It’s been the usual crazy/fun week at C.Gars – London with our Winter Auction on Monday afternoon at The Bulgari Hotel. Clients from all over the world had been viewing Lots prior to the auction at my beautiful new walk in humidor (only for aged and rare!) and the consensus was that its far more comfortable now we have split the recent production cigar stocks from the vintage stocks. I know my London Team are much happier to have me out of their way!

So what’s going on with the auction world? Well, we offered 354 Lots with around 10 passed, so a pretty high sale rate again. Prices seemed to be very firm indeed though the weakness of Sterling may have an effect for International bidders. My feeling is that anyone that won Davidoff Lots were very lucky as I reckon the supply is all but over now in the same way as its more or less impossible to get any Dunhill cigars anymore.

Pre Embargo prices were firm and Limited editions were too. Clearly the market appetite is still huge for the more unusual type of Havana cigar. The auction was live at The Bulgari and simultaneously online with over 400 bidders combined which was in fact the largest number yet.

Post auction cigar and whisky sampling was held at the lovely Sahakian cigar lounge with delicious canapés from the Bulgari. The aperitif cigar was a Montecristo Medias Corona followed by a Juan Lopez Seleccion Superba UK regional edition 2016. The smokes were paired up with Orchant Selection Cigar Malt and Stalla Dhu Islay. Fair to say, a good evening was had by all 🙂 Our next auction is planned for the 12^th March 2017 and we are considering entries from Monday onwards.

I can’t believe how fast December has come around, the older I get the faster time flies or perhaps it’s that I’m enjoying myself so much?! Thanks to our clients (and my team) as we are having the best year in our entire history. Our cigar and whisky shops have never been so busy and our mail order division is insanely busy with no end of new clients. I can’t work out if premium cigar smoking is just becoming more and more popular in the UK or if clients are defecting from other cigar merchants… or both.

We expanded into our new building a week ago but I can already see we are utterly at capacity.So that’s both mail order fulfillment premises in London and Norfolk completely at capacity again! (Woohoo) It’s  hard to capture the madness on camera as we have various warehouse areas in the same building but I have popped up a few photos to give you an idea. I like to think of us as the Amazon.com of cigars 🙂

The weather’s turned bloody cold in London but thankfully still dry so I am getting my last few days of topless driving in while I can. I love car herfing! No idea why but my baggies in the boot keep my smokes in perfect condition despite temp fluctuations.  I keep cigars in the car based on the length of journey time, so short journeys: Monte Medias Coronas, medium journeys: Bolivar Belicosos (2007) and Hoyo Epicure Especial (2008) and long journeys: Cohiba Piramides Extra. (now you get why I love car herfing lol)

Supply shortages of Havanas are getting worse week by week and we are doing our best to release enough of our reserve stocks to meet demand. We released 100 or so boxes of Behike last week but they all sold out in around 19 minutes. Sorry but we do on occasion have to restrict clients to one box per order.

Latest casualties include Cohiba Siglo VI, El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme and Por Larranaga Petit Coronas (oh no!… all of my faves… maybe I caused the shortage!) Anyway, stock up while you can as I gather supply ain’t likely to get better any time soon.

So, Christmas season is upon us 🙂 and I have one more event before I head up North with Karyn to work in our shops. This really is the UK cigar event of the year. C.Gars has a huge table of friends for the event and I can’t wait. Maybe able to squish a couple more people on our table but you will need to hurry! More info and ticket booking here.

To get me in the Boisdale mood and relax a tad now the auction is over I’m heading over to the lovely Boisdale Belgravia for supper and smokes with friends next week. Still one of my favourite places to herf 🙂

I’m finishing off the week sampling a Hoyo Epicure Especial from a 2008 50 cab and a wee dram of Ben Nevis 1999 which we will be bottling early next year under our Stalla Dhu label. It’s a stunning combination after a splendid week!

Have a smokey weekend,

Peaceful puffing,

Mitchell

Auction Gallery

Good question indeed and one that I think about often when I look through the review section of my website.

We deliberately don’t moderate the reviews so readers can see ‘real’ person reviews as opposed to industry opinion, unless clearly the cigars have been bought from some dubious source as the review would not be valid on my website (then we are happy to bounce them off).

However I have to question the validity of reviews by inexperienced smokers say smoking their first H. Upmann (or whatever) and then slagging off the cigar. Surely this smoker should in fact be emailing the cigar merchant for advice regarding his experience and whether the cigar was indeed at fault (in which case the client is eligible for replacement or refund) or alternatively the cigar was simply the wrong one for the smoker which could be for a multitude of reasons.

