On November 1, 2023, UK cigar enthusiasts up and down the country celebrated the release of the all-new Por Larrañaga 47 UK Regional cigar. It was a night to remember, with the festivities unfolding simultaneously at 47 different cigar venues across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The events were hosted by some of the finest Havana Cigar Specialists, along with various cigar retailers and cozy hospitality spots.

The event began with a special video introduction by Jemma Freeman, the Executive Chairman of Hunters & Frankau, and José Antonio Cejas Diaz, the Hunters & Frankau Corporate Director.

As the evening progressed, guests were invited to indulge in the sensory pleasures of the occasion, lighting their cigars and savouring the complementary flavours of Hine Cigar Reserve Cognac, adding an extra layer of luxury to the affair.

With its establishment in 1834, Por Larrañaga proudly boasts the title of being the oldest Cuban cigar brand still in production. Recognised for its light to medium-bodied blend, the brand has long held a special place in the hearts of UK cigar enthusiasts.

The Por Larrañaga Larrañaga 47, measuring 7″ (178mm) x 47 ring gauge, also known as the “Churchill” size, paid homage to its historical significance. Packaged in Semi Boîte Nature boxes of fifty cigars, the release included an old papeleta from the brand, amplifying its classic appeal. With just 1,500 boxes produced, totalling 75,000 cigars, this exclusive release was a treat reserved solely for the UK market.

I don’t recall there being such an extravaganza taking place with the launch of the new cigar, but to be fair, I haven’t been across the cigar scene as long as some folk. Apparently, there was a similar event that took place during COVID-19, but not on this size and scale.

Leading up to the event, Hunters & Frankau made an announcement on their website at cigars.co.uk and social media influencer and entrepreneur Kirby Allison met up with Hunters & Frankua to discuss the finer details of the launch.

A list of venues that took part in the launch can be found below:

• Astons of Manchester
• Astoria Cigars
• Bulgari Hotel
• CASC
• CGars – Chester
• CGars – Edinburgh
• CGars – Knutsford
• CGars – Leeds
• CGars – Lime Street
• CGars – Liverpool late hour
• CGars – Norfolk
• CGars – St James
• Cigar Box – Cambridgeshire
• Cigar Box – Edinburgh
• Cigar Lounge
• Cigar World
• Cigars Unlimited
• Dunhill
• Edmundos Cigar Shop
• Farrants
• Gauntleys
• Harrison & Simmonds
• Harrods, La Casa Del Habano
• Havana House
• Holmes Cuban Cigars
• James Barber Tobacconist
• James J Fox
• Kensington Cigar Shop
• La Casa Teddington
• A E Lloyd & Son
• Mitchells Vintners
• 6 Cavendish
• Pipe Rack
• Robert Graham – Edinburgh
• Robert Graham – Glasgow
• Robert Graham – Cambridge 
• Sautter – Knightsbridge
• Sautter – Mayfair
• Smoking Jacket
• Ten Manchester Street
• Ten Trinity Square
• The Connaught Hotel
• TomTom Cigars
• Whisky & Wine

*There were also a number of events being held at private members clubs that are not listed here

My experience

After reading about the event a couple of weeks ago on the cigars.co.uk website I knew I had to get a ticket. I was a bit reluctant at first, I’m not made of money and the ticket was £100 – but the more I looked into it, the more keen I was to attend

I was torn about which venue to choose among the 47 options. After doing a bit of digging, I found out that the most affordable place hosting the event was Ashtons in Manchester, asking for £75. But then there was Edmundos in Chelsea, which was at £125. I guess location really does make all the difference! I was informed that certain venues offer two Por Larrañaga 47 cigars while others provide only one cigar. A few of the venues I contacted either didn’t reply or stated that the event was exclusively for private members, which was a shame – one day I’d love to be a member of a private members cigar club – just need to win the lottery first 😆.

Therefore, I decided to purchase a ticket for a location I hadn’t spent much time in. I chose Sautters as I was keen to smoke inside their Mount Street store. For those that follow this blog – you may have seen me post about my trip to Sautters Knightsbridge earlier in the year. After buying my ticket, I was delighted to hear that it included not only one cigar but two – plus a few other goodies!

As the evening approached, I was unsure about the ideal arrival time. Should one arrive early to a party or wait until it’s in full swing? I reached the venue around 6:15, only to realise through my social media feed that guests at other locations had already started herfing. Not wanting to miss the official launch at 6:30 pm, I hurried in.

Presenting my ticket to Magali De La Cruz, a legendary figure at Sautters, I received a Por Larrañaga cigar from her — one for the evening’s enjoyment and another to take home, neatly packed in a box alongside some other delightful items.

I also caught sight of Nick Hammond, a huge cigar enthusiast and author of “Around The World In 80 Cigars” (you can order a signed copy from his website for £20). It was great to learn that he would be our host for the evening – so we were in safe hands!

Soon after, my eyes fell upon a spot in the well-known cinema-style seats within Sautters Mount Street — those in the know will understand what I mean. For those who haven’t experienced it yet, it’s a cozy area where enthusiasts spend hours indulging in delightful cigars. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly took the last available seat! Moments later, my cigar’s cap was expertly cut, and a cigar lighter was prepared for the lighting ceremony.

We were also treated to complimentary drinks, including the intriguing Enemigo tequila, which looked and even tasted like a whisky – it was quite remarkable!

That’s when the countdown commenced, and we geared up for the video introduction, which you’ve seen above. It almost felt like I was at a New Year’s Eve party, eagerly anticipating the stroke of midnight. It was a strangely exhilarating experience! We lit our cigars and puffed the night away.

The cigar itself was delightful, a nice mild and consistent cigar – I was surprised to discover it was a Churchill – it somehow felt more like a Lancero. It also reminded me a little of the Quay D’ Orsay – a cigar I’ve really been enjoying a lot lately. Many folks mentioned that this cigar will taste even better with a bit of ageing I’ve not explored the world of aging much just yet – one day 🤞

I engaged in conversation with some truly fascinating individuals, delving into some seriously nerdy cigar discussions that proved to be utterly captivating. I couldn’t help but marvel at my own confidence, considering that years ago, I was too nervous to even set foot inside the store. Now, here I am, attending numerous cigar events with ease!

The store is full of wonderful items, it was amazing seeing this new Sautters branded cigar humidor, the perfect place to store your cigars.

I couldn’t resist getting a quick selfie with Nick Hammond, who did an exceptional job hosting the evening’s event. We also chatted about his latest book, ‘Around The World In 80 Cigars There and Back Again,’ — a sequel to his previous work. Looking forward to the release of that hopefully in 2024!

My rating

Whilst Sautters Mount Street is a legendary venue it did feel quite small as an event venue somehow, a few folk had to stand outside – I’m sure that’ll be fine during summer but it’s getting a bit chillier now. But it felt a real honour to relax with a cigar at such a well loved cigar merchant – and I was so impressed with the UK wide launch overall – I hope more of these take place again in the future.

I’ve heard that some folk in the cigar community are raising concerns about the pricing of the Por Larrañaga 47 cigar. I share their sentiment; it’s quite expensive. I came across it for £76 at the most affordable source, which is GQ Tobaccos. This is precisely why I decided to give this cigar a try when it was launched. But if you do get the chance to smoke one of these cigars, it really is of top quality – and I’d totally recommend it to others – probably a 8.75/10 for me!

This is what the gift box looked like:

And here’s a little video montage I made of my trip:

The Por Larrañaga 47 UK Regional cigar is now available at specific locations up and down the country!