As you might know, I’m always up for taking part in cigar competitions. Whether I’m actually any good at them is another matter entirely 😬😄.

If you’ve been keeping up with this blog, you might have noticed me sharing my experiences at the Cigar Smoking World Championship. This event focuses on the art of slow smoking, where the challenge is to see who can smoke a cigar the longest. Recently, I participated in the Surrey Cigars ‘blind tasting event’, from home, which compared Cuban and non-Cuban cigars. Now, I’m geared up for The Boisdale UK Cuban Robusto Championship!

This event is hosted by Hunters & Frankau, the UK’s importer and distributor of Cuban cigars.

They describe the competition in this way:

“The competition comprises four heats, two semi-finals, and the Grand Final in October. Each round will have an expert from Hunters & Frankau on hand to advise and guide participants as they sample, savour, and score two unbanded Robusto cigars, following the procedures of a tasting panel in the world-famous cigar factories of Cuba. The results will be revealed at the end of the night — as will the identities of the cigars.”

The event I attended last night was hosted by Hunters & Frankau representatives, Jose Antonio Cejas Diaz and Ana Lopez. I participated in the second of four heats.

My experience

I’ve been to Boisdale of Canary Wharf several times over the last couple of years, including attending the renowned Cigar Smoker of the Year Awards in 2022.

As I prepared to head there solo, as usual, an unexpected wave of anxiety washed over me—something I thought I’d left behind. However, I’ve started to notice a pattern: whenever I push through those nerves, I end up having a fantastic time. In the past, this kind of anxiety used to keep me from even stepping into a cigar venue. Thankfully, I experience it much less often these days.

It was a delightful surprise to bump into a few familiar faces from the cigar community at the bar right before we headed into the cigar terrace.

Once we entered, we found a table set with a cigar cutter, matches, a scoring sheet, and a pen. Ana and Jose kicked off the event, laying out the instructions, and we got started pretty promptly.

Each participant was given two cigars, but they were handed out one at a time to encourage a more focused tasting experience. Each cigar was clearly labeled—mine was marked “Habano No. 1,” while those sitting next to me received “Habano No. 2.”

I then turned my attention to the detailed scoring sheet, which followed the criteria used in Cuban cigar factories.

I found this especially intriguing. It’s a system that I think every cigar enthusiast—particularly those new to the hobby—should understand, as it offers a structured way to document and reflect on our tasting journey.

Knowing that we were sampling Robusto cigars, I did a bit of homework ahead of time to familiarise myself with which Cuban cigars come in that vitola – hope that aint considered cheating!

We started by observing the color of the wrapper: Claro (light brown), Colorado Claro (mid brown), Colorado (brown), Colorado Maduro (dark brown), and Maduro (very dark brown).

Then we moved on to a series of questions to evaluate various aspects before lighting the cigar. We looked at factors such as the evenness of the wrapper colour, the tension of the wrapper, the consistency of the filler, the aroma when unlit, the draw before lighting, and the overall appearance. Typically, I don’t draw on the cigar prior to lighting it, but that’s an intriguing technique I might consider incorporating. I also realised I could work on appreciating the aroma of the cigar before lighting it.

Once the cigar was lit, we moved on to rating its draw, aroma, taste, strength, combustibility, and overall quality. When it came to taste, the goal wasn’t to identify specific notes like sweet, sour, salty, or bitter. As Ana put it, “Tobacco is tobacco.” In the Cuban tradition, tasting isn’t about breaking a cigar down into detailed flavour notes. Instead, the focus is on the overall quality and character of the tobacco.

We were also tasked with guessing the brand of the cigar, which turned out to be quite a challenge for me. Despite having smoked nearly all 27 Cuban cigar brands, I struggled to identify them with confidence. Recently, I had picked up some skills in telling apart Cuban and non-Cuban cigars, but this was a whole new level of expertise. It really underscored the divide between those pursuing their Master of Habanos and casual cigar enthusiasts like us.

We were then asked to consider which drink would complement the cigar. I have to admit, I’m not exactly a drink connoisseur.

Once we had completed this it was time for the second cigar ‘Habano No. 2’ where we did the same exercise again.

So, what cigar was what…?

I initially thought my first cigar, Habano No. 1, was from one of the lesser-known Cuban brands—maybe a Punch. But it turned out to be a Juan Lopez Selección No. 2, which was a really enjoyable smoke.

Habano No. 2 was a stark contrast: dry, hard, and with a tougher draw. That reminded me of the Ramón Allones Specially Selected. This one turned out to be a Montecristo Open Master, and interestingly, not many others guessed it right either.

A few winners were announced at the event, each receiving a bottle of Hine Cigar Reserve – from what I could see and from where I was sat. We were also treated to a gift from Hunters & Frankau, which added to the experience.

One of the highlights of the evening was being in the presence of Ana Lopez.

If you’re not familiar with her, I highly recommend checking out her videos with Kirby Allison. Ana is a legend in the UK cigar scene.

Her unique journey from Cuba to the UK offers a wealth of knowledge, and there’s so much to learn from her. We were lucky enough to celebrate her birthday, singing “Happy Birthday” and enjoying great conversations with her and Jose from Hunters & Frankau.

Among the competitors was the legendary Ranald Macdonald, owner of Boisdale. Hearing his stories about the cigar industry was captivating. If you haven’t attended his Cigar Smoker of the Year awards, you’re missing out—they’re iconic events.

I also had a great chat with Colin Cameron, the recent winner of the Cigar Communicator of the Year award in 2023.

Despite arriving solo, I felt right at home thanks to the warm atmosphere of the hosts, the guests and the familiar faces I’ve met along the way from previous events. The weather was perfect, and the relaxed vibe made the evening truly enjoyable.

This was just the second heat, with many more to come. If you win the heat, you advance to the finals.

Final thoughts:

Compared to the slow smoking competition, this event was much more laid-back—no strict rules, just good cigars and good company. Saying that, I love both competitions for different reasons. If you’re curious about cigars, this is a great way to dive in. Plus, the Boisdale Canary Wharf cigar terrace is one of the coolest summer spots in London.

Upcoming Events – The Boisdale UK Cuban Robusto Championship:

• First Semifinal: April vs. May Winners — Wednesday, 25 June
• Heat 3: The Road Continues! — Wednesday, 30 July
• Heat 4: Last Chance to Qualify for the Second Semifinal! — Wednesday, 27 August
• Second Semifinal: July vs. August Winners — Wednesday, 1 October
• Grand Final: The Ultimate Showdown — Wednesday, 29 October

You can join the tasting panel at a special discounted rate of £38.00 per person, per event (regular price £58.00). Just use the promo code H&FSPECIAL when booking.

🎟️ Get your tickets here: boisdaletickets.co.uk