James Leavey : Cigar Buyer

Graphic smoking

James Leavey looks at a new graphic novel focusing on cigars.

Just published is Flor de Luna – Santa Maria Cristina, the first in a new series of French graphic novels, featuring a young cigar smoking hero. This exciting 48 page tale is part of the Collection Grafica by France’s leading comics publisher, Glenat. It’s brainchild of writers, Pierre Boisserie an...

Cigar Comics from Issue 12 published on 12/09/2007

Welcome to the Republic

James Leavey packs his case and has a look at this great cigar nation

When you look at the relatively low sales of Dominican tobacco products in the United Kingdom’s cigar retail outlets you’d find it hard to believe that Dominican premium cigars are the number one best seller, worldwide. Hendrik Kelner, widely acknowledged as one of the finest and most knowledgeable...

Market Watch from Issue 11 published on 11/05/2007

Davidoff. Legend-myth-reality

Ten years ago, when I was researching my first book, The FOREST Guide to Smoking in London, Edward Sahakian kindly gave me his last copy of Zino Davidoff’s A Renaissance of Pleasure, a tiny paperback packed with wonderful quotes by like-minded, thoughtful hedonists. My favourite quote was one of Zi...

Book reviews from Issue 10 published on 22/11/2006

Keeping the flame alight - Phillip Shervington

James Leavey talks to one of London’s great cigar aficionados

With Britain’s ban on advertising about to be extended to tobacco shop displays, personal recommendation will be one of the main keys to London’s future cigar sales. If you’re in London which, for now, remains the cigar capital of the world, who better to ask than Phillip Shervington, manager of Sh...

Cigar Interviews from Issue 10 published on 22/11/2006

Post-Castro Havanas

What will happen to the Cuban ciagr industry if Fidel Castro doesn’t return to power? James Leavey asks some interested parties

Just before Fidel Castro’s 80th birthday in August 2006, an American-based anti-Castro website urged Cuba's exiled dissidents to “Break out the cigars, Fidel's dying.” How ironic, given that the revolutionary Cuban leader who thumbed his nose at America for 47 years quit smoking two decades ago, for...

Cigar Trends from Issue 9 published on 18/09/2006

Plumbing 'the Depths'

James Leavey goes in search of the finest cigars from Honduras

Once upon a time when you asked for a Honduran cigar in Britain you meant Don Tomas as that was all there was available. But in recent years the quality of Honduran cigars has reached even greater heights and a wider choice of luxury brands, especially those produced by Rocky Patel, General Cigars,...

International focus from Issue 9 published on 18/09/2006

Zino did it his way

Zino Davidoff’s 100th birthday celebrations were truly something special. James Leavey flew to Geneva to take part

As I sit here writing this article, I am savouring a Diademes Finas jubilee, created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the man who inspired it: Zino Davidoff. Three of these exquisitely produced cigars, 50 ring gauge by 17.2 centimetres long and beautifully presented in an elegan...

Cigar experiences from Issue 8 published on 20/05/2006

Going Dutch

Amsterdam is a haven for the persecuted smoker. James Leavey indulged himself

Amsterdam’s unique shape – the half moon of the canal ring – was created in the 17th century when the Netherland’s capital was noted, as it still is, for its freedom of expression. It was at this time that the city first became an important haven for the persecuted, such as Huguenots and other diss...

Market Watch from Issue 8 published on 20/05/2006

Putting duty first - Jan Mossel

Dutch-based entrepreneur Jan Mossel is in his 60s but he’s still a force of dynamism in the world of cigars. James Leavey spoke to him

The wind of change has long been blowing for the tobacco industry, which is partly why some cigar companies decided to expand into Duty Free and Duty Paid outlets in recent years. One of the first Europeans to seize this opportunity was Jan Mossel. Now in his 62nd year, and married with three child...

Cigar Interviews from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006

Gimme shelter

Smokers banned from lighting up indoors? Then make them comfortable outside. James Leavey reports

Scotland’s cigar smokers will soon be lighting up under awnings or in tents in the gardens of pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants when the ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland takes effect, from spring 2006. And the rest of the United Kingdom’s smokers are set to follow suit. Meanw...

Smoking Ban from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006

Land fire, ash and fine tobacco

Ecuador is a stunning country and because of its volcanic history, perfectly suited to tobacco production. James Leavey reports

Many premium cigars today use wrappers grown in Ecuador, where the volcanic soil is among the most fertile substances in the world and ideal for growing consistently good wrapper leaf. That’s why you’ll often see the wrapper type listed as ‘Ecuadorian Connecticut’, ‘Ecuadorian Sumatra’ or ‘Ecuadori...

