We have all been waiting for the warmer weather and sunshine. Not that you need a certain time of year to drink a certain cocktail, but we all have those cocktails that just work with springtime. So, I thought I would put together some of my favourite cocktails that will be in heavy rotation coming into better weather!

Citrus Breeze

Ingredients:

• 50ml (2oz) – The Botanist Gin
• 25ml (1oz) – Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 15ml (0.5oz) – Elderflower cordial
• 85ml (3oz) – Tonic water
• Sprig of thyme to garnish
• Grapefruit wheel to garnish

Method:

• Mix the gin, grapefruit and elderflower cordial in a mixing glass.
• Pour into an ice-filled highball and top up with tonic water.
• Garnish with a sprig of thyme and a grapefruit wheel.

Slàinte

Elijah

So, you are new to pipe smoking and want to know where to start? Well, let’s start with the first question I often get asked when a new pipe smoker comes into my shop…

“Which pipe should I buy?”

Pipes come in many different shapes, sizes, colours, and finishes. When you search on our website for pipes, the results can be overwhelming for a new pipe smoker. We’ve all been there! The first time I bought a pipe, I was overwhelmed with the pipe selection that my local shop had (and their selection was really small!)

So, let’s break it down.

Shapes:

The pipe’s shape will mainly affect three things: the draw, the smoke and the build-up condensation.

A bent pipe will have condensation forming between the bowl and the shank, and because of the curve, the draught might be a bit harder. On the other hand, it will be easier to hold it in your mouth because the pipe is more balanced and will be easier to smoke on the go while you are out or doing something.

Have a look at these Savinelli, I love their bent pipes.

A straight pipe will have an easier draught and no condensation build-up because there are no curves in which the smoke will linger. The main problem of straight pipes for a beginner is their balance and weight. It will feel heavier when you clench it and not so easy to deal with when doing something else while smoking.
For a classic straight pipe, try a Peterson.

Length: 

The length of the pipe will affect the warmth of the smoke. The longer it is, the cooler the smoke is going to be.

For a beginner, I would suggest going for a medium-length pipe. The smoke is cool enough that it should not bother you, and it will not be too challenging to light.

Filter:

Pipes come filtered and non-filtered. We always mention on the description if the pipe has a filter and which kind it uses. 😊
Filters helps to achieve a smooth and pleasant smoke. They also help to remove humidity and impurities. There are many different filters, but for now, let us talk about the most common: metal and 9mm.

A metal filter, often called a stinger (because of the shape), will help reduce the impurities as they will get stuck to it which will then change the smoke flow.

In my opinion, the most efficient filter is the 9mm! It will filter humidity and impurities without affecting the smoking experience. If your pipe uses 9mm filters, try Vauen Dr Perl Junior 9mm Pipe Filters.

This sums up the pipe smoking basics, but which one should you buy?

A good tip is to think about the pipe that you envision yourself smoking. Or even better, visit one of our shops to let us help you decide. Physically holding a pipe sometimes gives you a better understanding on which finish and sizing you like.
A pipe needs to fit your style but also be something that you like to look at when you are not using it.
In the current times though, the pandemic may make it difficult for you to come see us in store so be sure to have a look on our website and if you have any questions, get in touch with us.  We are more than happy to help with selecting your first (or third 😉) pipe!

Most importantly though, take your time and be patient. Remember, your pipe smoking journey has just begun.

Let me know about your first pipe experiences or if its your first time, let me know which one you go for!

Christian

I am always excited to see when longstanding distilleries that I have enjoyed for so long embrace the future! Not only embrace the future, but do it with some grace and elegance! The Glenturret has done that with style, merging their long history with a refined contemporary style.

Glenturret has the honour to call themselves the longest running whisky distillery in Scotland and so they are bringing along a lot of whisky making wisdom and traditional craftsmanship. So, in 2019 when the Lalique group bought the distillery, they added an elegance that has meshed well with their history. The new Maiden Releases were crafted by a very highly respected whisky maker, Bob Dalgarno, to create an amazing new core range. Not only do you get some delicious whisky crafted by a legend, but you get some absolutely beautiful bottles made by Lalique.

