I am keen to try and visit as many cigar bars, terraces and smoking lounges as possible. On my most recent expedition, I made an impromptu visit to Havana House just outside London, in Windsor. It seemed the perfect thing to do whilst visiting Windsor Castle’s exhibition on ‘Prince Philip: A Celebration’.
I have purchased many cigars from Havana House online and am super keen to attend their annual event, the Cigar Cruise.
The thing that surprised me initially with the physical stores, is that Havana House has numerous venues in Windsor…
This is the original Havana House store based in Windsor Royal Station. It is small with a walk-in humidor that contains a stunning range of top quality cigars from Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. There is also a selection of pipes and tobaccos for pipe smokers, along with a fantastic selection of smoking accessories, including lights, cigar cutters and humidors.
As you step inside you cannot help but notice the replica of Michelangelo‘s ‘The Creation of Adam‘ (as famously depicted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel) looking down on you. This version features Adam with a cigar in his hand👌.
I don’t know why but I always feel a bit apprehensive when walking into a cigar store, I have no idea why, but immediately got chatting to the guy behind the counter who made me feel at ease and led me straight into the walk in humidor.
He even let me take a little video of the cigars on show.
Immediately I clocked the new Zino cigar range. A couple of nights before Havana House held a launch night to celebrate the release of the cigar, if I had of known before hand I would have tried to rearrange my trip to attend! Gutted I missed out. I have yet to go to a physical cigar launch. However I have actually already purchased the new Zino cigar from Havana House and have it inside my humidor ready to smoke when I reach ‘Z’ in my Cigar Challenge.
The next cigar that caught my eye was Havana House’s ‘Cigar of the Month’, the Rocky Patel Grand Reserve Toro cigar. I was then recommended trying a Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Sixty cigar. I bought both, I have been keen to try some cigars from the Rocky Patel range for some time, so this felt like a great opportunity.
Next up, I made way to…
This place has a humidor full of cigars, an indoor sampling lounge and an outdoor courtyard.
The venues are not far apart, approx a 10-minute walk between each.
The shop itself is quite small, and as soon as you walk in you can see a large humidor.
Immediately a cigar that caught my eye, was an E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic. I recognised this cigar due to its relationship to the winner of Cigar Aficionado’s ‘Cigar of the Year’ 2020, the E.P Carrillo Pledge Prequel, which I smoked a couple of months back. The next cigar that caught my eye was the La Galera Maduro Chaveta Robusto cigar, and this was purely to do with two things… one the design of the cigar band, which was very striking and detailed, then the Maduro wrapper, that I am really becoming fond of.
After purchasing the cigars, even though it was closed, the staff at The Windsor Cigar Shop allowed me to smoke in the courtyard. They even pulled out a Plasencia cigar ashtray for me.
It was there I cut the cap and lit my E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic cigar.
Then spent an hour or so relaxing with my cigar. Perfection!
My rating: 7 out of 10 – a trip I am glad I made.
If you are interested in visiting either Havana House Windsor or The Windsor Cigar Shop check out the details below…
Havana House Windsor,
52 Windsor Royal Station,
Windsor,
Berkshire,
SL4 1PJ
Website | Map
The Windsor Cigar Shop,
44 Thames Street,
Windsor,
Berkshire,
SL4 1PR
Havana House have a few other stores located across the country.
If you liked this review and want to read more, check out my reviews of other Cigar bars, terraces and smoking lounges I have visited! and let me know any other places you’d recommend I visit next.
London Cigar Smoker 