Inexperienced smokers should be gleaning advice from experienced merchants rather than opining on a subject that they are by definition not qualified to surely?
It’s also an odd mentality to want to slag off a product that we sell and we find the reviewer has in fact bought in some crappy duty-free in the middle of nowhere. It’s really not cricket as we say.

Then there’s the single cigar reviewer that blames the merchant as the cigar was too tight, too loose, different blend etc. Again, that’s not really a review because the chap actually should have emailed a ‘complaint’ to the merchant. It’s become a strange psyche of ‘let’s do a public online slagging off first and think about it after’.  So dear amateur reviewer, before you diss a cigar I’m selling I respectfully ask you to think first, are you ‘reviewing’ or should you be emailing a question or two, at least initially instead? Could you be causing damage to the product reputation for no good reason other than your own inexperience?  Food for thought perhaps.

Comments like’ it had a beautiful wrapper but was disappointing thereafter ‘ is as equally not helpful if the reviewer has only smoked one of the particular cigars being reviewed. Smoke 25 cigars from the same box and as many of us know the reality is there may well be 2 or 3 dogs in terms of construction or blend. The other 22 or 23 may well make up for it though ! At the end of the day , it’s a hand-made product and perfection continues to be illusive but most Havanas are not that far off!

By way of analogy, I have dated some beautiful girls over a long career but frequently despite their beauty found them a disappointment (yup – for a multitude of reasons ! … a few nutters too, but I digress ) and the search went on until I found the perfect girlfriend ( now very happily married for many years). Are you getting the analogy? You may need to smoke a lot of different brands and a lot of different vitola and perhaps even different vintage until you arrive at one or a variety of cigars that personally suit your palate.

For all your cigar and dating advice don’t hesitate to contact me 🙂

I’m just back from the annual Partagas Festival in sunny Havana, a celebration of the brand like no other where 500 + friends of Partagas from all over the world get together for  weeks of cigars events. It’s not easy for me to get away for the full week so I just zip over on the Thursday in
time for the gala dinner event and zip back on Monday to be back in the office for Tuesday.

The gala dinner was an amazing event if not one of the best that I have attended over the last 19 years. Held at the Habana Libre Hotel. We were treated to copious quantities of Partagas cigars of all sizes as well as some custom blends that I believe were rolled by La China. First rate entertainment, Cuban rum and a great evening was had by all. The auction had some magnificent humidors with all proceeds going to the Cuban National health service.

I’m often asked has much changed in Cuba since I first visited many years ago? I can’t say I have seen any massive change though the restaurants and bars have improved and the prices are more expensive !

I visited just about every cigar shop in Havana and can’t remember ever seeing them so well stocked with just about every size and brand of cigars., seems they are coping well with the huge increase of tourists from the USA. Meantime it seems that the shortages that many countries in the Far East and Europe have experienced for the last few years are slowly making their way over to the UK. The latest casualty on the out of stock list is the ever popular Cohiba Siglo VI. Buy them while you can, I gather there won’t be much in the way of new supply any time soon.

Last auction viewings are at our London office this Sunday from 11 a.m. email me to book an appointment and I’ll be delighted to show you some beautiful vintage cigars lots. The auction will take place at 2 pm online and at the Bulgari hotel in Knightsbridge on Monday. Condition reports by email with pleasure. Check out the auction website for more details.

Have a great weekend

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

Cuba Trip Gallery

After a tasting of these fine blends I must say these great whiskies are incredibly complex and refined! These are definitely the very best blends I have sampled and we are pleased to have some bottles still available online and in our Chester shop.

Firstly the Spice Tree:
The Spice Tree from Compass Box is made from Highland malt whiskies which are aged in custom-made casks fitted with new French oak heads.

This oak is sourced from a mill in the Vosges which produces some of the highest quality cooperage oak for winemakers and the result is a fine, big whisky full of richness and a
spice-like complexity.

In April 2015, Compass Box’s, Spice Tree was named Best Blended Malt Scotch at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Nose: Fragrant and extremely aromatic with notes of dried herbs, kicks from several spices, oak and delicious vanilla. Has a bourbon note to it and a peppery tang.
Palate: Gingernut biscuits with toffee spices, peppery tone to it with herbs and vanilla. All in all very rich and peppery.
Finish: Big and rich with a great kick of spice to it.