International Focus from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006

On strike (Matches)

James Leavey on the latest match products

For thousands of years man sought an easy, reliable means of kindling flame to ignite tobacco. Anything was better than the usual method of sticking your head in the fire. In the 1800s, steel, flint, and tinder were still used to make fire. This all changed in 1827 when the first phosphorus frictio...

Cigar Accessories from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006

Cubans still on top

James Leavey interviews Manuel Garcia, Habanos SA’s commercial vice-president

Manuel Garcia Morejon, the commercial vice-president of Habanos SA. Based in Havana, 47-year-old Garcia has been working in the Cuban cigar industry since 1989 when he joined Cubatabaco (now Habanos SA) from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade. He spent sixyears as managing director of 5th Avenue Pr...

International Focus from Issue 6 published on 11/11/2005

A true master - Hendrik Kelner

James Leavey meets Hendrik Kelner, renowned master blender of Dominican premium cigars

When I visited Hendrik Kelner's office in Santiago earlier this year, I noticed what appeared to be two cigar Oscars on one of the shelves behind his desk. Kelner, a small, easy-going man with a big warm smile who preferred discussing fine cigars to talking about his personal life, assured me they ...

Cigar Interviews from Issue 5 published on 15/09/2005

Read, smoke, and smile...

James Leavey provides a round up of the latest cigar-related books

In the last few years the number of books on smoking seems to have increased in direct proportion to the growing number of bans on adults who like to enjoy their tobacco in public. One day, no doubt, the anti-smokers will extend their virulent puritanism to the written word, so maybe you should enc...

Book Reviews from Issue 5 published on 15/09/2005

The United Nations of cigar retailers

Earlier this year, 29 of the world’s leading cigar retailers were invited to the Dominican Republic for a series of masterclasses, factory visits and field trips organised by Davidoff. They were joined by James Leavey

When Davidoff’s United Kingdom sales director, Ron Baldwinson, asked if I’d care to join him on a five-day tour of his company’s cigar factory and farms in the Dominican Republic last February, I had to restrain myself from biting his arm off. Over the past decade I’ve followed the premium cigar tr...

International Focus from Issue 5 published on 15/09/2005

A man in love with cigars - Heinrich Villiger

James Leavey talks to cigar legend Heinrich Villiger about his life and his company

Heinrich Villiger is the trim, fit, sole owner of one of Switzerland’s last surviving tobacco family businesses; his world famous company was founded by his grandfather, Jean Villiger, in Pfeffikon, a small town on the northern outskirts of Lucerne, in 1888. A soft-spoken diplomat, Heinrich has bee...

Cigar Interviews from Issue 4 published on 10/05/2005

Proud to be in America

America has the best choice of non-Cuban cigars in the world. And as James Leavey reports, its cigar industry is booming

The great thing about America is that its cigar aficionados can buy the widest range of non-Cuban cigar brands in the world, as well as most of Cuba’s finest Havanas – the latter are usually sold under the counter in most of the country’s major cities, especially New York, Chicago, San Francisco and...

Market Watch from Issue 4 published on 10/05/2005

Investing in humidors

Humidors serve a practical purpose but they can be an investment too. James Leavey reports

This must be the first time in history that a perfectly legal product remains on sale and yet its users are actively discouraged from actually enjoying it. The restrictions imposed on premium cigars is rather like buying an ice cream, and then told you mustn’t lick it in public. The way things are ...

Cigar Accessories from Issue 4 published on 10/05/2005

Jemma Freeman - keeping cigars safe and in the family

Jemma Freeman is following in her father’s footsteps. James Leavey spoke to her

When you look at the close relationship between Jemma Freeman and her late father, Nicholas, you start thinking that there’s some truth in that an old belief, ‘sons take after their mothers; daughters take after their dads.’ Jemma’s great great great grandfather, James Reykers Freeman, was born in ...

Cigar Interviews from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005

A phoenix rising out of the ashes

Nicaragua has struggled for many years, but the high quality of its cigars are a shining example of how the country is re-establishing itself. James Leavey reports

Nicaragua’s cigar producers are noted for being very open to using fine tobacco leaf from a wide variety of sources, including Ecuador, Honduras, Dominican, Brazilian, and even Italy. Which is why they are often able to come up with some really interesting blends. This is not surprising, given the ...