Right now, we have three of the new core range so you can experience Glenturret for yourself. After you finish the liquid, refill those bottles with something else!

The Glenturret 10-Year-Old Peat Smoke 2020 Maiden Release – 50% 70cl

“We are in the rare position of producing peated and non-peated spirit at different times of the year from the same small stills. This has allowed us to craft this mellow, sweet, smoky 10 years old single malt that shows its character off to the full at a strength of 50%.”

Maker’s Tasting Notes: Smoke from the peat fire envelopes. Fresh citrus fruit, vanilla, and light spice drift from the embers with hints of sea salt and smoldering heather.

The Glenturret 12-Year-Old 2020 Maiden Release – 46% 70cl

“A whisky driven by European Oak casks which have patiently cradled the spirit from its inception 12 years ago after passing through the small batch, manual production processes which defines Glenturret… Never overpowering, but enhancing and developing to give a rich, layered complexity of flavour and a deep russet colour.”

Maker’s Tasting Notes: Rich fruit cake dressed with walnuts. Sweet apple and ginger in balance enjoyed with lemon tea. The European oak politely drives the chosen strength.

The Glenturret Triple Wood 2020 Maiden Release – 43% 70cl

“Triple Wood is a continuation of our history, part of the old range and reborn in the new. A thoughtful combination of European and American Sherry Oak casks alongside Bourbon barrels gives a light and subtle whisky showcasing the sweet, fruity style of our new make spirit – the starting point of the journey for all our single malts.”

Maker’s Tasting Notes: Aged in American and European Sherry casks and bourbon barrels. Sweet fruit and caramel flirt with sticky ginger cake and vanilla, maturing oak and light spices look on with interest from the sidelines.

When things start opening back up for us, make sure to take a trip up to the distillery for a tour and bite to eat at their cafe!

Slainte

Anthony

I can finally and very proudly announce the opening of C.Gars – St James’s. Well overdue as we should have opened last Summer buy hey ho, who would have known the disruption that Corona Virus would cause?

And who would be mad enough to open a specialist cigar and whisky store in the middle of the third Lockdown? Answers on a postcard…

But open we are and the premises looks great, more like a Chanel store than a traditional cigar store and with a mouth-watering range of the best of the best cigars and single malt whisky money can buy.

We have a comfortable sampling area that will be available when it’s safe to open fully but, in the meantime, if you are in the West End pop in and feast your eyes and treat yourself to a great cigar or splendid bottle.

My staff will assure you a warm welcome, Sam used to work with us at Puffin Rooms – Liverpool, and Viktoria is well known by all the regular customers at Turmeaus – Mayfair so they bring a wealth of experience and offer the best in customer service.

I think that Turmeaus – Mayfair and C.Gars – St James’s may be the only cigar specialist shops remaining open in the West End at this time. Every time I pass any other cigar shops, they all seem to be closed. Let’s hope everyone can re-open soon and our industry can get back to normal.

So this lovely premises joins the C.Gars Group and makes it a nice round number of 10 including our other businesses in London, Liverpool, Chester, Knutsford and Norfolk. Add to that our two huge fulfilment warehouses and I’ve got to say this sure turned into a huge business that Laura and I could never have dreamed about so many years ago when we started the business from our bedrooms!

C.Gars Auctions are holding the first auction of the year on Tuesday 26^th January.

Over 430 Lots of Vintage, Mature, Pre-Embargo, Davidoff, Dunhill, Limited Edition Havana cigars as well as aged Havanas from the 1960’s through to the 1990’s will be on offer on behalf of estates, investors and collectors. There will also be 100 Lots of rare single malt whisky.

Lots are now live and bidding open online until the auction concludes on the 26^th January on the Cigar Auction website.

This will be the 36th cigar auction by C.Gars since the auction department was established in 2009.