Next is the Hedonism Blended Grain Whisky:
A teriffic blended grain whisky from Compass Box.

Hedonism really is as enjoyable as the name suggests with a smooth and creamy offering.Overall supple & silky, with elegant, rich flavours of vanilla, toffee, coconut and cocoa.
Nose: From the first delectable introduction, Hedonism is all ripe fruit, fraises des bois and sponge cake. Hints of red pepper provide an interesting point to mull.
Palate: Very sensual, sleek and creamy. Black cherry and sweet spices develop with some cereal notes.
Finish: A spiced warmth, toasty, oak and some delicious milk chocolate.

On to the next stunning expression is This Is Not A Luxury Whisky!

The inspiration for this limited release is Rene Magritte’s 1929 work “Ceci n’est pas une pipe”, a Surrealist painting which challenges peoples’ perceptions of reality.

The reality is, these days we hear more and more commentators talking about ‘luxury’ whiskies which are presumably whiskies that are either rare or expensive, or possibly both.

On another level, a level considered being much more important. This limited release is all about the liquid, about the whisky in the bottle, which has been painstakingly sourced and blended and the engravement of enjoyment of this whisky will bring when shared with others.

This latter point is what we believe a ‘luxury’ whisky is and at Compass Box, this is what it believed that whisky, generally speaking is all about.

Availability:
Limited Edition release of 4,992 bottles.

Bottling Details:
Bottled in August 2015
Bottled at 53.1%
Not chill-filtered
Complex, rich, lightly smoky and opulent. Sultanas, sweet sherry and concentrated floral notes combine with deep demerara sweetness, cacao and lighter creamy coconut character. An inviting nose, fat and full-bodied on the palate with a long, lingering sweet-smoke finish.

Last but not least is the Peat Monster!

Created by the renowned John Glaser of Compass Box, for those who love big, rich, peaty and smoky malt whiskies, this is the whisky for you.

Bottled at 46%, “The Peat Monster” combines extremely smoky malt whisky from Islay with medium-peated Highland whiskies to create an approachable balanced monster.

Nose: Peaty with marked salinity, leans to Caol Ila in style. Slightly medicinal but deliciously fruity and sweet. Perhaps a little grainy.
Palate: Yet more peat and this time oak. Botanicals, floral, coppery and sweet with smoky bacon and satisfying hints of papaya.
Finish: A lingering sweetness with again, more peat. A floral aspect with roses and violets and a sweet kick of spice and finally oak.

Til next time,

Slainte
Pete

Having a real taste for Sherry Cask and Port Cask finished Single Malts I am always drawn to the fabulous flavours these two regions have to offer.

Benria0ch, Glendronach and Glengoyne have to be my three favourite distilleries and always win my approval with the fruity, sweet and smooth taste that’s so satisfying!

First up is the BENRIACH 21 year PORT CASK.

This remarkable 21 Year Old from Benriach Distillery was first matured in the traditional style – American bourbon barrels and then finished in a small batch of top-quality Tawny Port casks sourced from the Douro region in the north of Portugal.

During this second period of maturation, the slow interaction of the whisky with the Port cask results in sublime flavours and aromas.

Bottled at 46% ABV, this Benriach 21 year Old is a phenomenal Speyside single malt and one for all whisky lovers!

Colour: Rich amber with a copper glow.

Nose: A perfect balance of fresh cranberries and warm white pepper develops into an equally perfect combination of tart raspberries and boiled candy.

Palate: Delicious toasted oak spices and hints of orange peel develop to a lively contrast of wild red berry compote and sour cherries.

Finish: The red berry compote and sour cherries are immediately followed by a rich stewed barley character throughout the finish.

The next Single Malt I must review is the Glendronach 18 year Allardice.

This Glendronach 18 year old Allardice, is named after the distillery’s founder. The 18 year old, or as it is now know, Allardice is the third expression in the Glendronach core range.

This exceptional single sherried malt is non-chill filtered and of natural colour. Matured in the finest Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%, this sublime richly sherried malt is truly unforgettable.

Appearance: Bright deep gold with a tawny centre.
Nose: Sweet aromatics of delicious fudge and muscovado sugar. Fruit compote and cherries provide added complexity.
Palate: Rich and seductive, there are remarkable flavours of stewed fruits and all-spice marry together with classical aged Oloroso and toasted walnut bread and chocolate orange.
Finish: Quite long with touches of toasted oak, ginger, faint sultana and dry earth.

