Last year, I wrote about the opening of Castle View Cigars in Edinburgh. It’s Scotland’s newest cigar shop, with one of the best views you could ask for from a tobacconist.
At the time, I hadn’t actually visited, but I’ve had the shop firmly on my radar ever since. So, when I found myself back in Edinburgh for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I knew I had to finally make the trip.
I was there for four days and somehow managed to squeeze in 28 shows 😲, so finding the time wasn’t easy — but I wasn’t leaving Edinburgh without visiting Castle View.
Background
For those who missed my original article, Castle View Cigars is on Frederick Street in Edinburgh’s New Town, just off Princes Street.
The name comes from the view of Edinburgh Castle you get from outside the shop.
The business is the realisation of a lifelong dream for owner Dr Samir Sayegh, a passionate Cuban cigar aficionado and collector. He’s joined by Gregor Black and Jared Hoe, both familiar faces to Edinburgh’s cigar community.
Gregor brings more than 40 years of cigar experience, while Jared has built up a wealth of knowledge in the trade and a particular interest in cigar and whisky pairings.
The shop itself has been transformed from what was previously a Chihuahua Cafe 😁 into a smart, luxurious cigar store, with the impressive humidor taking centre stage.
My experience
I visited on a Friday morning, and Castle View Cigars is open daily from 10am to 7pm. The shop is really easy to find, just a few minutes’ walk from Edinburgh Waverley Station.
As you walk up the steps and through the door, the giant walk-in humidor is immediately the centrepiece of the shop.
It’s a beautifully finished, bespoke humidor built by Connell & McFadden Property Development, who I believe also built the humidor at the Whisky & Wine shop on North Bridge. It certainly gives Castle View a premium feel from the moment you walk in.
Inside, I was pleasantly surprised by how well stocked it was.
They had a strong selection of premium handmade cigars, predominantly from Cuba.
Especially given the current difficulties surrounding cigar supply in the UK, it was great to see such a good range available when I visited.
Alongside a smaller selection from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Mexico.
If you need accessories, there’s also plenty of those on display in the shop too!
But what really makes a cigar shop is the people, and Gregor and Jared are fantastic. Both incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable, and more than happy to chat about cigars and help find something suitable.
One downside, unfortunately, is that Scottish legislation means there’s no sampling lounge inside the shop. There are some brown leather seats, but these can’t be used for sampling. They’re simply there if you want to sit down, have a chat and enjoy the view of Edinburgh Castle through the window.
There is, however, outdoor seating at The Boozy Cow downstairs, so there is at least an option nearby if the notoriously unpredictable Edinburgh weather behaves itself!
After a nice chat with both Jared and Gregory it was time for my first Fringe show of the day. Before I left I picked up a Sancho Panza and a Flor de Cano cigar, as well as a rather interesting cigar in a special box…
We weren’t completely sure whether these were the original cigars intended for the box, as they seemed slightly shorter than expected. However, the box itself had a large “La Flor de Allones Habana” logo on it. If anyone knows more about these cigars or the box, let me know in the comments below!
Final thoughts
Having finally visited Castle View Cigars after writing about its opening last year, I’m really glad I made the effort. It’s a great shop, in a fantastic location, with a good selection and a team who genuinely know their cigars.
The lack of a sampling lounge is unfortunate, but that’s down to the regulations rather than the shop itself.
Castle View Cigars also now has its website up and running, with online ordering available, and the team is hosting events too.
So, if you’re in Edinburgh and you’re a cigar smoker, I’d definitely recommend popping in.
Interested in visiting?
Castle View Cigars
15 Frederick Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2EY
Open daily, 11am–7pm
Website: www.castleviewcigars.co.uk
See some of the other cigar spots across Edinburgh that I’ve visited here.
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