Randolph Leonard Spencer-Churchill has been named this year’s Cigar Smoker of the Year, taking the top honour at the Boisdale Xerjoff Cigar Smoker of the Year 2025 Dinner & Awards, held in partnership with Santa Rita in London. He succeeds last year’s winner, Piers Morgan.

The announcement was made during a sold-out gala at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, which brought together leading figures from the cigar world for what has become one of the UK’s most anticipated events in the cigar calendar.

Spencer-Churchill, born in 1965 and the great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, accepted the award to warm applause during an evening hosted by food writer and broadcaster Tom Parker Bowles.

Guests enjoyed a Champagne reception, a three-course dinner, and live entertainment, including performances by Stephen Triffitt, known for his Frank Sinatra tributes, and pianist Ladyva.

Other winners included:

Cigar of the Year: Oliva Series V Double Robusto

Cigar Producer of the Year: Arturo Fuente

Cigar Blender of the Year: Tatuaje

Robusto of the Year: Vegueros Centrofinos – was accepted by Sean Crowley of Hunters & Frankau, accompanied by the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Cuba.

UK Cigar Newcomer of the Year: Charantan London Claro Half Churchill

Best Value Cigar: Mitchellero Nicaragua Robusto

Cigar Sommelier of the Year: Antonino Lo Iacono of The Beaumont

Cigar Communicator of the Year: Aaron Sigmond

Cigar Guardian of the Cigar Industry: Joshua Habursky of PCA

Cigar Accessories of the Year: Mantis Cigar Accessories

Cigar Sportsperson of the Year: Lawrence Dallaglio (Rugby Union player)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Christian Eiroa of CLE cigars

The evening concluded with cigars being sampled on the terrace.

Cigars provided to guests included:

VIP guests at the event were offered a curated selection of internationally recognised cigars, including:

• Macanudo Emissary España Robusto – 5in, ring gauge 52
• Charatan London Claro Half Churchill – 4½in, ring gauge 46
• Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto – 5¼in, ring gauge 52
• Mitchellero Robusto – 5in, ring gauge 50
• Tatuaje 7th Corojo – 5⅝in, ring gauge 46
• CLE Connecticut Robusto – 5in, ring gauge 50
• Oliva Serie V Double Robusto – 5¼in, ring gauge 54
• Gurkha 10th Anniversary Toro – 6in, ring gauge 52
• Vegueros Centrofinos – 5⅛in, ring gauge 50

A cigar auction during the evening generated over £56,000, further highlighting the prestige of the event. The auction raised funds for Dallaglio RugbyWorks, the Clan Donald Lands Trust, and the BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation—charities supporting vulnerable young people, preserving Scottish heritage, and rebuilding communities in Jamaica

Founded by Boisdale in 2013, the Cigar Smoker of the Year Dinner has become the world’s most prestigious cigar awards ceremony outside Havana. The event celebrates iconic cigars, producers, sommeliers, and communicators, attracting cigar enthusiasts from around the globe.

Previous winners include Simon Le Bon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Baroness Trumpington, Burt Reynolds, Jonathan Ross, Kelsey Grammer, Andrew Neil, Charlie Sheen, James Cosmo, Chris Noth, Jeremy Irons, Dolph Lundgren, Oris Erhuero, and Piers Morgan.

---

Note: I was not present at the event. Reporting was compiled while travelling, using information provided via social media updates and messages from attendees. Special thanks to Ardit, who was at the event and shared numerous updates.