Can you believe it’s been five years to the day since I started this blog? I honestly can’t believe it myself! 🤯
It all started on the 27th December, 2020, during the COVID lockdown. I was bored and wanted a new challenge, so I set myself a cigar challenge: to smoke one of each brand from the A to Z selection of cigars at the back of The Cigar Connoisseur, an old book by Anwar Bati and Simon Chase. I ended up smoking 44 cigar brands in total over the year. I blogged about each one, and it was a fascinating exercise — it taught me what I liked, what I didn’t, and opened me up to the amazing world of cigars — you can see my reflections here.
I started with an Arturo Fuente Opus X…
and went all the way through to a Zino Davidoff Nicaraguan Toro cigar.
Once COVID restrictions lifted, I set myself another challenge: to visit all of the cigar shops, sampling lounges and terraces across London. I counted around 43 establishments — 22 cigar shops and sampling rooms and 21 cigar specific terraces — and I believe I’ve visited all of them! I blogged about every visit here and have kept a spreadsheet to track it, but I want to double check it – before I make that claim.
That was the beginning, and what a crazy ride it’s been since. I’ve also started posting UK cigar news and events on the blog too, keeping me up to date with the UK cigar scene.
It brought back memories of Nic Wing’s early work on UK Cigar Scene — his PDF magazines about the UK cigar world.
I met Nic during one of his Cuban Cigar Walks (2009 – 2011), where his enthusiasm for cigars was truly infectious. Sadly, he is no longer with us — it will mark 10 years since his passing in 2026. Rest in peace, Nic.
Nic introduced us to cigar establishments across London, which I have of course revisited many times over the years.
Looking back on 2025, I realise I’ve done more than I ever imagined in regard to cigar experiences. This is just a hobby for me — I still have a full-time job (and I don’t make any money from these blogs and social media) — but cigars have become my escape. They create a bubble where I can slow down, unwind, and step away from the stress of everyday life.
Along the way, cigars have introduced me to some truly incredible people — many of you who read the blog, as well as those I’ve met in sampling lounges, at cigar events, across the industry — and that’s what keeps my passion for this alive. I honestly feel like this blog is leading me on this crazy mad cigar journey and whilst I don’t know how long it will all last for, taking each day as it comes, I’m all up for the ride! 😀
I used to feel dead nervous about walking into cigar shops, unsure of what to expect. Now, I want to visit every cigar shop with sampling lounge across the UK. I’ve also travelled internationally. This time last year I manifested a trip to Cuba…
and within a few months, I was there 🇨🇺. It just goes to show, if you put things out in the world, things can happen.
Legislation changes are worrying for the UK cigar scene, but there are exciting new cigar shops and sampling lounges opening next year in London including Dukes Hotel, La Casa del Habanos Pall Mall in Mayfair, and The Chancery Rosewood. There’s plenty to look forward to.
But, before the year comes to a close, let’s take a look back at 10 of my favourite experiences of 2025 and the cigars I smoked:
1. Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2025 Launch — January 2025
The year started in style at The Churchill Bar & Terrace with the launch of a cigar inspired by Winston Churchill’s love of painting.
Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2025
Format: Churchill
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 48
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Strength: Medium–Full
2. La Flor de Cano Selectos No. 3 — UK Regional Edition Launch — February 2025
Then came the release of La Flor de Cano Selectos No. 3. Unlike annual global limited editions, Regional Editions are created exclusively for specific markets; for 2025, the UK’s was entrusted to Flor de Cano — the third time since 2010 that this historic brand had been chosen.
The UK launch was staged with a series of simultaneous tastings across London, Manchester, and Glasgow, attended by traders, tobacconists, and community members. I attend a special cigar event to celebrate its release at Soho Whiskey Club’s upstairs cigar terrace.
La Flor de Cano Selectos No. 3
Format: Cervantes
Length: 6½″
Ring Gauge: 42
Origin: Cuba
Strength: Medium
3. Surrey Cigars Cuban Cigar Tour — March 2025
Still can’t believe this one happened!!! An unforgettable trip through Havana, Pinar del Río and Varadero — visiting tobacco farms, factories, and enjoying incredible cigars with great people. Read all about the experience here – I wrote 7 blog posts about it!
The two stand our cigars were The Godfather and the Hector Luis custom rolls we picked up.
Custom rolls out there were incredible. I just wish I was able to bring more back home. Honestly a trip I will never ever forget.
If you’re interested, Surrey Cigars are doing the trip again in 2026, head here. You won’t regret it!
4. IGNITE 2025 Trade Show — May 2025
I attended my first IGNITE trade show the UK’s leading tobacco industry gathering, drawing manufacturers, importers, retailers, and lounge owners for three days of networking and new releases.