Auction Lots can be viewed and bid on online.

Featured Lots include:

Dunhill Estupendos, Mojito and Don Candido 502

Habanos 1994 humidor

Cohiba Seleccion Reserva, Lanceros Presidencia and Coronas Especiales Presidencia

Davidoff No. 1,2, Dom Perignon, 1000, 3000, Margaux and Ambassadrice

Montecristo, Partagas and Romeo Gran Reserva

For any questions don’t hesitate to email Laura Graham and the auction team at [email protected]

Substantial interest is expected from overseas buyers due to the continued weakness of the Pound Sterling currently as well as the continuing increased demand from the Far East…

Have a smokey week.

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell

It’s been quite an astonishing year in our world of whisky and cigars, kicking off back in January with an astonishing increase in sales that continued through to February. All of our trading divisions and product categories were firing on all cylinders. Mail order and retail were up in double digit growth and our uber cool Puffin Rooms venue was packed seven nights a week with a waiting list that seemed to get longer every week.

I was surprised by the sales growth so early in the year. After all – this was our 23^rd year in the business. So, off I went to the Festival in Havana not feeling terribly well for what reason I couldn’t fathom, still managed to enjoy myself but as many know, soon after I got back to the UK, I was desperately unwell with CV-19.

Thankfully, I made a good recovery after a very, very long recuperation period and in the meantime, we had to close down Puffin Rooms due to Government restrictions, but we were allowed to keep our retail shops open as alcohol shops are classed as ‘essential’.  The only flaw to the plan being that the shops were open, but few people ventured out on the streets during the lockdowns.

So, it was C.Gars Mail order divisions in London and Norfolk to the rescue, ably supported by our colleagues in the retail division fulfilling more than double the normal amount of orders we are used to (and that’s a lot!). We have been operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week to ensure on time shipping. I wish I could say that we had 100% on time delivery but Royal Mail and courier services have been stretched beyond their limits and a few orders were or are late or lost. Easy to criticize Royal Mail, but no one could have envisaged the amount of shipping that the crazy Corona situation would create, so I choose to applaud all of their hard work.

I’m grateful to our customers old and new for their patience when there were delivery issues or when we got their orders wrong (it’s rare but yep – we are only human and do occasionally get it wrong!) and a huge thanks to all of our suppliers for keeping the supply lines running so smoothly throughout the year.

During all this year’s madness we still managed to release new cigars including the fabulous Ramon No.2 with its exclusive world launch in the UK, Quai D’Orsay Senadores and Montecristo Supremos.  We released new casks of Stalla Dhu- single malt whisky, introduced Key West Rums and partnered with Snowdonia distillery and its fabulous Foragers gin and Y Bet Vodka.

Despite ongoing shortages of Havanas, our amazing UK exclusive distributor, Hunters & Frankau kept us well supplied and our huge stock levels ensured that disruption was kept to a minimum.

We expected to open our new C.Gars store on St James’s Street late Summer but constant delays due to Corona has set the opening back and now we expect to open early January. The store will be a true expression of the essence of C.Gars Ltd. Our finest ranges of premium spirits and premium cigars in the most comfortable of surroundings and of course, the best location in the UK.

C.Gars has grown so much since its humble beginnings 23 years ago that it would take all day to thank all of the Team (I think we employ almost 100 people these days!) for all their hard work and dedication. We have become a pretty big business, but Laura and I have tried to stay true to our founding ethos of treating every customer how we would like to be treated as a customer. We set the standards for service in our industry, guaranteeing quality and value and giving the best customer experience possible.

I’m looking forward to 2021 as we have more exciting expansion plans that I hope to share with everyone in January.

We may not be able to go out and celebrate the New Year this year due to the Covid restrictions but I hope C.Gars has bought a bit of happiness into your New Year celebrations with our fine cigars and splendid premium spirits.

Wishing all of our customers, staff and suppliers a very happy, safe and above all healthy New Year.

Peaceful puffing,

Mitchell