Market Watch from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005

A cut above the rest (Cutters)

James Leavey looks at cutters - and explains why they are important

Kinky Friedman, the politically incorrect Jewish Texan singer/songwriter, thriller writer, and close friend of social outlaws such as Willie Nelson, is a dedicated smoker who often gets through twelve large Havana cigars every day. He actively detests what he calls, “all that anally-retentive crap” ...

Cigar Accessories from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005

Desmond Sautter – the cigar aficionado’s favourite uncle

James Leavey talks to one the industry’s most enduring personalities

Ten years ago, Desmond Sautter handed me a pre-Castro Havana in Monte’s cigar-themed restaurant, which at the time was a short walk from his illustrious cigar shop in London’s Mayfair. It was easily the best cigar I have ever smoked, before or since. Although we’d never actually met, Sautter was de...

Cigar Interviews from Issue 2 published on 01/11/2004

Cigar lighters

James Leavey attempts to get to grips with the competitive and diverse field of lighters

The other day I typed the phrase ‘cigar lighters’ in to a well-known British cigar retailer’s website and its search engine came back with’no matches found’. Maybe they were too busy selling all the latest pocket-sized gadgets that cigar smokers enjoy fiddling with. And who can blame them for not o...

Cigar Accessories from Issue 2 published on 01/11/2004

Dr Ernst Schneider - Nothing but the best

Davidoff is synonymous with quality, yet few may know this marque of excellence has been developed by Dr Ernst Schneider. James Leavey reports

When you meet Dr Ernst Schneider, chairman and delegate of the Board of Oettinger Imex AG/Davidoff International, in Geneva, the first thing you notice is that he laughs a lot. Especially when he’s sitting back surveying the steady growth of his global business empire with the aid of one of the five...

Innovators from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004

The Dominican Republic - a quality tradition

Each issue we take an in-depth look at a leading cigar market. This issue James Leavey discovers why the Dominican Republic has won such respect

Tobacco-loving travellers to the Dominican Republic are often surprised to see what appear to be their favourite brand of hand-rolled Havanas, such as Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, or H Upmann, on sale there. A close inspection will show these cigars are all locally made, although the packaging and lab...

Market Watch from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004

Cigar humidors

James Leavey explores how to capture a tobacco plantation in a box

Some say the perfect humidor is a special room in your favourite cigar shop, maintained at a regular temperature and with consistent humidity. It’s the smoker’s equivalent of a bank vault – which you can dip in to any time you are passing. It also provides retailers with a good excuse to remind you...

