Herfing USA!

By laura

Smokiest greetings from Hollywood ☺ where I have been herfing with friends day and night for the last 3 weeks!

I have definitely smoked my way across Los Angeles now…. From Pokers Patio herf to herfing with the Guys at Ummba in Century City to Lenny’s herf in Bel Air- Richards herf at GHR to the Old Oaks Cigar & Wine Co (great place – thanks Barry and Dave) to the Santa Monica Pier herf (Thanks George – great idea!) to The Vogelzang Vineyard herf in Santa Barbara… and loads more in between this has been a month to remember.

I honestly can’t even count the amount of Padron, Fuente and Oliva cigars that I have enjoyed but it’s been a month of lots of laughs and good times.

Highlights included the bottle of 1960 Glenlivet Strathisla matched with Dunhill Seleccion Suprema no.1 at the Bel Air herf (TY LS) especially as our good friend and incredibly talented jazz musician Michael Lington joined us for the evening. Great food, scotch, cigars and company with pampering care of Woody and his barbers too

The Los Angeles Grand Havana Room herf was a fabulous evening (TY RS) and one of the best spots I have found in LA. Great service and a brilliant terrace which was perfect for an evening of dinner, drinks and smokes

The full day herf at the Vogelzang Vineyard was a delight. Santa Barbara has breathtaking scenery and the cabernet Sauvignon worked more than well with the Chateau Latour we smoked. Many thanks to Mary Beth and James for the incredible hospitality

As ever the Sunset Marquis has been my cigar friendly base. Famous person spotting is a daily event and there are even more this evening due to an pre Emmy Nomination party This hotel is herfers paradise.

Thanks as ever to Barry for all his assistance co-ordinating my schedule, thanks to all my friends for their generous hospitality and thanks to my C.Gars Team for looking after business for the last month (which I understand was rather brisk in my absence – maybe I should stay overseas longer?!)

What a pleasure to meet up with so many old friends as well as make so many new friends. Apologies to anyone I was unable to hook up with on this trip but hopefully catch up if you visit London or on my next trip.

Back to the London office in a few days time to get into the design and build of our new offices and warehouse as well as two new stores due to open later this year.

Have a smokey weekend

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

Happy B’Day Fidel

By smokeymo

Happy birthday Fidel – 84 last week and looking rather good for a chap of his age. Incredible that he still wants to be involved in teaching the world about how to solve its problems but hey ho – as long as he’s happy – I’m happy

I’m in the USA for the rest of month and I understand the weather is better than London, so far – so good. so, I arrived in New Orleans for the annual IPCPR/RTDA trade show after a 3 hour stop in Chicago which was a welcome break as one of my cigar buddies collected me from the airport raced over to Starbucks for a Frappucino and a couple of large cigars in the blazing hot sunshine before another 2 ½ hour flight to New Orleans.

Staying at the Hilton Riverside was perfect especially on the first evening as I needed somewhere to smoke, so I bunked into the Camacho party, fired up a nice big piramides and was promptly rumbled by Christian who was as always more than welcoming. Camacho are great cigars and it’s a shame they are not in the UK. I’m terribly pleased that Christian has been so successful as I remember him well from the old ASC newsgroup days in the mid 90’s.

The annual show is a great opportunity for me to catch up with so many friends from suppliers to retailers to Guys who just like to hang out at the trade show and herf whist checking out what new products are being launched.

New Orleans was rather hot and very humid – to say the least but I must say that everywhere I went the ‘Southern Hospitality’ was very impressive indeed.

The show was quieter than previous shows I have attended but that just made it easier for me to zoom round and place orders Of course my first stop was Palio as we are the Distributors for Palio and I just love these cutters as they are perfect. Light, sharp and stylish as well as great value and an incredible guarantee. Well done to Palio for winning the European Cigar Journal award (see photo) Moving on the various humidor importers and placing test orders in rapid succession I can tell you we will be filling all the new warehouse space rather rapidly!

My retail shops will be happy as I bought a few hundred Meerschaum pipes that seem to be ever so popular again.

We sell literally 1000’s of humidors a year through our cigar stores and our various websites, the numbers are almost mind boggling but we have always had a gap in our range at the mid to top end. With that in mind: If you want a custom made humidor of any size, shape, finish please visit our partner Arlin Liss who will create the humidor of your dreams large or small www.arlinliss.com mention C.Gars Ltd for a 15% discount as well as a free upgrade welcome pack.

If your budget doesn’t extend to a custom built humidor you will be pleased to hear that we are adding Elie Bleu to our range in the next few weeks. The Rolls Royce of humidors – truly pieces of furniture that should last a life time. Classic designs, funky colours, pop art – something for everyone who really wants something special

We are also delighted to be adding the Daniel Marshall range of humidors in the next few weeks. Daniel makes some wonderful humidors that combine quality with functionality as well as great value.

I had a smoke or two with my buddy Ludo from Xikar whose stand seems to be getting bigger every year as their range increases continually. Great designs, great guarantee and a great company all round – we are proud to be associated with them. I particularly like their ashtrays and cigar cases – completely different and very cool.

Strolled down Bourbon street to take in the atmosphere whist smoking a Belicosos or two and ended my last night at ridiculous’o ‘clock at Café la Monde eating doughnuts and iced coffee – adios diet – hello sugar rush Thanks to brothers Joe and David for driving in from Houston to herf with me.

So my N’Awlins trip was mega fun and I’m already looking forward to next year’s show in Las Vegas.

Now off to the sunshine of Los Angeles

Have a great weekend.

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

I’m ouutta here!

By smokeymo

Check out the photo of our London shop below ! Comfortable outdoor smoking ( weather allowing !) how cool is that? and when the weather is lousy ( most of the time!) cigar sampling is encouraged indoors

I’m heading to Scotland for a few days at our fabulous Robert Graham empire in Glasgow and Edinburgh and to test out some of the new Robert Graham independent bottlings of single malt whisky My cigar malt is a treat with a Havana cigar

I’ve been puffing my way through a box of Punch Serie D’Oro no.1 this week. For the experienced cigar smoker who can handle and appreciate a heavy weight blend I truly believe it doesn’t get much better.

Next week I am heading over to New Orleans for the annual RTDA tobacco trade show and looking forward to meeting up with a lot of old friends for a lot of old (and new) smokes. As ever I’ll be sourcing some fabulous humidors and cigar accessories that will only be available to customers of C.Gars Ltd. I’ll be helping out for a while at the Palio stand as C.Gars Ltd is the official distributor.

Then I am heading to California for the rest of the month where I will be talking about cigars at a variety of cigar dinners and herfs. So if you are in Los Angeles …shoot me an email and lets meet for a smoke sales@cgarsltd.co.uk

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

Congrats to George and Amy!

By smokeymo

My favourite cigar buddy of them all,George just got married to the lovely Amy (see photo below !) so BIG congrats to George and Amy and I dare say we’ll smoke a few good cigars together to celebrate in the near future.

Isn’t marriage wonderful? especially if you have a cigar friendly wife, this is very important indeed, I got rid of the first wife as she was neither friendly nor cigar friendly. Conversely, Wife V.2 is both friendly and cigar friendly – problem solved

The last few days have seen a departure from my usual piramides smoking rotation and a thorough testing of marevas (petit coronas) Having tested every one available the winner by a mile is the deliciously sweet, complex and full flavour Por Larranaga petit corona. Consistent blending, great construction and a golden colorado wrapper. When you’re short of time, this is the ideal 30 minute smoke.

Vigia 18 year old Cuban rum seriously rocks – try some with a good Havana. If you don’t love it – I’ll give your money back!

I seem to be finding more first rate vintage Havanas than ever and I have given up putting the majority of them on the website as they are usually ones offs and just sell at a frightening speed. If you’re looking for something special, drop me an email as I probably have it or can source it sales@cgarsltd.co.uk

I’m looking forward to the RTDA trade show in New Orleans in a few weeks time and have just been invited to the European Cigar Cult Journal Cigar Trophy Awards party that should be a good evening

Herfed with friends at the Lanesborogh Hotel Cigar Terrace last night and smoked some delicious 1970’s Partagas Dunhill Seleccion No.150 matched up with Tatinger Rose – a heavenly combination for sure. If you’re in London you simply have to have a cigar or two at the Lanesborough. Pasquale and Giuseppe provide the most attentive service and are top knowledgeable cigar aficionado’s.

Enough of cloudy London – I’m off to Spain for the weekend to smoke my cigars in the sunshine

Have a smokey weekend

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

What cutter? What rum? what cigars?

By laura

Blog greetings from gloomy London… what happened to summer?!

At least it was warm and dry on the Boisdale cigar terrace in Belgravia on Tuesday evening where I herfed with Brian, Zaff, Chris and Craig- steadily blasting through a humipouch full of piramides still the best spot for a smoke in London (well – I am biased but its certainly one of the best spots!)

Our West Hampstead shop finally had its finishing touches this week including a comfortable outdoor smoking area – plants and tables and chairs as well as great big cigar ashtrays and yes its covered so you can even smoke in the rain (or you can sample/smoke inside the shop with pleasure). I’ll shoot some photos and add them to the blog in the next day or two. So finally I have indoor and outdoor smoking areas in London !

Our business has always sold tons of Cuban rum and I am often asked’ what’s the best?’ well…. the answer is simple: Vigia 18 year old Cuban rum is THE best. We are the sole UK distributor so I have to say that! but its is indeed the truth and having drunk my way across Cuba for the last 14 years I am exceptionally qualifies in matters of rum drinking Try some,you won’t be disappointed as it compliments a Cuban cigar to perfection.

Our next most popular enquiry is what cutter should I use? Another easy one: Palio. I have been using Palio cutters forever. The style and design is perfect (slips in your jacket pocket and its light) and most important of all- it’s sharp and I mean very sharp. No snags to the cigar head just a clean cut. C.Gars Ltd are sole distributors of Palio products in Europe and they are highly recommended. Oh and the cutter come in a neat little pouch too

This week I have been totally hooked to Vegas Robaina Unicos initially as a change to my usual Partagas P2’s, Montecristo No. 2’s, Bolivar Belicosos and the fabbie Punch Serie D’Oro no.1 (get the picture of my favourite sizes/shapes?!) but it looks like these are now on my rotation.

Unicos are full flavour and medium strength but they have a sweetness that I don’t experience with the other cigars mentioned. The flavour is unique to the brand and having smoked some 20 Unicos this week from 4 different boxes I can confirm that the blend is absolutely consistent and complex. So yes – I know its not a sexy recommendation but the fact remains these are a seriously great smoke.

Aged recommendation of the week Punch 1960’s Air France case great value vintage cigars.

Something sexy? Check out this beauty sold at our last auction – would you like one to try? or perhaps like a full beautiful humidor? drop me an email

So another week done and I’m off home with the company of some UK regionals for the weekend El Rey del Mundo Choix De L’Epoque for the mornings and Punch Serie D’Oro no.1 for the afternoons/evenings ….with some Vigia rum of course – you have been tipped off!

Have a great weekend

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell