Cigar Buyer section Spotlight
Brave new world
Despite the recent smoking ban there are some surprising things going on at London’s oldest cigar merchant
Perhaps the main advocates of the smoking ban had expected the cigar industry to roll over and die in the months following its introduction. However in London JJ Fox and Robert Lewis has finished an exciting eight week project which marks the shop’s commitment to the smoking public. Manager Paul B...
By Rob Allanson from Issue 12 published on 12/09/2007
Rising star
In March this year, Henri Wintermans announced the acquisition of CAO cigars, one of the USA’s premium cigar companies. We look at how a small-scale importer of pipes became one of the most dynamic cigar producers in the world.
It’s a fairy tale story of rags to riches – well actually pipes to riches really. In 1961, a young Armenian moved to the USA to study mechanical engineering with a love of Meerschaum pipes, prized for their quality and artistry. Soon he discovered the pleasure of cigars as well as these famed pipe...
By Rob Allanson from Issue 12 published on 12/09/2007
Crème of the crop
One of the world’s best selling miniatures has a new face launched with style
If you are going to repackage something you might as well do it properly and do it with a certain style and glamour. Henri Wintermans, owner of the famous Café Crème brand, did just this when it was time to unveil the new face of this recognisable mini. The new clothing can be taken as a sign of c...
By Rob Allanson from Issue 11 published on 11/05/2007
Draped in clover
Indonesia is producing some of the more exotic blends to hit the cigar market, including Djarum. Our man investigates…
Indonesia’s great gifts to the pleasure of smoking are not only the much sought after tobacco leaves of Deli on Sumatra and Besuki on Java, but also the recipe of cloves mixed in with tobacco to give a unique and exotic aroma when smoked. The clove laced cigarette is known as kretek, so called afte...
By Rob Allanson from Issue 9 published on 18/09/2006
Keir Sword – Serving cigars on the Royal Mile
The Cigar Box has built up a strong reputation for quality cigars in the heart of Edinburgh. Ian Buxton spoke to proprietor Keir Sword
I caught Keir Sword, proprietor of Edinburgh’s The Cigar Box in ebullient mood. Not because the Scottish Executive had suddenly relented on its plans for a public smoking ban; not because he’d confirmed a massive order; but because his wife had just given birth to their first child, Oliver. Unsurpr...
By Ian Buxton from Issue 3 published on 01/05/2005
Downtown London’s little bit of Havana
James Leavey and Dominic Roskrow visit Floridita and La Casa del Habano in central London
It’s not hard to find 100 Wardour Street in the heart of Soho. You just walk down and look for the group of tourists taking pictures. For this is the site of the legendary Marquee Club, the venue where everyone from the Sex Pistols and R.E.M. made their London debut, and within whose cramped confin...
By Dominic Roskrow from Issue 2 published on 01/11/2004
Henri’s 100 years
It’s 100 years since Henri Wintermans first started his first cigar factory. Dominic Roskrow travelled to Maastricht to see how his company is celebrating the past and looking to the future.
On the face of it Maastricht is a one trick town, famous for a treaty that bound Europe together and nothing much else. Even the name conjures up an image of bland Eurocratland. And where exactly is it? Belgium? Germany? The Netherlands? Unless you’re a bureaucrat or perhaps a law student, it’s not ...
By Dominic Roskrow from Issue 1 published on 01/06/2004