Cigar Accessories from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004



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	Cigar Buyer author James Leavey Graphic smoking James Leavey looks at a new graphic novel focusing on cigars. Just published is Flor de Luna – Santa Maria Cristina, the first in a new series of French graphic novels, featuring a young cigar smoking hero. This exciting 48 page tale is part of the Collection Grafica by France’s leading comics publisher, Glenat. It’s brainchild of writers, Pierre Boisserie an... Cigar Comics from Issue 12 published on 12/09/2007 Welcome to the Republic James Leavey packs his case and has a look at this great cigar nation When you look at the relatively low sales of Dominican tobacco products in the United Kingdom’s cigar retail outlets you’d find it hard to believe that Dominican premium cigars are the number one best seller, worldwide. Hendrik Kelner, widely acknowledged as one of the finest and most knowledgeable... Market Watch from Issue 11 published on 11/05/2007 Davidoff. Legend-myth-reality Ten years ago, when I was researching my first book, The FOREST Guide to Smoking in London, Edward Sahakian kindly gave me his last copy of Zino Davidoff’s A Renaissance of Pleasure, a tiny paperback packed with wonderful quotes by like-minded, thoughtful hedonists. My favourite quote was one of Zi... Book reviews from Issue 10 published on 22/11/2006 Keeping the flame alight - Phillip Shervington James Leavey talks to one of London’s great cigar aficionados With Britain’s ban on advertising about to be extended to tobacco shop displays, personal recommendation will be one of the main keys to London’s future cigar sales. If you’re in London which, for now, remains the cigar capital of the world, who better to ask than Phillip Shervington, manager of Sh... Cigar Interviews from Issue 10 published on 22/11/2006 Post-Castro Havanas What will happen to the Cuban ciagr industry if Fidel Castro doesn’t return to power? James Leavey asks some interested parties Just before Fidel Castro’s 80th birthday in August 2006, an American-based anti-Castro website urged Cuba's exiled dissidents to “Break out the cigars, Fidel's dying.” How ironic, given that the revolutionary Cuban leader who thumbed his nose at America for 47 years quit smoking two decades ago, for... Cigar Trends from Issue 9 published on 18/09/2006 Plumbing 'the Depths' James Leavey goes in search of the finest cigars from Honduras Once upon a time when you asked for a Honduran cigar in Britain you meant Don Tomas as that was all there was available. But in recent years the quality of Honduran cigars has reached even greater heights and a wider choice of luxury brands, especially those produced by Rocky Patel, General Cigars,... International focus from Issue 9 published on 18/09/2006 Zino did it his way Zino Davidoff’s 100th birthday celebrations were truly something special. James Leavey flew to Geneva to take part As I sit here writing this article, I am savouring a Diademes Finas jubilee, created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the man who inspired it: Zino Davidoff. Three of these exquisitely produced cigars, 50 ring gauge by 17.2 centimetres long and beautifully presented in an elegan... Cigar experiences from Issue 8 published on 20/05/2006 Going Dutch Amsterdam is a haven for the persecuted smoker. James Leavey indulged himself Amsterdam’s unique shape – the half moon of the canal ring – was created in the 17th century when the Netherland’s capital was noted, as it still is, for its freedom of expression. It was at this time that the city first became an important haven for the persecuted, such as Huguenots and other diss... Market Watch from Issue 8 published on 20/05/2006 Putting duty first - Jan Mossel Dutch-based entrepreneur Jan Mossel is in his 60s but he’s still a force of dynamism in the world of cigars. James Leavey spoke to him The wind of change has long been blowing for the tobacco industry, which is partly why some cigar companies decided to expand into Duty Free and Duty Paid outlets in recent years. One of the first Europeans to seize this opportunity was Jan Mossel. Now in his 62nd year, and married with three child... Cigar Interviews from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006 Gimme shelter Smokers banned from lighting up indoors? Then make them comfortable outside. James Leavey reports Scotland’s cigar smokers will soon be lighting up under awnings or in tents in the gardens of pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants when the ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland takes effect, from spring 2006. And the rest of the United Kingdom’s smokers are set to follow suit. Meanw... Smoking Ban from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006 Land fire, ash and fine tobacco Ecuador is a stunning country and because of its volcanic history, perfectly suited to tobacco production. James Leavey reports Many premium cigars today use wrappers grown in Ecuador, where the volcanic soil is among the most fertile substances in the world and ideal for growing consistently good wrapper leaf. That’s why you’ll often see the wrapper type listed as ‘Ecuadorian Connecticut’, ‘Ecuadorian Sumatra’ or ‘Ecuadori... International Focus from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006 On strike (Matches) James Leavey on the latest match products For thousands of years man sought an easy, reliable means of kindling flame to ignite tobacco. Anything was better than the usual method of sticking your head in the fire. In the 1800s, steel, flint, and tinder were still used to make fire. This all changed in 1827 when the first phosphorus frictio... Cigar Accessories from Issue 7 published on 10/02/2006 Cubans still on top James Leavey interviews Manuel Garcia, Habanos SA’s commercial vice-president Manuel Garcia Morejon, the commercial vice-president of Habanos SA. Based in Havana, 47-year-old Garcia has been working in the Cuban cigar industry since 1989 when he joined Cubatabaco (now Habanos SA) from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade. He spent sixyears as managing director of 5th Avenue Pr... International Focus from Issue 6 published on 11/11/2005 A true master - Hendrik Kelner James Leavey meets Hendrik Kelner, renowned master blender of Dominican premium cigars When I visited Hendrik Kelner's office in Santiago earlier this year, I noticed what appeared to be two cigar Oscars on one of the shelves behind his desk. Kelner, a small, easy-going man with a big warm smile who preferred discussing fine cigars to talking about his personal life, assured me they ... Cigar Interviews