During my recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the world-renowned Fringe Festival, I made time to explore the city’s cigar scene, visiting some fantastic spots, including the Puffin Rooms, which I posted about last week. Before returning to London, I couldn’t resist making a special detour to the Robert Graham Whisky & Cigar shop.
This chain of whisky and cigar shops has several strategically located stores throughout the UK. The shop headquarters is situated in Glasgow, Scotland, and there is also a store and sampling lounge in Cambridge, England. The Edinburgh location is a fantastic place to buy cigars while enjoying the city’s attractions. It’s worth noting that they used to have a location in London, but it is no longer operational.
Background
As described on their website:
“For 150 years, we’ve been the custodians of exceptional single malt Scotch, handrolled cigars, and exquisite pipe tobacco. Our story began in 1874, right in the heart of Glasgow’s bustling trade hub, where the original Robert Graham, a former city Treasurer and proprietor of 20 establishments, left an indelible mark. Knighted for his contributions to Glasgow, his legacy lives on.
While ownership may have evolved, our commitment to blending traditional service with a bold, innovative spirit remains unwavering. Step into a world of rare whiskies, independent bottlings, exclusive Robert Graham 1874 specials, and impeccably preserved hand-rolled cigars from Havana and the New World. Expert advice is always on hand, served with a side of warmth and camaraderie.
But here’s the twist – we take a sideways glance at the traditional, embracing its old-world charm while gleefully sidestepping a few rules. Our collection isn’t just about products; it’s an invitation to join a community that appreciates the finer things in life. Accessories, gifts, and a touch of rebellion await.”
The following timeline gives you even more insight into their story:
1874
Sir Robert Graham, the Treasurer of Glasgow founds the company with one shop on Oxford Street in Glasgow.
1889
Robert Graham expands to 4 shops in Glasgow trading as a newsagent, bookstore and tobacconist.
1920
Robert Graham expands to 20 shops throughout Glasgow.
1990s
Robert Graham, still owned by the Graham family, operates from a single shop in Glasgow and specialises in tobacco and finest Cuban cigars.
2002
The company is sold to private investors, and Robert Graham expands its offer into malt whisky.
I believe these were Mitchell Orchant and Ron Morrison of CGars Ltd/Puffin Rooms.
2003
Rosebank 11yo is the first independent bottling by Robert Graham.
2007
Robert Graham launches an E-commerce online shop.
2013
Robert Graham opens its flagship shop in Cambridge and operates from 5 retail locations in the UK.
2014
In September 2014, Robert Graham is bought by whisky and cigar enthusiast, Stephen Johnstone.
Source: The Herald 2015
Robert Graham brand undergoes a total rebrand with new logo and new visual identity.
2016
The brand new online store opens offering close to 5000 products.
2024
Robert Graham celebrate their 150th Anniversary – New company website launched with access to all products, events and more.
My experience
I have had a couple of experiences with Robert Graham & Whisky over the years. Firstly, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, I joined their online cigar herf and whiskey tasting sessions.
Later, I visited the Cambridge store, where I tried the Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 for the first time. Unfortunately, I missed the chance to visit their Cambridge sampling lounge during that trip due to a refit, but I hope to return soon.
The Edinburgh shop is located at 194 Rose St, Edinburgh EH2 4AZ, just off the beaten track, away from the crowds on the day I went. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station and not too far from Edinburgh Castle (most places are!).
The shop is easy to spot from the streets from the outside because there is a three-dimensional life sized wooden sculpture of a Cigar store Indian outside – traditionally an advertisement figure, in the likeness a Native American, used to represent tobacconists.
As I entered I was greeted by Ben Mitchell, a specialist in cigars and whiskey, who works behind the counter. He recently went to Nicaragua with UK cigar distributors of New World cigars, Tor Imports, and had a once-in-a-lifetime trip there.
You can hear him talking about this adventure below:
The shop offers a fantastic range of whisky, spirits, pipes, and accessories.
Towards the back of the shop is a walk-in humidor filled with a great selection of cigars, including Cuban and New World varieties.
Ben allowed me to spend some time in the walk-in humidor, which was great because I had the chance to look around and find a cigar to smoke. I noticed their bespoke cigars and asked Ben about them.
The brand, known as the Tobacco Lords, was first launched in 2022.
‘Tobacco Lords’
The Tobacco Lords were a group of Scottish merchants who were active during the Georgian era and made significant amounts of money through the tobacco trade. Concentrated in the port city of Glasgow, these merchants used their wealth to construct numerous townhouses, churches, and other buildings in Scotland.
They are premium Nicaraguan cigars, which are rolled by Joya de Nicaragua at their factory in Esteli.
I haven’t had a chance to smoke mine yet, but I’m looking forward to it. I also picked up a couple of new cigars I haven’t seen before. After a nice chat with Ben and paying for my cigar, it was time to head home.
Here’s a tip: If you have some time, you can enjoy your cigar at the pub across the street from the shop. Scotland has stricter smoking laws, so there aren’t many places to enjoy a cigar, but Dirty Dicks, right across from the shop, has outdoor seats where you can relax with your cigar.
Interested in visiting?
Address: Robert Graham 1874 194 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4AZ
Phone: +44 (0) 131 226 1874
Website: robertgraham1874.com
Social media: Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram
If you enjoyed reading this blog post check out my other reviews at Cigar shops, sampling lounges and terraces – in Scotland.
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