At Whittlebury Hall, brands like Hunters & Frankau introduced the Montecristo Open Slam.
Panels and masterclasses touched on sales trends, regulatory pressures, and blending philosophy, while evenings offered relaxed opportunities to reconnect with old friends and make new contacts. For many UK tobacconists, the event serves as a forecast of what will hit shelves and humidors throughout the year.
One of the stand out cigars for me was the Plasencia Alma Del Cielo 👌.
Plasencia Alma Del Cielo
Format: Robusto
Length: 4⅞″
Ring Gauge: 52
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium
5. Havana House Cigar Cruise — July 2025
One of the summer’s most relaxed yet memorable gatherings was the annual Havana House Windsor Cigar Cruise — a tradition that’s been running for well over a decade as a staple of the UK cigar calendar. The 2025 cruise set sail on the 4th July, boarding The Georgian for an evening of cigars, drinks, music, and community while enjoying views from river level — a perfect summer backdrop for old and new friends to mingle.
Here I smoked the newly launched on the boat Foundation Aksum Maduro Robusto.
Foundation Aksum Maduro Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua (Estelí & Jalapa)
6. Meet the Makers — Scotland — July 2025
Tor Imports went BIG with their Meet the Makers event that took place at the majestic Carlowrie Castle near Edinburgh, an event that blended cigar culture with whisky heritage and charity fundraising. Around 250 guests from across more than 20 countries came together for a full day of tasting sessions, panel talks, competitions, and socialising — raising funds for children’s charities in Scotland and Nicaragua.
Blackened M81 Maduro To The Core
Format: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Pennsylvania & Nicaraguan
Strength: Full
7. The Summertime Smoke — August 2025
2025 marked the first large‑scale UK consumer cigar festival, The Summertime Smoke, hosted by Bright Leaf Distribution.
Hosted at the historic E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground in Buckinghamshire, the festival ran from midday to late afternoon, bringing aficionados together in a celebration that combined premium cigars, food, whisky & rum pairings, masterclasses, and community spirit.
Punters received five premium cigar credits with their ticket, then chose which cigars to collect from brand stands — encouraging direct conversations with ambassadors and blenders.
Masterclasses included Rocky Patel with Nikka Whisky, George Frakes of Foundation/1573 Cigars with Nikka Whisky, and Jose Manuel Blanco (La Galera) with Takamaka Rum, exploring craft stories and strategic pairing notes.
I smoked the Rocky Patel White Label Robusto cigar.
Rocky Patel White Label Robusto
Format: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
These were balanced with other festival cigars from brands like Hiram & Solomon, Gurkha, and Arturo Fuente, making for a rich, diverse tasting experience that delighted the crowd — especially given the sun‑soaked outdoor setting.
8. La Casa del Habano ‘UK Tour’ — Sheffield & Nottingham Autumn 2025
The UK cigar landscape expanded further with new La Casa del Habano lounges opening in Sheffield and Nottingham/Long Eaton this autumn — significant because these are official Habanos S.A. franchise lounges, bringing premium Cuban cigar access and community spaces to new regions.
9 Cigar & Rum night at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in London — November 2025
I got invited to attend a Cigar and Rum Night at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in London, held as part of Dominican Week in the UK 2025 – this was a mind blowing event. There was a cigar roller there in association with Pro Cigar Festival and I was given the opportunity to smoke a freshly rolled cigar.
10 “A Royal Reveal” Punch Princesas 2025 Launch — December, 2025
Perhaps the most spectacular social cigar moment of the year for me was the “Royal Reveal” gala in Limassol, Cyprus, for the global premiere of the Punch Princesas Edición Limitada 2025 — a commemorative release celebrating 185 years of Punch’s heritage as one of Cuba’s oldest premium brands.
Hosted at the luxurious City of Dreams Mediterranean Resort, the evening combined opera, dance, and gala dinner with the formal unveiling of the Princesas cigar.
Hundreds of distributors, aficionados and VIP guests came together in a celebration that blended tradition with theatrical presentation — a truly global cigar night.
Punch Princesas Edición Limitada 2025
Format: Edmundo (Princesas)
Length: 135 mm / 5⅜″
Ring Gauge: 52
Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuban (Vuelta Abajo)
Binder: Cuban (Vuelta Abajo)
Filler: Cuban (Vuelta Abajo)
Strength: Medium to Medium-Full
Final thoughts
Between cigar cruises, cigars at the castle, cigar festivals, new La Casa del Habano openings, Embassy pairings and a international cigar event plus the Cuba trip – 2025 wasn’t just eventful — it was more than I could possibly ask for!
Thank you for following the journey and I hope you have an amazing New Year’s Eve and see you in 2026! 🎉
I’ve also recorded a vlog version of this on YouTube watch now:
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