The third favourite of mine and anyone who has tried it is the stunning Glengoyne 18 years!

Non chill filtered as you would expect and all natural colour from the cask!

This is the result of 18 long years and a generous proportion of first fill sherry casks, and of the patience they take over the slowest distillation in Scotland. A mix of refill sherry casks and a generous slug of first-fill sherry-matured whisky.

Appearance: Medium gold with a rich glow.
Nose: Awash with red apple, ripe melon and fresh banana. Heavenly and well rounded, it drifts into hot porridge topped with brown sugar.
Taste: Full bodied, round and rich. At first macerated fruits, marzipan and walnuts; then warm spices, dry cocoa and lingering Seville marmalade.

Finish: Long, warm and dry.
Comments: Remarkable depth. Each glass unveils more layers.

If these three Single Malts don’t tantalise your taste buds nothing will!

Slainte

Pete0

Finally our wonderful UK regional Havana Cigar has been released. I can confirm it’s been worth the wait.

Hunters and Frankau treated a few lucky Masters of Cigars and a few cigar merchants to a first rate launch event at The Churchill hotel on Tuesday evening.

We kicked off with a Cuaba Divinos and followed it with the Juan Lopez Seleccion Superba. The smokes were paired up with some delicious cocktails which I thoroughly tested out  😉

The Seleccion Superba measures in at 5 7\8 inches length and 54 ring gauge, the draw was very easy allowing a kaleidoscope of rich full flavour through this medium strength Puros.

They were of course sold first in the UK though our La Casa del Habano in Chester and already proving to be very popular.

Wednesday morning we woke up to a different world with Donald Trump as President of the USA (he’s not a cigar smoker as far as I know!). We don’t have political views at C.Gars Ltd but we all thought how funny that the pollsters had got it dramatically wrong for a third time (previously wrong about the UK General Election and Brexit Referendum). Maybe they should take up cigar smoking to help them concentrate?!
Off I zoomed up North on the Virgin train with our first stop at Turmeaus Liverpool. What a cracking cigar and whisky store and lounge. It was great to catch up with our brilliant architect and building contractors and very exciting to see the second part of this project well under way now with a lot of construction work being done.

On to La Casa del Habano Chester for a whisky and cigar tasting event. Whisky from Paul John (very interesting indeed, thank you Krishna!) Paired up with Montecristo Medias Coronas and Bolivar Royal Coronas. Late evening attendees were treated to some Orchant Selection Cigar Malt, Santiago 20 rum and Davidoff Chateau Yquem cigars… Not too shabby 🙂

Canapés, by our friends at Bar Lounge, were provided to a very crowded 2 session tasting event (almost 100 attendees overall!). We even had some friends from the USA join us 🙂 Fair to say a good evening was had by all. My thanks to Sara, Roy, Calum, Chad, Peter and Henry – the brilliant Turmeaus team in Chester.

On Thursday the day was kicked off with espresso and ERDM Demi Tasse at La Casa before we headed off to Turmeaus Knutsford. Roy and I chilled in the cigar sampling lounge with Sara and Karyn for a couple of hours. We whammed through some 2008 Hoyo Epicure Especial which are smoking like a dream.

Knutsford is a beautiful town with great bars and restaurants and Turmeaus fits in perfectly. Huge range of cigars, whisky and wine and a very comfortable sampling lounge as well as super friendly staff.

We headed back to Liverpool and had a spot of dinner with friends at San Carlo (one of our favourite restaurants) and herfed a D6 on the terrace of the Indigo before calling it a night after a pretty full on day!

Breakfast smokes at Turmeaus Liverpool (Partagas Shorts) and now heading back to C.Gars London to wrap up the week with a sampling session with friends who are visiting from the USA .

Auction catalogue will be online and posted to clients on Monday (that’s 2 weeks before the sale) I must say it’s a very very good and interesting catalogue indeed.

Next week I’m off to the annual Partagas Festival and looking forward to catching up with friends of Partagas from all over the world 🙂

The weekend baggie is filled with:

Montecristo Medias Coronas
Bolivar Orchant Seleccion
El Rey Del Mundo Demi Tasse
Juan Lopez Seleccion Superba
… And a bottle of Orchant Selection cigar malt 🙂

That should keep me chilled out for a couple of days!

Have a smokey weekend.

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell