Our annual Burns night event was held at Boisdale Canary Wharf. The bar, restaurant and cigar library were all absolutely crammed full and the atmosphere was superb.

Well done Boisdale chef for having a Vegetarian Burns night menu which suited me perfectly! (Yes it included vegetarian haggis!!)

In between superb live jazz music the bagpiper came round to the tables and the address to the haggis (Below, if you can understand it you are a better man than me!) was recited in a most dramatic and entertaining fashion 🙂

Smokes enjoyed in the cigar library enjoyed included PSD4’s and Punch Serie D’Oro no.1 and post dinner smokes on the terrace included Monte 2’s and Romeo Wide Churchills paired up with our go to single malt whisky when we are at Boisdale: Clynelish.

Daniel Marshall popped over to the office for a smoke earlier in the week. Daniel designs and manufactures in the USA superior quality humidors that we are proud to recommend. Stylish, functional and reliable as well as very good value. The larger humidors are beautifully crafted furniture that will last a lifetime.
Check them out on this link.

We have bought in a huge quantity of Regius cigars made in Nicaragua and been able to completely re-price the range to offer incredible value for this premium handmade cigar. If you enjoy the ‘nic kick’ of a full bodied spicy cigar, you should try them as they won’t disappoint.

I understand that we have some great new Havana cigars due for release any time now:

Rafael Gonzales Perlas presented in packs of 5 – Could be the perfect daytime 25 minute smoke, measuring in at 4“ length and 40 ring gauge

Quintero Favoritas in boxes of 25 – Measuring in at 4 ½” length and 50 ring gauge

I can’t wait to try them out.

Next week I plan to herf at the magnificent Wellesley (Reviewed in my earlier blog) with smoking chums from overseas and I hear that the Corinthia hotel is also planning to create a cigar terrace in the near future. London is indeed a mecca for cigar smokers with a splendid choice of venues to enjoy our stogies in warmth and comfort!

Have a smokey weekend

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

Address To a Haggis

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.
(sonsie = jolly/cheerful)

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o’ need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dicht,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready slicht,
Trenching your gushing entrails bricht,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sicht,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:
Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve,
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
“Bethankit” hums.

Is there that o’re his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi’ perfect scunner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his wallie nieve a blade,
He’ll mak it whistle;
An’ legs an’ arms, an’ heads will sned,
Like taps o’ thristle.

Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,
Gie her a haggis!