elegant shaped cigar which smokes perfectly. This mild to medium strength cigar is paired with Glenmorangie Signet, which unusually uses a second type of malt known as ‘chocolate malt’ as part of the production process - a malt usually associated with the brewing of beers. £170 per person.

The smaller brother within the relatively new Montecristo 1935 line, this cigar is a wonderful smoke. Full of delicious creamy and slightly sweet smoke, the 1935 series is a premium Montecristo with a slightly different blend of tobacco which leaves out the earthiness of the regular line of cigars. Slow-burning and medium to full in flavour, this cigar is paired with Diplomatico Ambassador Rum from Venezuela, which has been aged in two different types of cask; ex-Bourbon and then a two-year finish in Pedro Ximinez sherry casks to give a delicious sweet and spicy flavour which coats the palate perfectly and marries with smoky flavours of the cigar. £190 per person.

For our last cigar masterclass of the year, our cigar sommeliers are delighted to present a very special and rare cigar indeed. This size, also known as a lancero, or ‘lance’ in English was a favourite of Fidel Castro himself and has become one of the most sought-after cigars. It is seven inches long with a slender ring of 40, making a cigar with a very complex development. Begins mild and easy and then develops through to a powerful but always well controlled finish. The Trinidad Fundadores is beautifully paired with an equally impressive drinks pairing, the smooth Darroze Chateau de Gaube 1962 from Armagnac. This precious liquid has sat for 60 years, laid down only three years before Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba; a fitting match for one of his favourite cigars. £330 per person.