from Issue 5 published on 15/09/2005 Read, smoke, and smile... James Leavey provides a round up of the latest cigar-related books In the last few years the number of books on smoking seems to have increased in direct proportion to the growing number of bans on adults who like to enjoy their tobacco in public. One day, no doubt, the anti-smokers will extend their virulent puritanism to the written word, so maybe you should enc... Book Reviews from Issue 5 published on 15/09/2005 The United Nations of cigar retailers Earlier this year, 29 of the world’s leading cigar retailers were invited to the Dominican Republic for a series of masterclasses, factory visits and field trips organised by Davidoff. They were joined by James Leavey When Davidoff’s United Kingdom sales director, Ron Baldwinson, asked if I’d care to join him on a five-day tour of his company’s cigar factory and farms in the Dominican Republic last February, I had to restrain myself from biting his arm off. Over the past decade I’ve followed the premium cigar tr... International Focus from Issue 5 published on 15/09/2005 A man in love with cigars - Heinrich Villiger James Leavey talks to cigar legend Heinrich Villiger about his life and his company Heinrich Villiger is the trim, fit, sole owner of one of Switzerland’s last surviving tobacco family businesses; his world famous company was founded by his grandfather, Jean Villiger, in Pfeffikon, a small town on the northern outskirts of Lucerne, in 1888. A soft-spoken diplomat, Heinrich has bee... Cigar Interviews from Issue 4 published on 10/05/2005 Proud to be in America America has the best choice of non-Cuban cigars in the world. And as James Leavey reports, its cigar industry is booming The great thing about America is that its cigar aficionados can buy the widest range of non-Cuban cigar brands in the world, as well as most of Cuba’s finest Havanas – the latter are usually sold under the counter in most of the country’s major cities, especially New York, Chicago, San Francisco and... Market Watch from Issue 4 published on 10/05/2005 Investing in humidors Humidors serve a practical purpose but they can be an investment too. James Leavey reports This must be the first time in history that a perfectly legal product remains on sale and yet its users are actively discouraged from actually enjoying it. The restrictions imposed on premium cigars is rather like buying an ice cream, and then told you mustn’t lick it in public. The way things are ... Cigar Accessories from Issue 4 published on 10/05/2005 Jemma Freeman - keeping cigars safe and in the family Jemma Freeman is following in her father’s footsteps. James Leavey spoke to her When you look at the close relationship between Jemma Freeman and her late father, Nicholas, you start thinking that there’s some truth in that an old belief, ‘sons take after their mothers; daughters take after their dads.’ Jemma’s great great great grandfather, James Reykers Freeman, was born in ... Cigar Interviews from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005 A phoenix rising out of the ashes Nicaragua has struggled for many years, but the high quality of its cigars are a shining example of how the country is re-establishing itself. James Leavey reports Nicaragua’s cigar producers are noted for being very open to using fine tobacco leaf from a wide variety of sources, including Ecuador, Honduras, Dominican, Brazilian, and even Italy. Which is why they are often able to come up with some really interesting blends. This is not surprising, given the ... Market Watch from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005 A cut above the rest (Cutters) James Leavey looks at cutters - and explains why they are important Kinky Friedman, the politically incorrect Jewish Texan singer/songwriter, thriller writer, and close friend of social outlaws such as Willie Nelson, is a dedicated smoker who often gets through twelve large Havana cigars every day. He actively detests what he calls, “all that anally-retentive crap” ... Cigar Accessories from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005 Desmond Sautter – the cigar aficionado’s favourite uncle James Leavey talks to one the industry’s most enduring personalities Ten years ago, Desmond Sautter handed me a pre-Castro Havana in Monte’s cigar-themed restaurant, which at the time was a short walk from his illustrious cigar shop in London’s Mayfair. It was easily the best cigar I have ever smoked, before or since. Although we’d never actually met, Sautter was de... Cigar Interviews from Issue 2 published on 01/11/2004 Cigar lighters James Leavey attempts to get to grips with the competitive and diverse field of lighters The other day I typed the phrase ‘cigar lighters’ in to a well-known British cigar retailer’s website and its search engine came back with’no matches found’. Maybe they were too busy selling all the latest pocket-sized gadgets that cigar smokers enjoy fiddling with. And who can blame them for not o... Cigar Accessories from Issue 2 published on 01/11/2004 Dr Ernst Schneider - Nothing but the best Davidoff is synonymous with quality, yet few may know this marque of excellence has been developed by Dr Ernst Schneider. James Leavey reports When you meet Dr Ernst Schneider, chairman and delegate of the Board of Oettinger Imex AG/Davidoff International, in Geneva, the first thing you notice is that he laughs a lot. Especially when he’s sitting back surveying the steady growth of his global business empire with the aid of one of the five... Innovators from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004 The Dominican Republic - a quality tradition Each issue we take an in-depth look at a leading cigar market. This issue James Leavey discovers why the Dominican Republic has won such respect Tobacco-loving travellers to the Dominican Republic are often surprised to see what appear to be their favourite brand of hand-rolled Havanas, such as Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, or H Upmann, on sale there. A close inspection will show these cigars are all locally made, although the packaging and lab... Market Watch from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004 Cigar humidors James Leavey explores how to capture a tobacco plantation in a box Some say the perfect humidor is a special room in your favourite cigar shop, maintained at a regular temperature and with consistent humidity. It’s the smoker’s equivalent of a bank vault – which you can dip in to any time you are passing. It also provides retailers with a good excuse to remind you... Cigar Accessories from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004

Cigar Buyer author James Leavey