Cigars
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An evening at The Lanesborough: Inside London’s new pop-up, The Garden Room Cigar Terrace
Last night I found myself with one of the hottest tickets in town — the opening of a new pop-up sampling lounge at The Garden Room at The Lanesborough, just by Hyde Park Corner and a short walk from Knightsbridge — and what an event! The evening brought together some real heavyweights from the cigar…
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An Interview with Lisardo of Toro Puro – Online Cigar Shop
I’m always excited to discover new cigar businesses across the UK, and last year I came across Lisardo Vivas from Cardiff who has created Toro Puro, an online cigar shop designed around the complete cigar ritual. From carefully selecting each cigar to the moment it arrives at your door, every step is crafted to make…
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A review of the new Havana House Cortesano cigar, blended by Eladio Diaz
Blimey, Havana House aren’t messing about. After months of anticipation, first sparked by a brief reveal last August — last month they finally released their first custom-blended cigar at a really reasonable price point… and it tastes great! In recent years, several UK retailers have launched their own house blends. JJ Fox introduced the Fox…
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The UK Aficionadas: Empowering the UK female cigar community
On Friday night, I had the pleasure of attending a cigar sampling event at London’s JJ Fox cigar merchant to celebrate the first year anniversary of the UK Aficionadas — a growing community of women passionate about cigars. The timing felt especially fitting as the celebration coincided with International Women’s Day, a moment dedicated to…
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My visit to ProCigar Festival 2026 – Dominican Republic – Reflections
Oh wow — where do I even begin? I recently returned from an incredible week at the ProCigar Festival in the Dominican Republic, and I’m still processing it! 🤯😁 Seven unforgettable days in what many call “Cigar Country,” including four full days packed with festival adventures. Before the trip, throughout the festival, and after returning…
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A visit to La Aurora Field & Factory
The ProCigar Festival is the Dominican Republic’s annual premium cigar event, held each February in Santiago de los Caballeros, opening the industry’s fields and factories during harvest season. I visited three factories during the festival. The third and final one was La Aurora – its said to be the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican…
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The Essex Cigar Company – Sampling Room opens in Shenfield, Essex
A couple of years ago, I made a trip down to Shenfield Wines Co in Essex, for one of their Sip & Smoke events. It was a brilliant experience. The wine shop housed an impressive cigar humidor, the outdoor seating was spot on, and there was already a strong sense of community among local cigar…
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A visit to the La Flor Dominicana (LFD) Factory
Every February, Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic comes alive for the ProCigar Festival, a celebration of premium cigars. This year, I had the privilege of visiting La Flor Dominicana (LFD), the second factory visit of this festival — here’s how it went down👇. Walking into the LFD factory with Litto Gomez as…
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A visit to the Davidoff Tobacco Fields & Factory – From Seed to Shop
The ProCigar Festival is the Dominican Republic’s annual celebration of premium cigars, held each February in Santiago de los Caballeros and the surrounding tobacco-growing regions. Timed deliberately with harvest season, it is the time of year when the industry opens its doors — granting access to tobacco fields, curing barns, fermentation rooms, and factory floors. I…
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James J Fox cigar shop makes appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix series
For many Londoners — and cigar aficionados around the world — James J. Fox needs little introduction. The St James’s institution, long associated with Winston Churchill, has now found itself before a global audience after featuring on Netflix’s ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman’. The veteran broadcaster David Letterman filmed a short…
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A visit to the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club, Santiago, Dominican Republic
I’m in the Dominican Republic for the annual ProCigar Festival, and my first stop for a cigar had to be the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club in Santiago de los Caballeros. The shop and lounge are located inside Hotel Santiago, Curio Collection by Hilton, a stylish four-star property that blends contemporary design with Dominican character. The cigar shop and club…
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ProCigar Festival 2026: Live Reporting
The ProCigar Festival 2026 takes place 17–20 February in the Dominican Republic, bringing cigar lovers together in Santiago for factory tours, tobacco field visits, exclusive releases and gala dinners. Hosted by ProCigar the Association of Dominican Cigar Manufacturers, it’s a full-on celebration of Dominican craftsmanship at the height of harvest season. I arrived on Saturday 14 February.…
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Attending my first international cigar festival: ProCigar Festival 2026 🇩🇴
This is mad — I’ve just arrived in the Dominican Republic after the long haul from London (via Madrid!) and I’m here for my very first international cigar festival: ProCigar Festival 2026 (17–20 February). Even writing that feels surreal. What started as simply reviewing cigars and visiting shops because I love the hobby has somehow led me…
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XXVI Festival del Habano Postponed
Cigar Journal reported this morning that this month’s XXVI Festival del Habano, scheduled to take place in Havana, Cuba from 23 to 27 February 2026, has been postponed. Similar reports later followed from Half Wheel and Cigar Aficionado. According to the publication, the decision had been under consideration for some time and was finalised more…
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Exploring La Casa del Habano in Switzerland: A mini tour of Mendrisio & Lugano
Over the past year, I’ve visited more La Casa del Habano locations than ever before. You might remember my La Casa UK Tour, which included visiting newly opened locations in Sheffield and Long Eaton (Nottingham), followed by overseas visits to La Casa del Habano in Gran Canaria and Cyprus. So, when Massimo de Munari—whom I…