A few weeks ago, I got a lovely surprise in my inbox: an email from James J. Fox inviting me to a private event celebrating the launch of their new Fox House Blend Cigar. What made it even more extraordinary was that this invitation was their way of saying thank you for my recent blog post about their store. They were genuinely surprised and overjoyed by it, and their thoughtful response really made my day!
Before I accepted the invitation, a wave of imposter syndrome hit me hard. I started to wonder, what if I look foolish when attending the event? I don’t possess anywhere near the expertise or knowledge that some of the other cigar enthusiasts attending might have. This image popped into my mind, reminiscent of a scene from “Only Fools and Horses” where Delboy attempts to lean on the bar counter, unaware that it’s propped open, causing him to tumble through.
The anxiety was real, and it is a feeling I often experience during my journey in the world of cigars, especially when going to new venues and events. Lately, though, I’ve been challenging myself to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes my way. And you know what? I’m really grateful that I did this time.
I was filled with immense curiosity when I learned that this well-known cigar retailer was embarking on crafting their own in-house cigars. I had previously encountered a few other cigar stores undertaking similar ventures, such as the Tatuaje Sautter Exclusive Cigar for Sautters, which I have covered in a previous article. Intrigued, I decided to delve into some research and soon discovered that this wasn’t the first time James J. Fox had ventured into the realm of producing their own in-house cigars; they had previously introduced the Blend 17.
Fast forward a couple of hours before the event, I did a quick check to ensure I had my shirt, suit, smart shoes, cigar cutter, cigar lighter, wallet, phone and keys with me. With everything in order, I went to Green Park tube station, which I believed was the closest station to James J. Fox. I arrived a little early, keeping in mind that events like these tend to get crowded quickly. There’s nothing worse than not having a place to sit and relax with your cigar at such gatherings.
As I strolled along, I couldn’t help but reflect on how many reviews I had written about this area. I passed by Ritz Cigars, Davidoff, Francos and CGars Ltd., realising how familiar I was with the cigar scene in this part of town.
Once inside, I wasted no time. Being there earlier, I headed straight for the humidor to grab an H. Upmann cigar in case I felt like enjoying one later. I also took a moment to visit the museum, exploring its exhibits and then signing the visitors’ book before continuing with my evening.
Nic Barker, a master of cigars, was stationed behind the counter and graciously cut my cigar for me. This allowed me to light it up if needed, as I ascended the stairs to Jj Fox’s sampling lounge, where the evening’s event was scheduled to take place.
As I entered the lounge, I immediately ran into a few familiar faces whom I had been chatting with at various other venues and events I had attended. It was such a comforting feeling to have people to chat with, especially since I was attending the event on my own. But you know what? Most people at these events are always friendly and enjoyable to talk to. The cigar community in the UK is one of a kind!
We were promptly offered samples of champagne and whisky as we arrived. There were also some delicious bites to nibble on. And, of course, at that moment, we were handed our cigars to kick off the evening – the Fox House Blend Cigar.
Fox House Blend Robusto Cigar
From £22.00
- Strength : 3 / 5
- Length : 4 7/8”
- Ring Gauge : 50
- Origin : Honduras
- Vitola : Robusto
Fox House Blend Canonazo Cigar
From £26.00
- Strength : 3 / 5
- Length : 6”
- Ring Gauge : 52
- Origin : Honduras
- Vitola : Canonazo
They are available as single cigar or as a bundle of 24 cigars.
I was immediately surprised to see that this cigar had no cigar band and had an overlap at the end; someone mentioned we were doing a blind tasting! That wasn’t the case. It was just how the cigars were presented.
We exchanged initial thoughts not long after we lit our Robusto cigars. I was pleasantly amazed by the intricate flavours, which included delightful hints of sweetness and earthiness. It felt like I was savouring a Cuban cigar, even though this particular cigar was not of Cuban origin.
An introduction to the evening followed, during which the staff informed us about the exciting new cigar they had created.
This moment was captured during James J. Fox’s official live stream of the event, which you can watch below:
The objective was to create a cigar that delivers a complexity of flavours, with evolution through every stage. In collaboration with Oscar Valladares and Hamlet Paredes, the cigars have a high-quality, substantial Colorado wrapper, rich and oily. As the cigar warms up, it delivers a sweet, spice and earthy flavour. The draw is perfect, unimpeded, yet still requiring a slight effort. As the cigar progresses, it remains sweet and earthy, developing grassy notes with spice. Hints of minerality and clean tobacco linger as a defined aftertaste. Towards the end of the cigar, sweetness is still present with a contrasting pleasant bitterness like dark chocolate and delicate leather undertones.
The Cañonazo and the Robusto smoke very similar, but as the name suggests, the Robusto starts quicker and is a punchier smoke throughout.
This is available online and in their St. James and Selfridges stores. It won’t be available in their Harrods store, as they only sell Cuban cigars.
To mark the arrival of this fresh cigar in London, we all raised our glasses in celebration.
As the room engaged in lively conversation, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous passionate cigar enthusiasts, some of whom I had already connected with online. During one memorable conversation, I delved into the history of cigars with Paul the brand manager at James J Fox, who shared some fascinating insights.
As the evening drew to a close, I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible time I’d had. The event was exceptionally well-organised and so enjoyable. Did I feel foolish? Absolutely not. Everyone was so welcoming!
Here’s a little video clip I made:
I have already purchased tickets for the upcoming Cinco de Cinco Pre-Release Cigar Sampling Evening with Juan Martinez so I will be back there very soon!
I wholeheartedly recommend taking the plunge if you want to attend one of these cigar events. James J. Fox ensures that everyone has a fantastic evening. Check out their events here and more about the Fox House Blend Cigar here.
Visit https://www.jjfox.co.uk/ for more information.
Special thanks to alizarde.cigars for taking the article photo! And thanks again to the very kind folk at James J Fox for making this happen 🙏
Leave a Reply